Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a significant amount of consumer concern that has continued from previous quarters into the current quarter, but the quarter was as expected [11] - The company affirmed its full-year beer revenue growth outlook and margin guidance despite some macroeconomic uncertainties [13][14] - The impact of incremental tariffs is expected to be approximately $20 million, with a 20 basis point hit to margins, but the company believes it can still deliver margins in line with previous guidance [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is seeing high single-digit share gains in the shelf, with strong brand loyalty among both Hispanic and general market consumers [20][21] - The introduction of new products like SunBrew is ahead of expectations, contributing to the growth profile [21][35] - Pacifico continues to be a strong brand, with 50% of its growth coming from outside California, indicating a broader market appeal [36] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing a decline in consumer occasions for beer consumption due to socioeconomic concerns, but interest in beer remains strong [40] - The pricing environment in the beer category is under pressure, with increased promotional activity observed in the market [58][60] - The company is focused on price pack architecture to address consumer concerns about inflation [56] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to invest in marketing, particularly in high-impact areas like sports, to build long-term brand success [27][28] - The focus remains on controlling controllables, including distribution and brand health metrics, to prepare for a return to normal consumer behavior [54][56] - The company is exploring diversification opportunities in its portfolio, particularly in the non-alcoholic sector, which has become a significant growth area [33][35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the outlook for the year, despite macroeconomic uncertainties and potential impacts from tariffs and unemployment [13][14] - The company anticipates a tailwind from rebuilding efforts in areas affected by natural disasters, although short-term challenges remain [63][65] - Management noted that consumer behavior may not revert to pre-COVID levels immediately, but interest in beer consumption remains [40] Other Important Information - The company has a robust hedging policy in place to manage currency and commodity risks, particularly regarding the peso [48][50] - The company is actively monitoring the competitive landscape and adjusting its strategies accordingly to maintain brand loyalty and market share [25][60] Q&A Session Summary Question: Confidence in unchanged full-year beer revenue growth outlook - Management acknowledged industry weakness but affirmed confidence in the outlook, citing easier comparisons as the summer progresses [12][14] Question: Impact of socioeconomic factors on Hispanic consumers - Management noted strong loyalty among Hispanic consumers and emphasized ongoing investments to support this demographic [19][20] Question: Marketing cadence and competitive landscape - Management highlighted increased marketing investments and strong brand health metrics, indicating a proactive approach to competition [27][28] Question: Portfolio diversification considerations - Management discussed ongoing innovation and the introduction of new products to attract younger consumers, while also considering diversification opportunities [33][35] Question: Pricing environment and promotional activity - Management confirmed increased promotional activity in the market and adjustments to pricing strategies to capture share in the high-end light beer sector [58][60] Question: California wildfires and rebuilding efforts - Management indicated that rebuilding efforts would provide a tailwind for growth, although short-term challenges remain due to macroeconomic factors [63][65]

Core Insights - Constellation Brands, Inc. reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 results with both sales and earnings missing expectations, primarily due to weak consumer demand influenced by socioeconomic factors [1][2][3] Financial Performance - Comparable earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter were $3.22, a 10% decline year over year, missing the consensus estimate of $3.38. Reported EPS was $2.90, down 39% year over year [2][6] - Net sales decreased by 5.5% year over year to $2.52 billion, also falling short of the consensus estimate of $2.57 billion [2][6] - The beer segment's sales fell 2% year over year to $2.23 billion, with a 3.3% decline in shipment volume attributed to socioeconomic headwinds [4][6] - Wine and spirits sales plummeted 28% year over year to $280.5 million, driven by a 30.4% decline in shipment volumes and an 8.1% dip in depletions [7][6] Margin Analysis - Comparable operating income was $810 million, down 11% from the prior year, reflecting challenges in both beer and wine & spirits segments [8] - Operating income for the beer segment fell 5% year over year to $873.4 million, with operating margin contracting by 150 basis points to 39.1% due to increased costs [9] - The wine and spirits segment reported an operating loss of $6 million compared to an operating income of $59.7 million in the previous year, with significant margin contraction [10] Financial Position - As of May 31, 2025, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $73.9 million, long-term debt of $9.8 billion, and total shareholders' equity of $7.3 billion [11] - Operating cash flow for the first quarter was $637.2 million, with adjusted free cash flow at $444.4 million [11][12] Future Outlook - The company forecasts operating cash flow of $2.7-$2.8 billion and free cash flow of $1.5-$1.6 billion for fiscal 2026, with planned capital expenditures of $1.2 billion [13] - Management anticipates organic net sales for fiscal 2026 to range from a decline of 2% to an increase of 1%, with the wine and spirits segment expected to decline by 17-20% [14] - Comparable EPS guidance for fiscal 2026 is set at $12.60-$12.90, with reported EPS expected to be $12.07-$12.37 [16][17]

Company Performance - Constellation Brands' stock is rising despite missing earnings expectations, likely due to maintained guidance [1] - Beer sales were expected to be weak [1] Macroeconomic Factors & Consumer Behavior - CEO suggests softer consumer demand is driven by "nonstructural socioeconomic factors," hinting at challenges for Hispanic American consumers [2] - Hispanic American consumers account for 50% of beer sales [2] - Trump 2.0% immigration policy is reportedly reducing social gatherings and increasing unemployment for Hispanics [3] - JP Morgan and Bernstein are highlighting a pullback in the Hispanic consumer base [3] Strategic Implications - The company needs to address the pullback in the Hispanic consumer base to avoid losing market share [3]

Core Viewpoint - Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:STZ) shares are experiencing a 2.2% increase to $168.52, recovering from premarket losses despite missing fiscal first-quarter earnings and revenue expectations due to lower demand for alcoholic beverages and increased costs from aluminum tariffs [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - STZ is on track for its fourth consecutive daily gain, although it has recently faced monthly and quarterly losses, with a decline of 22.9% in 2025 and a five-year low of $159.35 marked on June 20 [2] - The stock has rebounded from its lows, but the 20-day moving average may limit today's gains [2] Group 2: Analyst Ratings - Analysts from Evercore ISI and Bernstein have reaffirmed their "outperform" ratings on STZ, indicating continued confidence in the stock despite recent challenges [1] Group 3: Options Activity - Options traders are exhibiting a notably bullish sentiment, as evidenced by a 50-day call/put volume ratio of 2.57, which is higher than 96% of readings from the past year [3] - Today's options activity shows 12,000 calls and 11,000 puts traded, which is five times the intraday average volume, with the most active contract being the weekly 7/3 175-strike call [4]

Financial Performance - Constellation Brands' fiscal first-quarter results fell short of analysts' expectations [1] Market Trends - Weak consumer demand was cited by the beverage giant's CEO [1]

Market Overview - The stock market experienced mixed results on the first trading day of July, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq declining by -0.11% and -0.82% respectively, while the Dow and Russell 2000 increased by +0.91% and +0.94% respectively [1] - A rotation occurred in the market, with tech stocks lagging after a strong first half of 2025, while healthcare stocks led, exemplified by Amgen (AMGN) gaining +4% and Merck (MRK) up +3.4% [2] Economic Indicators - The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for May reported 7.8 million job openings, exceeding expectations of 7.3 million, with job quits at 3.3 million and layoffs/discharges at 1.6 million [4] - The highest job openings were in Accommodation/Food Service (+314K) and Finance/Insurance (+91K), while the Federal Government saw a decrease of -39K jobs [5] - Manufacturing data showed stronger than expected results, with S&P final Manufacturing PMI at 52.9 and ISM Manufacturing at 49.0%, while Construction Spending for May fell to -0.3% [6] Company Performance - Constellation Brands (STZ) reported Q1 earnings of $3.22 per share on revenues of $2.52 billion, missing estimates of $3.38 per share and $2.57 billion, attributed to softer consumer demand in wine and beer sales, with shares down -24% year to date [7]

Core Insights - Constellation Brands reported a revenue of $2.52 billion for the quarter ended May 2025, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 5.5% and an EPS of $3.22, down from $3.57 a year ago [1] - The reported revenue fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.57 billion, resulting in a surprise of -2.07%, while the EPS also missed the consensus estimate of $3.34 by -3.59% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Net Sales for Wine and Spirits were reported at $280.5 million, significantly below the five-analyst average estimate of $297.74 million, marking a year-over-year decline of 27.9% [4] - Net Sales for Beer were $2.23 billion, slightly below the $2.27 billion average estimate, with a year-over-year change of -1.7% [4] - Operating Income for Wine and Spirits was reported at -$6 million, contrasting with the four-analyst average estimate of $12.38 million [4] - Operating Income for Beer was $873.4 million, compared to the average estimate of $899.7 million [4] - Operating Income for Corporate Operations and Other was -$57.5 million, slightly better than the average estimate of -$63.99 million [4] Stock Performance - Shares of Constellation Brands have returned -6.6% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has seen a +5.2% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Financial Performance - The company updated its FY26 reported EPS outlook to $1207-$1237 and maintained a comparable EPS outlook of $1260-$1290[15] - The company maintained FY26 targets for operating cash flow of $27 billion to $28 billion and free cash flow of $15 billion to $16 billion[15] - The company reported a low-single-digit net sales decline and a mid-single-digit operating income decline[15] - The company's operating margin contracted by 150 bps year-over-year to 391%[15] Beer Business - Beer Business shipments decreased by 33% and depletions decreased by 26%[19] - Beer Business net sales decreased by 2% to $22345 million, and operating income decreased by 5% to $8734 million[19] - The company achieved over $40 million of a net benefit through supply chain efficiency initiatives in Q1 FY26[18] Wine and Spirits Business - Wine and Spirits Business experienced a double-digit organic net sales decline and a triple-digit operating income decline[16] - Wine and Spirits Business operating margin contracted from 153% to (21%)[16] - Wine and Spirits Business organic net sales are expected to decline 17-20% and organic operating income to decline 97-100% in FY26[16] Capital Allocation - The company maintained its net leverage ratio at a target of approximately 30X[16, 18] - The company executed $381 million of share repurchases through June 2025[16] - Capital expenditures totaled $193 million, primarily focused on Beer brewing capacity additions[16]

Financial Performance - Constellation Brands reported quarterly earnings of $3.22 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.34 per share, and down from $3.57 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of -3.59% [1] - The company posted revenues of $2.52 billion for the quarter ended May 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.07%, and down from $2.66 billion year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Constellation Brands has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times and topped consensus revenue estimates just once [2] Stock Performance - Constellation Brands shares have lost approximately 26.4% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 5.5% [3] - The current status of estimate revisions translates into a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market in the near future [6] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the coming quarter is $4.07 on revenues of $2.68 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $12.68 on revenues of $9.44 billion [7] - The outlook for the Beverages - Alcohol industry is positive, currently ranking in the top 32% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting that stocks in the top 50% outperform those in the bottom 50% by more than 2 to 1 [8]

Core Insights - Constellation Brands reported fiscal first-quarter results that did not meet analysts' expectations, indicating weak consumer demand as a significant factor [1][2] - The company generated revenue of $2.52 billion, a decrease of 6% year-over-year, and adjusted earnings fell to $572.9 million, or $3.22 per share, down from $654.5 million, or $3.57 per share, in the same quarter last year [1][2] Financial Performance - Revenue for the quarter was $2.52 billion, slightly below analyst consensus [1] - Adjusted earnings were $572.9 million, or $3.22 per share, which also fell short of estimates [1] - The company maintained its full-year earnings estimate of $12.60 to $12.90 per share, with Wall Street analysts expecting $12.84 [2] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Constellation's shares declined by less than 1% in extended trading [2] - The stock has experienced a nearly 25% decline in value throughout 2025 up to the close of Tuesday [2]