US wine company WarRoom Cellars has revealed it has acquired the Simi wine brand from The Wine Group (TWG). The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Just Drinks has contacted California-based WarRoom for more information on the transaction. Founded in 1876 by the Simi family and headquartered in Sonoma County, WarRoom said the namesake brand was one of the few in Californian wine to survive Prohibition. In a statement, WarRoom said: “Simi's legacy of resilience, quality, and strong fema ...

Core Insights - Constellation Brands, Inc. (STZ) is successfully implementing a premiumization strategy, leading to accelerated growth in its Power Brands, particularly in the beer segment [1] Group 1: Divestiture and Portfolio Restructuring - The company has completed the divestiture of its mainstream wine brands to The Wine Group, which includes brands like Woodbridge, Meiomi, and Robert Mondavi Private Selection [2][9] - The wine portfolio now focuses on exclusive wines priced at $15 and above, featuring renowned brands from top regions globally [3] - The craft spirits portfolio includes High West whiskey, Mi CAMPO tequila, and Casa Noble tequila, aligning with consumer-led premiumization trends [4] Group 2: Financial Outlook - For fiscal 2026, Constellation Brands anticipates net sales growth of 0-3% in the beer segment and a significant increase in enterprise operating income by 765-783% [5] - The medium-term outlook for fiscal 2027 and 2028 includes enterprise net sales growth of 2-4%, with operating income margins projected at 35-36% overall [6] - Earnings per share (EPS) growth is expected to be mid-single-digit to low-double-digit for fiscal 2027 and low-single-digit to mid-single-digit for fiscal 2028 [7] Group 3: Capacity Expansion and Market Position - The company is investing in capacity expansion in Mexico to meet demand for its high-end Mexican beer portfolio, aiming for a capacity of approximately 55 million hectoliters by fiscal 2028 [8] - Constellation Brands is focused on enhancing distribution and innovation to support its leading position in the beer market [8] Group 4: Challenges - The company faces challenges from rising selling, general, and administrative costs, as well as inflationary pressures affecting packaging and raw material costs [10]

Core Viewpoint - Constellation Brands faces significant near-term challenges, leading to a nearly 30% drop in stock price over the past year, raising questions about its ability to recover in the next 12 months [1] Group 1: Challenges Faced - The company is experiencing a decline in alcohol consumption among younger millennials and Gen Z, raising concerns about the long-term viability of the alcohol market [2] - Constellation is heavily impacted by tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Mexican imports, which could reduce its earnings per share (EPS) by $3 to $3.75 in fiscal 2026, equating to a 22% to 27% decrease from an EPS of $13.78 in fiscal 2025 [4] - Wine sales, previously thought to be more resilient, have also declined, with a 9% drop in fiscal 2024 and an additional 7% decline in fiscal 2025 [5] - The near-term outlook for the company is bleak, with expectations of flat organic sales and a projected EPS decline of 8% to 11% if tariffs remain in place [6] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - To stabilize its business, Constellation plans to divest cheaper wine brands and focus on premium offerings, while also targeting younger consumers with nonalcoholic and lighter alcoholic beverages [7][8] - The company intends to invest approximately $2 billion in its Mexican production facilities through fiscal 2028 to enhance brewing capacity, alongside restructuring efforts aimed at achieving over $200 million in annual savings [8] Group 3: Future Projections - If the company's strategies are successful, it anticipates organic sales growth of 2% to 4% in fiscal 2027 and 2028, with EPS growth projected in the mid-single to low double digits for fiscal 2027 and low to mid-single digits for fiscal 2028 [9] - The stock is currently valued at 14 times forward earnings, with a forward yield of 2.2%, and a new $4 billion buyback plan has been authorized [10] - Should the company meet analysts' expectations and maintain its current valuation, the stock could rise about 4% to $193 per share over the next year, indicating a potential bottoming out despite near-term challenges [11] - A reduction in tariffs could lead to a quicker recovery in stock valuation, potentially resulting in gains exceeding 4% over the next 12 months [12]