Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) Shares Sold by Webster Bank N. A.

Webster Bank N. A. cut its stake in shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) by 19.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,011 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,224 shares during the period. Webster Bank N. A.’s holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $1,107,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new stake in Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of 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 buying an additional 142 shares during the period. Eastern Bank acquired a new position in Constellation Brands during the 3rd quarter worth about $39,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Constellation Brands during the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new position in Constellation Brands in the 3rd quarter valued at about $60,000. 77.34% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO William A. Newlands sold 25,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 7,274 shares in the company, valued at $1,771,800.92. The trade was a 77.46 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director William T. Giles acquired 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $186.39 per share, for a total transaction of $186,390.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 1,463 shares in the company, valued at $272,688.57. This represents a 215.98 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 69,172 shares of company stock valued at $16,778,841. Company insiders own 12.19% of the company’s stock.

Constellation Brands Trading Up 1.9 %

NYSE:STZ opened at $182.99 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a 52-week low of $176.51 and a 52-week high of $274.87. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $221.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $236.20. The company has a market capitalization of $33.07 billion, a PE ratio of 49.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.91.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last released 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). The business had revenue of $2.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.53 billion. Constellation Brands had a net margin of 6.27% and a return on equity of 26.55%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.19 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 13.52 EPS for the current year.

Constellation Brands Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid a $1.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $4.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. Constellation Brands’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 108.60%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

STZ has been the subject of several recent research reports. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $280.00 price objective on shares of Constellation Brands in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $282.00 to $214.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. BNP Paribas started coverage on Constellation Brands in a research report on Monday, November 25th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $261.00 price objective on the stock. Argus lowered Constellation Brands from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $308.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $259.05.

About Constellation Brands

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.