Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC Boosts Holdings in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ)

Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ - Free Report) by 840.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 378,563 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 338,330 shares during the quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC owned approximately 0.21% of Constellation Brands worth $83,662,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mainstream Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new position in shares of Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA bought a new position in shares of Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands by 887.5% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 158 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 77.34% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. TD Cowen reduced their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $270.00 to $260.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $289.00 to $233.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $230.00 to $210.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Roth Capital reduced their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $298.00 to $284.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $215.00 target price on shares of Constellation Brands in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $224.42.

Constellation Brands Price Performance

NYSE:STZ traded up $1.47 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $186.20. The company had a trading volume of 1,419,276 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,737,329. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a one year low of $160.46 and a one year high of $265.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $33.65 billion, a PE ratio of 50.05, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $181.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $203.97.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 9th. The company reported $2.63 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 for the quarter was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.26 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 13.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 29th will be issued a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.19%. This is an increase from Constellation Brands's previous quarterly dividend of $1.01. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 29th. Constellation Brands's dividend payout ratio is presently -800.00%.

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.