Vaughan David Investments LLC IL Boosts Holdings in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ)

Vaughan David Investments LLC IL raised its stake in shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) by 3.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 147,288 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 4,903 shares during the period. Vaughan David Investments LLC IL owned approximately 0.08% of Constellation Brands worth $32,551,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in shares of Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in Constellation Brands by 887.5% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 158 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Centricity Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Constellation Brands in the third quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.34% of the company’s stock.

Constellation Brands Stock Performance

NYSE:STZ opened at $179.23 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $32.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.18, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.75. 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 stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $193.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $225.28. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a 1-year low of $160.46 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 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.33 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $2.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.53 billion. Constellation Brands had a net margin of 6.27% and a return on equity of 26.55%. The company’s quarterly revenue was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.19 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 13.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Constellation Brands Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a $1.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $4.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.25%. Constellation Brands’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 108.60%.

Insider Activity

In other Constellation Brands news, Director William T. Giles purchased 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $186.39 per share, for a total transaction of $186,390.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 1,463 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $272,688.57. The trade was a 215.98 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 12.19% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

STZ has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $293.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. BNP Paribas began coverage on Constellation Brands in a research note on Monday, November 25th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $261.00 price target on the stock. Evercore ISI lowered their price target on Constellation Brands from $300.00 to $250.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 13th. UBS Group cut their target price on Constellation Brands from $265.00 to $223.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on Constellation Brands from $282.00 to $214.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $254.29.

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.