Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) Shares Sold by Pinebridge Investments L.P.

Pinebridge Investments L.P. cut its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ - Free Report) by 14.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,701 shares of the company's stock after selling 4,220 shares during the quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P.'s holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $5,680,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter worth approximately $8,039,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP grew its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 585.6% during the 4th quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 6,739 shares of the company's stock worth $1,489,000 after purchasing an additional 5,756 shares during the period. Soros Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 36.5% during the 4th quarter. Soros Capital Management LLC now owns 18,632 shares of the company's stock worth $4,118,000 after purchasing an additional 4,982 shares during the period. Fayez Sarofim & Co grew its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 22.7% during the 4th quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co now owns 15,390 shares of the company's stock worth $3,401,000 after purchasing an additional 2,850 shares during the period. Finally, State of Tennessee Department of Treasury grew its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 44.9% during the 4th quarter. State of Tennessee Department of Treasury now owns 73,435 shares of the company's stock worth $16,229,000 after purchasing an additional 22,738 shares during the period. 77.34% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Constellation Brands Trading Up 0.8 %

STZ stock traded up $1.47 on Tuesday, hitting $186.20. 1,104,001 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,709,826. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a twelve month low of $160.46 and a twelve month high of $265.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.46. The business's fifty day moving average is $181.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $203.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.75.

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

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $202.00 to $195.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $260.00 to $215.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Argus downgraded shares of Constellation Brands from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $203.00 to $207.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $230.00 to $210.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Constellation Brands presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $224.42.

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.