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Constellation Brands (STZ) Beats on Q2 Earnings & Sales
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Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, wherein the top and the bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. With this, the company has reported earnings beat for the 11th consecutive quarter. Despite the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, results have been primarily aided by robust depletion growth at the company’s beer business.
Q2 Highlights
Constellation Brands posted fiscal second-quarter comparable earnings of $2.76 per share, which increased 1% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.51. The reported figure included Canopy Growth equity loss of 15 cents. Excluding the impacts of Canopy Growth, the company posted earnings of $2.91 per share, flat with the year-ago period.
Net sales declined 4% to $2,260.4 million but came above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,192 million.
At the company’s beer business, sales were almost flat at $1,635.9 million as a 1.6% decline in shipment volume was offset by 4.7% depletion growth. Organic shipment volume dipped 0.9%. Organic sales for the business were down 1%. Depletion volume benefited from robust off-premise channel sales, which more than offset the 50% decline in the on-premise channel due to coronavirus.
Solid portfolio depletions and market-share gains mainly stemmed from continued strength in the Modelo and Corona Brand Families. Notably, depletions for the Modelo Especial increased more than 9%.
Sales at the wine and spirits segment declined 11% to $624.5 million in the fiscal second quarter. Further, organic net sales for the segment dropped 9%. While the segment witnessed a 19.4% decline in shipment volume and a 3.3% fall in depletions, organic shipment volume fell 16.5%.
Margins
Adjusted gross profit dipped 2% year over year to $1,187 million. However, the adjusted gross profit margin expanded 110 basis points (bps) to 52.5%.
Constellation Brands' comparable operating income rose 1% to $797.8 million, while comparable operating margin improved nearly 150 bps to 35.3%.
Further, the operating margin at the beer segment expanded 70 bps to 42.5%, owing to gains from lower marketing spend and favorable pricing, offset by higher cost of goods sold (“COGS”). Wine and spirits segment’s operating margin expanded 310 bps to 25.9% on mix benefits, favorable price and lower marketing expenses, partly offset by elevated COGS and SG&A as a rate of sales.
Financial Position
Constellation Brands ended fiscal second quarter with cash and cash equivalent of $204.6 million. As of Aug 31, 2020, it had $11,066.8 million in long-term debt (excluding current maturities) along with total shareholders’ equity (excluding non-controlling interest) of $11,688 million.
In the first six months of fiscal 2021, Constellation Brands generated operating cash flow of $1,444.9 million and adjusted free cash flow of $1,167.1 million.
On Sep 30, 2020, the company announced a quarterly dividend of 75 cents per share for Class A and 68 cents for Class B stock. The dividend is payable Nov 20 to its shareholders of record as of Nov 6.
Other Developments
During the reported quarter, Constellation Brands acquired the balance stake in Copper & Kings, thus expanding its premium-spirits portfolio. It also announced a minority stake in Booker Vineyard's super-luxury, which is a direct-to-consumer wine business. This strengthened the company's direct-to-consumer and 3-tier e-commerce channels.
Management notified that the further revised Wine and Spirits transaction to divest a portion of the business to E. & J. Gallo Winery (Gallo) is assumed to conclude by third-quarter end. Also, the agreement to divest the Nobilo Wine brand to Gallo is expected to close by said period. Furthermore, the company has agreed to sell the Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy brand and the concentrate business in separate deals, which are also expected to conclude by third-quarter end. It plans to retain the Cooks and J. Roget labels, and the Mission Bell Winery.
Outlook
Driven by the potential impacts of the pandemic, the company is not able to provide guidance for fiscal 2021. However, management remains optimistic about its brands and resiliency in the business, which are likely to help it deliver robust organic growth in fiscal 2021.
Although the shipment volumes and distributor-inventory levels were earlier hurt by the slowdown of beer production in Mexico due to the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, the product inventories are likely to revert to more normal levels by the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2021.
In the past six months, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company rallied 44.4% compared with the industry’s 25.3% growth.
Molson Coors Beverage (TAP - Free Report) has an expected long-term earnings-growth rate of 6% and currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Monster Beverage (MNST - Free Report) , also a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has an expected long-term earnings-growth rate of 12%.
Zacks’ Single Best Pick to Double
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each picked their favorite to gain +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Zacks Director of Research, Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
With users in 180 countries and soaring revenues, it’s set to thrive on remote working long after the pandemic ends. No wonder it recently offered a stunning $600 million stock buy-back plan.
The sky’s the limit for this emerging tech giant. And the earlier you get in, the greater your potential gain.
Image: Bigstock
Constellation Brands (STZ) Beats on Q2 Earnings & Sales
Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, wherein the top and the bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. With this, the company has reported earnings beat for the 11th consecutive quarter. Despite the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, results have been primarily aided by robust depletion growth at the company’s beer business.
Q2 Highlights
Constellation Brands posted fiscal second-quarter comparable earnings of $2.76 per share, which increased 1% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.51. The reported figure included Canopy Growth equity loss of 15 cents. Excluding the impacts of Canopy Growth, the company posted earnings of $2.91 per share, flat with the year-ago period.
Net sales declined 4% to $2,260.4 million but came above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,192 million.
At the company’s beer business, sales were almost flat at $1,635.9 million as a 1.6% decline in shipment volume was offset by 4.7% depletion growth. Organic shipment volume dipped 0.9%. Organic sales for the business were down 1%. Depletion volume benefited from robust off-premise channel sales, which more than offset the 50% decline in the on-premise channel due to coronavirus.
Solid portfolio depletions and market-share gains mainly stemmed from continued strength in the Modelo and Corona Brand Families. Notably, depletions for the Modelo Especial increased more than 9%.
Sales at the wine and spirits segment declined 11% to $624.5 million in the fiscal second quarter. Further, organic net sales for the segment dropped 9%. While the segment witnessed a 19.4% decline in shipment volume and a 3.3% fall in depletions, organic shipment volume fell 16.5%.
Margins
Adjusted gross profit dipped 2% year over year to $1,187 million. However, the adjusted gross profit margin expanded 110 basis points (bps) to 52.5%.
Constellation Brands' comparable operating income rose 1% to $797.8 million, while comparable operating margin improved nearly 150 bps to 35.3%.
Further, the operating margin at the beer segment expanded 70 bps to 42.5%, owing to gains from lower marketing spend and favorable pricing, offset by higher cost of goods sold (“COGS”). Wine and spirits segment’s operating margin expanded 310 bps to 25.9% on mix benefits, favorable price and lower marketing expenses, partly offset by elevated COGS and SG&A as a rate of sales.
Financial Position
Constellation Brands ended fiscal second quarter with cash and cash equivalent of $204.6 million. As of Aug 31, 2020, it had $11,066.8 million in long-term debt (excluding current maturities) along with total shareholders’ equity (excluding non-controlling interest) of $11,688 million.
In the first six months of fiscal 2021, Constellation Brands generated operating cash flow of $1,444.9 million and adjusted free cash flow of $1,167.1 million.
On Sep 30, 2020, the company announced a quarterly dividend of 75 cents per share for Class A and 68 cents for Class B stock. The dividend is payable Nov 20 to its shareholders of record as of Nov 6.
Other Developments
During the reported quarter, Constellation Brands acquired the balance stake in Copper & Kings, thus expanding its premium-spirits portfolio. It also announced a minority stake in Booker Vineyard's super-luxury, which is a direct-to-consumer wine business. This strengthened the company's direct-to-consumer and 3-tier e-commerce channels.
Management notified that the further revised Wine and Spirits transaction to divest a portion of the business to E. & J. Gallo Winery (Gallo) is assumed to conclude by third-quarter end. Also, the agreement to divest the Nobilo Wine brand to Gallo is expected to close by said period. Furthermore, the company has agreed to sell the Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy brand and the concentrate business in separate deals, which are also expected to conclude by third-quarter end. It plans to retain the Cooks and J. Roget labels, and the Mission Bell Winery.
Outlook
Driven by the potential impacts of the pandemic, the company is not able to provide guidance for fiscal 2021. However, management remains optimistic about its brands and resiliency in the business, which are likely to help it deliver robust organic growth in fiscal 2021.
Although the shipment volumes and distributor-inventory levels were earlier hurt by the slowdown of beer production in Mexico due to the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, the product inventories are likely to revert to more normal levels by the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2021.
In the past six months, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company rallied 44.4% compared with the industry’s 25.3% growth.
Eye These Hot Beverage Stocks
Boston Beer (SAM - Free Report) has delivered an earnings surprise of 26.1% in the trailing four quarters, on average. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Molson Coors Beverage (TAP - Free Report) has an expected long-term earnings-growth rate of 6% and currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Monster Beverage (MNST - Free Report) , also a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has an expected long-term earnings-growth rate of 12%.
Zacks’ Single Best Pick to Double
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each picked their favorite to gain +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Zacks Director of Research, Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
With users in 180 countries and soaring revenues, it’s set to thrive on remote working long after the pandemic ends. No wonder it recently offered a stunning $600 million stock buy-back plan.
The sky’s the limit for this emerging tech giant. And the earlier you get in, the greater your potential gain.
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