Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) Earns “Buy” Rating from Needham & Company LLC

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reiterated by equities research analysts at Needham & Company LLC in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a $215.00 price target on the stock. Needham & Company LLC’s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 15.82% from the stock’s current price.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Constellation Brands from $230.00 to $210.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Argus cut Constellation Brands from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. StockNews.com raised shares of Constellation Brands from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $300.00 to $250.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, Roth Mkm reduced their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $284.00 to $256.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $234.38.

Constellation Brands Stock Performance

Constellation Brands stock opened at $185.63 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $176.86 and a 200-day moving average of $209.03. The company has a market capitalization of $33.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.90, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.75. Constellation Brands has a 1 year low of $160.46 and a 1 year high of $270.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.46.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 9th. The company reported $2.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.35. The firm had revenue of $2.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.14 billion. Constellation Brands had a net margin of 6.27% and a return on equity of 26.55%. The company’s revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.26 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Constellation Brands will post 13.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director William T. Giles bought 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 17th. The shares were bought at an average price of $186.39 per share, for a total transaction of $186,390.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 1,463 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $272,688.57. This trade represents a 215.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 12.19% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Constellation Brands

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Mainstream Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new position in shares of Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Minot DeBlois Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Constellation Brands during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Institutional investors own 77.34% of the company’s stock.

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.