Short Interest in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) Declines By 15.3%

Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,610,000 shares, a decline of 15.3% from the December 31st total of 3,080,000 shares. Approximately 1.9% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 1,830,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.4 days.

Constellation Brands Trading Down 1.9 %

Shares of STZ traded down $3.45 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $180.87. 2,190,444 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,637,785. The business has a fifty day moving average of $215.42 and a 200-day moving average of $233.96. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.69 billion, a PE ratio of 48.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.91. Constellation Brands has a 1-year low of $176.51 and a 1-year high of $274.87.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 10th. The company reported $3.25 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.33 by ($0.08). Constellation Brands had a return on equity of 26.55% and a net margin of 6.27%. The business had revenue of $2.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.53 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.19 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Constellation Brands will post 13.52 EPS for the current year.

Constellation Brands Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a $1.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $4.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.23%. Constellation Brands’s dividend payout ratio is currently 108.60%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, major shareholder Wildstar Partners Llc sold 660 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $241.00, for a total transaction of $159,060.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,736,884 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $418,589,044. The trade was a 0.04 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO William A. Newlands sold 25,000 shares of Constellation Brands stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.58, for a total transaction of $6,089,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 7,274 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,771,800.92. This trade represents a 77.46 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 61,746 shares of company stock worth $15,017,097. Corporate insiders own 12.19% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Constellation Brands

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new position in shares of Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA bought a new position in Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 887.5% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 158 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Eastern Bank bought a new position in shares of Constellation Brands in the 3rd quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Constellation Brands during the third quarter worth approximately $42,000. 77.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $265.00 to $223.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 17th. BNP Paribas started coverage on Constellation Brands in a research report on Monday, November 25th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $261.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $203.00 price objective (down previously from $262.00) on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Monday, January 13th. Barclays reduced their target price on Constellation Brands from $282.00 to $214.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Constellation Brands from $295.00 to $275.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $257.14.

Constellation Brands Company Profile

Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Familiar, Corona Hard Seltzer, Corona Light, Corona Non-Alcoholic, Corona Premier, Corona Refresca, Modelo Especial, Modelo Chelada, Modelo Negra, Modelo Oro, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands.