STZBeverages
Constellation Brands
Not investment advice. Kevin may own this stock. How we value stocks
By Kevin Amado
Updated
- Price
- $144.12
- Analysts view
- Leaning bullish
- Discount category
- Below intrinsic value
- Pick status
- Research only
- Next earnings
- Earnings Jan 6 · · estimated
- Market cap
- $24B
- Shares of Sep 30, 2026
- Yield at current rate
- 2.9%
- Current annual rate, at the price of Nov 12, 2026
- Dividend yield
- 2.9%
- Last 12 months, at the price of Nov 12, 2026
- 52-week range
- $110.60 – $168.60
- To Nov 12, 2026
- Beta
- 0.39
- Vs S&P 500, 5 years monthly, to Oct 30, 2026
- Average volume
- 2.4M
- 3 months, to Nov 12, 2026
Check the numbers:ExchangeGoogle FinanceYahoo FinanceSEC filings
In short
- Thesis
- Fewer people buy Corona and Modelo while Hispanic consumers are under pressure, and beer depletions that grow again in 2027 can close the gap over four to six quarters.
- Gap
- Can close. Quarterly beer depletions and the new outlook in April 2027 give dated checks within about two years.
Company guidance: Comparable EPS of $11.20 - $11.90 for fiscal 2027 (, Q2 fiscal 2027 earnings release (8-K))
Price history
About
Constellation Brands is the second-largest beer company in the US by sales. It has an exclusive and perpetual license to make Corona, Modelo, Pacifico and Victoria and to sell them in the US. It makes these beers in its own breweries in Mexico and builds a third large brewery in Veracruz. Modelo Especial is the top beer brand in the US by dollar sales.
Beer gives more than 90% of net sales and almost all of the operating income: in the quarter to August 31, 2026, beer net sales were $2.47 billion at a 39.0% operating margin. The company also sells higher-end wine and spirits, such as Kim Crawford, The Prisoner, Robert Mondavi and High West, after it sold its lower-priced wine brands in 2025. It sells to distributors, which sell to stores, bars and restaurants. Net sales in the year to February 28, 2026 were $9.14 billion.
Thesis
The market prices Constellation lower because fewer people buy its core beers and its largest customer group is under pressure. Hispanic consumers give about 40% of its beer sales, against about 15% for US beer as a whole, and the company says that they face pressure on jobs and household money. Beer depletions, the sales from distributors to stores, fell 0.3% in Q1 and 0.6% in Q2 of the year to February 2027. Modelo Especial fell about 2% and Corona Extra about 5% in Q2.
In April 2026, the company withdrew its outlook for the year to February 2028, and it expects flat beer net sales this year. Investors fear that the long growth of Mexican beer in the US has ended. For the gap to close, three things must be true. Beer depletions must turn positive again, as the CEO said that the trend improved in September 2026.
The beer operating margin must stay within the 37% to 38% outlook while marketing spend rises. Comparable EPS must reach the $11.20 to $11.90 outlook, and free cash flow must reach $1.6 to $1.7 billion, so that buybacks can continue at a net leverage of about 3.0 times. The tests are the Q3 report in early January 2027, the Q4 report in April 2027 with the new outlook, and the monthly scanner data. If depletions grow again in 2027, the gap can close over the next four to six quarters.
The main risk is that the pressure on Hispanic consumers and lower alcohol use by young adults last for years.
Checkpoints
- Jan 6, 2027 · est.PendingQ3 results: beer depletionsPositive beer depletions and a beer operating margin within 37% to 38% pass; depletions that fall again with a lower EPS outlook fail.
- Apr 2027 · est.PendingQ4 results and outlook for the year to February 2028An outlook with beer net sales growth and comparable EPS growth passes; a second year of flat or lower beer sales fails.
Recent events
- October 6, 2026Constellation reported Q2 results for the year to February 2027. Net sales were $2.63 billion, up 6%, and comparable EPS was $3.74, up 3%. Beer shipments rose 5.5% as distributors rebuilt their stock, but depletions fell 0.6%. The beer operating margin fell 1.6 points to 39.0% because of higher marketing spend. The company raised its reported EPS outlook and kept its comparable EPS outlook of $11.20 to $11.90.
- October 6, 2026Constellation bought SpikedAde, a vodka-based ready-to-drink brand, for $75 million at closing and up to $278 million more over five years, based on its results.
- September 18, 2026Constellation repaid $600 million of 4.35% notes due 2027 early with commercial paper. It also signed a $300 million delayed-draw term loan.
Show 2 older eventsHide older events
- June 30, 2026Constellation reported Q1 results for the year to February 2027. Beer net sales grew 2% and beer depletions fell 0.3%. Wine and spirits net sales fell 47% after the 2025 wine sales, but grew 8% on an organic basis. The company kept its comparable EPS outlook.
- May 18, 2026Constellation repaid $600 million of 3.70% notes due 2026 early, with new 4.85% notes due 2031 and commercial paper.
Latest news and filings
- Last earnings
- October 6, 2026 (8-K on sec.gov)
- Next earnings
- Expected about January 6, 2027. The company has not confirmed the date.
- 10-QQuarterly report for the period ended Aug 31, 2026Filed · stz-20260831
- 8-KEarnings release and Investor disclosureFiled · Press release and exhibits
- 8-KNew material agreement and New debt or financial obligationFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 8-KInvestor disclosureFiled · stz-20260908
- 8-KChange of directors or officers and Shareholder vote resultsFiled · stz-20260722
- 10-QQuarterly report for the period ended May 31, 2026Filed · stz-20260531
- 8-KEarnings release and Investor disclosureFiled · Press release and exhibits
- 8-KChange of directors or officers and Investor disclosureFiled · stz-20260520
- 8-KInvestor disclosure and Other company newsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 8-KOther company newsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
Risks
- Hispanic consumers give about 40% of the company's beer sales. The company says that they face pressure on jobs and household money, which can reduce how much beer they buy. Depletions of Modelo Especial and Corona Extra fell in both quarters of the year to February 2027.
- The CEO said that people now buy beer more for special occasions and less by habit. The company spends more on sports, music and events to reach younger drinkers. If US beer volume keeps falling, growth from price increases and share gains may not be enough.
- The company makes all of its US beer in Mexico. Tariffs, border rules or a change in US and Mexico trade policy can raise costs. The aluminum tariffs raised can costs until April 2026, when the US removed beer from their scope.
- Debt was about $10.3 billion at August 31, 2026, and the company keeps net leverage at about 3.0 times. Lower beer profit would leave less cash for buybacks and for the Veracruz brewery.
- The new CEO started in April 2026 and raised marketing spend. The beer operating margin fell 1.6 points in Q2 of the year to February 2027. If the spend does not bring sales growth, margins can fall more.
Balance sheet
- Cash
- $99M
- Debt
- $10.3B
- Net debt
- $10.2B
- Interest cover
- 9.5×
- times profit pays interest
- Credit line
- $2.1B
- undrawn, to April 2030
Cash against debt
debt covered by cashnet debt $10.2B
When the debt is due
Constellation funds itself with unsecured senior notes, commercial paper and a $2.25 billion revolving credit facility that ends in April 2030. At August 31, 2026, it had $116.5 million of commercial paper, $1,103.0 million of long-term debt due within one year and $9,096.2 million of other long-term debt. Unused capacity under the revolving credit facility was $2,122.6 million after the commercial paper. Interest cover is operating income divided by interest expense for the six months to August 31, 2026. On September 18, 2026, the company repaid $600 million of notes due 2027 with commercial paper. The same day, it signed a $300 million delayed-draw term loan, which it can draw for nine months. About $1.8 billion of debt is due in the year to February 2028. The company keeps comparable net leverage at about 3.0 times and calls its rating investment grade. It bought back $530 million of shares in the year to date through September 2026, and it pays a dividend of $1.03 per share each quarter. It expects capital spending of about $800 million and free cash flow of $1.6 to $1.7 billion in the year to February 2027.
Dividends
- Yield at the current rate
- 2.9% (current annual rate, at today’s price)
- Dividend yield
- 2.9% (last 12 months, at today’s price of $144.12)
- Paid per share
- $4.11 in the last 12 months (4 payments)
- Current annual rate
- $4.12 ($1.03 × 4 a year)
- Latest ex-dividend date
- October 30, 2026, $1.03 per share
Dividends per share by year
| 2016 | $1.51 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $1.96 | |
| 2018 | $2.74 | |
| 2019 | $2.99 | |
| 2020 | $3.00 | |
| 2021 | $3.03 | |
| 2022 | $3.16 | |
| 2023 | $3.47 | |
| 2024 | $3.92 | |
| 2025 | $4.07 |
From 2020 to 2025, the dividend grew by about 6.3% a year. From 2015 to 2025, the dividend grew by about 15.9% a year.
Source: company filings and market data, read on November 13, 2026. The ex-dividend date is the first day a buyer no longer gets the next payment.
Questions about Constellation Brands
What does Constellation Brands do?
Constellation Brands is the second-largest beer company in the US by sales. It has an exclusive and perpetual license to make Corona, Modelo, Pacifico and Victoria and to sell them in the US. Its market cap is $24B at the current price of $144.12.
When does Constellation Brands report earnings next?
This is an estimate: Constellation Brands may report on January 6, 2027. It last reported results on October 6, 2026.
Is Constellation Brands stock below its intrinsic value?
Constellation Brands stock is below intrinsic value. This is general information, not advice.
What changed recently at Constellation Brands?
The latest update is from October 6, 2026. Constellation reported Q2 results for the year to February 2027.
What are the main risks for Constellation Brands?
Hispanic consumers give about 40% of the company's beer sales. The CEO said that people now buy beer more for special occasions and less by habit. The company makes all of its US beer in Mexico.
How much debt and cash does Constellation Brands have?
At August 31, 2026, Constellation Brands had $10.3B of debt and $99M of cash.
Does Constellation Brands pay a dividend?
Yes. The current annual dividend of Constellation Brands is $4.12 per share. That is a dividend yield of 2.9% at the current price of $144.12. In the last 12 months, it paid $4.11 per share (2.9%). The latest ex-dividend date was October 30, 2026.
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