Constellation Brands (STZ) is navigating a tough beer market as multiple pressures weigh on consumption. "The overall industry is a bit suppressed because of the lack of engagement and the lack of consumers going out and drinking and consuming in the way that they normally would," CEO Bill Newlands told Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid. The company's stock is down nearly 36% year to date. Over the same period, shares of Coors Light maker Molson Coors (TAP) are down 20%, while Bud Light maker Anheuser-Busch's ...

Key Takeaways Q2 FY26 EPS of $3.63 beat estimates but dropped 16% year over year; sales fell 15% to $2.48B.Beer sales declined 7%, hurt by softer demand and inventory rebalancing, partly offset by Pacifico growth.STZ generated $1.1B in free cash flow and returned $604M via buybacks and dividends.Constellation Brands, Inc. (STZ) reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein the top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company’s sales and earnings declined year over year on weak ...

Core Viewpoint - Constellation Brands reported disappointing Q1 fiscal 2026 results, with both sales and earnings missing estimates, primarily due to weak consumer demand influenced by socioeconomic factors [3][4]. Financial Performance - Comparable earnings per share (EPS) for Q1 were $3.22, down 10% year over year, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.38. Reported EPS was $2.90, a 39% decline year over year [4]. - Net sales fell 5.5% year over year to $2.52 billion, also missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.57 billion [4]. - The beer segment's sales decreased 2% year over year to $2.23 billion, with a shipment volume decline of 3.3% [5]. - The wine and spirits segment saw a significant sales drop of 28% year over year to $280.5 million, driven by a 30.4% decline in shipment volumes [6]. Margin Analysis - Comparable operating income was $810 million, down 11% from the prior year, attributed to declines in both beer and wine & spirits segments [7]. - Operating income for the beer segment fell 5% year over year to $873.4 million, with an operating margin contraction of 150 basis points to 39.1% due to increased costs [8]. - The wine and spirits segment reported an operating loss of $6 million, a significant decline from an operating income of $59.7 million in the previous year [9]. Financial Position - As of May 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $73.9 million, long-term debt was $9.8 billion, and total shareholders' equity was $7.3 billion [10]. - The company generated an operating cash flow of $637.2 million and an adjusted free cash flow of $444.4 million for Q1 [10][11]. Future Outlook - Constellation Brands 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 [12]. - The company anticipates organic net sales for fiscal 2026 to range from a decline of 2% to an increase of 1%, with the beer segment expected to grow 0-3% and the wine and spirits segment to decline 17-20% [13]. - Comparable EPS guidance for fiscal 2026 is set at $12.60-$12.90, with reported EPS expected to be $12.07-$12.37 [15].

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]

Core Viewpoint - Constellation Brands, Inc. is expected to report declines in both revenue and earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with earnings estimated at $3.34 per share, reflecting a 6.4% decrease year-over-year, and revenues projected at $2.6 billion, indicating a 3.5% decline from the previous year [1][2]. Financial Performance Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share is $3.34, down 6.4% from the same quarter last year, with a 1.5% downward revision in the past week [2] - Revenue expectations are set at $2.6 billion, which is a 3.5% decline compared to the prior-year quarter [2] - The company experienced a negative earnings surprise of 15.4% in the last reported quarter, but has historically beaten estimates by an average of 5.2% over the last four quarters [2] Earnings Prediction Model - The current model does not predict an earnings beat for Constellation Brands, with an Earnings ESP of -1.64% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] Segment Performance Insights - The beer segment is expected to show resilience, benefiting from cost-saving measures and efficiency initiatives, with growth driven by brands like Modelo Especial and Corona Extra [4] - The wine and spirits segment returned to growth in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, with expected sales growth supported by increased shipment volumes and a favorable product mix [5] - Premiumization strategies and capacity expansion in Mexico are contributing positively to the beer segment's performance [6] Market Environment and Challenges - The company faces inflationary pressures, including higher packaging and raw material costs, which are impacting margins [7] - The operating environment is challenging due to cautious consumer spending and potential tariff changes, which may further affect profitability [8] Valuation Perspective - Constellation Brands is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 12.38X, which is below its five-year high of 23.57X and the industry average of 15.27X, indicating an attractive investment opportunity [9][10] - The stock has declined by 37.1% over the past year, compared to an 8.8% decline in the industry [11]