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Constellation Brands, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Reported EPS range updated: Management updated the fiscal 2026 reported EPS range to $9.72 to $10.02, against a fiscal 2025 actual of $(0.45). Source
  • Reported and comparable EPS figures: Reported diluted EPS was $2.88 against $3.39 a year earlier. Comparable EPS was $3.06 against $3.25. Source
  • Beer net sales down 1%: Beer net sales were $2,009.7 million. Management attributed the decline to a 2.2% drop in shipment volumes, partly offset by favorable pricing. Source
  • Wine and Spirits sales down 51%: Wine and Spirits net sales were $213.1 million, down 51%. Organic net sales fell 7%. Divestitures and strategic pricing actions on select brands were cited. Source
  • Beer gained dollar share in tracked channels: The Beer Business ranked as the #3 dollar share gainer in Circana U.S. tracked channels and had four of the top 15 dollar share gaining brands across U.S. beer. Source
  • Modelo and Corona depletions declined: Beer depletions fell 3.0%. Modelo Especial fell about 4%, Corona Extra nearly 9%, and the Modelo Chelada brands about 2%. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow year to date: Year-to-date operating cash flow was $2.1 billion and free cash flow was $1.45 billion. Source
  • Share repurchases of $824 million: Share repurchases totaled $824 million year to date through December 2025. Source

“The operating environment during the third quarter of fiscal 2026 remained challenged, which was in line with our expectations and relatively consistent with the prior quarter.”

Constellation Brands, Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026 (year ending February 28, 2026)$9.72 - $10.02
Comparable diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026 (year ending February 28, 2026)$11.30 - $11.60Kept
Operating cash flow SourceFiscal 2026$2.5 - $2.6 billionKept
Free cash flow SourceFiscal 2026$1.3 - $1.4 billionKept
Enterprise organic net sales SourceFiscal 2026decline of 4% - 6%
Beer net sales SourceFiscal 2026decline of 2% - 4%
Wine and Spirits organic net sales SourceFiscal 2026decline of 17% - 20%
Enterprise operating income growth (decline) SourceFiscal 2026reported 657% - 677%; comparable (11)% - (9)%
Beer operating income SourceFiscal 2026decline of 7% - 9%
Wine and Spirits organic operating income SourceFiscal 2026decline of 97% - 100%
Corporate expense SourceFiscal 2026$225 million
Interest expense, net SourceFiscal 2026approximately $370 million
Tax rate SourceFiscal 2026reported approximately 18%; comparable approximately 19%
Weighted average diluted shares SourceFiscal 2026approximately 176 million
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2026approximately $1.2 billion, of which approximately $1.0 billion for Mexico beer
Capital targets SourceOngoing~3.0X comparable net leverage; ~30% dividend payout ratio

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Comparable EPS range affirmed at $11.30 to $11.60. Source
  • Guidance kept: Operating cash flow and free cash flow targets affirmed. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Reported EPS range updated: Management updated the fiscal 2026 reported EPS range to $9.72 to $10.02, against a fiscal 2025 actual of $(0.45). Source
  • Reported and comparable EPS figures: Reported diluted EPS was $2.88 against $3.39 a year earlier. Comparable EPS was $3.06 against $3.25. Source
  • Net sales down 10%, organic down 2%: Net sales were $2,222.8 million against $2,463.8 million. Organic net sales were $2,222.8 million against $2,261.2 million, after removing divested sales. Source
  • Operating income down 13%: Operating income was $692.0 million against $793.0 million. Comparable operating income was $738.9 million against $740.6 million, a change of 0%. Source
  • Nine-month operating income up 351%: Nine-month reported operating income was $2,279.8 million against $505.2 million. The prior-year period included a $2,250.0 million goodwill impairment. Source

Segments and regions

  • Beer net sales down 1%: Beer net sales were $2,009.7 million. Management attributed the decline to a 2.2% drop in shipment volumes, partly offset by favorable pricing. Source
  • Beer operating margin rose to 38.0%: Beer operating margin was 38.0%, up 10 basis points, as favorable pricing and lower depreciation outweighed higher costs. Source
  • Wine and Spirits sales down 51%: Wine and Spirits net sales were $213.1 million, down 51%. Organic net sales fell 7%. Divestitures and strategic pricing actions on select brands were cited. Source
  • Wine and Spirits margin fell to 15.8%: Wine and Spirits operating margin was 15.8%, against 22.1%. Management cited divestitures and fixed cost absorption, partly offset by lower marketing and other SG&A expense. Source

“Through the first three quarters of fiscal 2026, we returned nearly $1.4 billion to shareholders, maintained our investment-grade rating, and consistently met our ~3.0X comparable net leverage and ~30% dividend payout ratio targets.”

Constellation Brands, Inc., press release

Brands and customers

  • Beer gained dollar share in tracked channels: The Beer Business ranked as the #3 dollar share gainer in Circana U.S. tracked channels and had four of the top 15 dollar share gaining brands across U.S. beer. Source
  • Modelo and Corona depletions declined: Beer depletions fell 3.0%. Modelo Especial fell about 4%, Corona Extra nearly 9%, and the Modelo Chelada brands about 2%. Source
  • Pacifico and Victoria depletions grew: Pacifico and Victoria depletions grew over 15% and 13%, respectively, partly offsetting the declines in the core Mexican brands. Source
  • Wine depletions flat, sales outpaced segment: Wine and Spirits U.S. depletions were flat. Management said the portfolio outpaced the higher-end wine segment in dollar and volume sales in Circana tracked channels. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross profit down 8%: Gross profit was $1,183.2 million against $1,284.3 million, down 8% in the quarter. Source
  • SG&A expense flat year over year: Selling, general, and administrative expenses were $491.2 million, compared with $491.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring costs under 2025 initiative: The 2025 Restructuring Initiative recorded $34.8 million of comparable adjustments in the quarter. The fiscal 2026 estimate for it is $73 million. Source
  • Reported tax rate 17.4%: Reported effective tax rate was 17.4%, against 6.6% a year earlier. The comparable basis rate was 18.5%, against 16.3%. Source

“we continue to pursue incremental cost savings confident that we are positioning the company for long-term success.”

Constellation Brands, Inc., press release

Demand and volumes

  • Beer shipments and depletions declined: Beer shipments were 100.4 million case equivalents, down 2.2%. Nine-month shipments were down 5.0%, and nine-month depletions fell 2.7%. Source
  • U.S. wholesale wine shipments up: Organic U.S. wholesale wine shipments were 1.1 million 9-liter case equivalents, up 10.0% from 1.0 million. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating and free cash flow year to date: Year-to-date operating cash flow was $2.1 billion and free cash flow was $1.45 billion. Source
  • Share repurchases of $824 million: Share repurchases totaled $824 million year to date through December 2025. Source
  • Debt issued and repaid in period: Long-term debt issuance was $997.7 million and principal payments were $1,403.3 million in the first nine months. Source
  • Quarterly dividend of $1.02 declared: The board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.02 per share of Class A Common Stock. Source

Strategy and portfolio

  • Wine portfolio narrowed by 2025 divestitures: The 2025 Wine Divestitures covered a portion of the wine and spirits business, primarily the mainstream wine brands, with associated inventory and facilities. Source
  • Capital allocation and modular brewery expansion: Management said its shareholder returns and capital targets reflect disciplined capital allocation, including advancing modular brewery expansions. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 January 2026

  • Dividend payable February 12: The $1.02 dividend is payable February 12, 2026, to holders of record as of January 29, 2026. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 year ends February 28: The fiscal 2026 guidance ranges cover the year ending February 28, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Beer shipments and depletions (24-pack, 12-ounce case equivalents, millions) SourceShipments 100.4 vs 102.7 (down 2.2%); nine months 329.1 vs 346.4 (down 5.0%); depletions down 3.0%
Wine and Spirits shipments (9-liter case equivalents, millions) Source1.5 vs 5.1 (down 70.6%); nine months 6.7 vs 16.2 (down 58.6%)
Wine and Spirits organic shipments (millions) Source1.5 vs 1.5 (flat); nine months 6.7 vs 7.4 (down 9.5%)
U.S. wholesale organic shipments, Wine and Spirits (millions) Source1.1 vs 1.0 (up 10.0%)

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management described the operating environment as challenged, with continued pressure on consumption of its beverages. Source
  • External: Aluminum tariffs increased cost of goods sold in the Beer segment, along with lower-volume fixed cost absorption. Source
  • Operational: Wine and Spirits margin was affected by fixed cost absorption and changes in distributor contractual obligations. Source
  • Financial: The 2025 Wine Divestitures led to contract liability and inventory obsolescence charges recorded in the period. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said it consistently met its net leverage and dividend payout targets through the first three quarters. Source
  • Not stated: Management affirmed the comparable EPS range rather than changing it. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.