Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) Shares Acquired by Investors Asset Management of Georgia Inc. GA ADV

Investors Asset Management of Georgia Inc. GA ADV boosted its stake in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) by 14.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,718 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 221 shares during the period. Investors Asset Management of Georgia Inc. GA ADV’s holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $380,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new position in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA bought a new position in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position 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 period. Eastern Bank bought a new stake in Constellation Brands during the 3rd quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Constellation Brands during the 3rd quarter worth $42,000. 77.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director William T. Giles purchased 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 17th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $186.39 per share, with a total value of $186,390.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 1,463 shares in the company, valued at $272,688.57. This represents a 215.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 12.19% of the company’s stock.

Constellation Brands Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of STZ opened at $172.25 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $195.56 and its 200 day moving average price is $226.30. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $31.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 0.90. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a 12-month low of $160.46 and a 12-month high of $274.87.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 10th. The company reported $3.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.33 by ($0.08). Constellation Brands had a net margin of 6.27% and a return on equity of 26.55%. The firm had revenue of $2.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.53 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.19 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 13.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Constellation Brands Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid a $1.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $4.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.35%. Constellation Brands’s payout ratio is currently 108.60%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on STZ shares. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $201.00 target price (down previously from $310.00) on shares of Constellation Brands in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Constellation Brands from $295.00 to $275.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays cut their price objective on Constellation Brands from $282.00 to $214.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $293.00 target price on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Constellation Brands from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $254.29.

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.