Consumer Staples Sector Sees Best Start in 25 Years
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 26 2026
0mins
Should l Buy STZ?
Source: CNBC
- Strong Market Performance: The Consumer Staples Index has risen 6.6% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500 by over 500 basis points, indicating the sector's defensive strength amid market volatility and reflecting investors' preference for stable returns.
- Fundamental Improvement: Despite facing headwinds such as elevated input costs and shifting consumer behavior during the 2023-2025 period, these pressures are beginning to ease, setting the stage for a more sustainable recovery with better performance expected ahead.
- Emerging Investment Opportunities: Analysts at Wells Fargo highlight household and personal care as areas of interest, although clearer evidence of improving data is needed to confirm trends, with Church & Dwight, Procter & Gamble, and Edgewell Personal Care receiving overweight ratings.
- Positive Beverage Stock Outlook: Beverage stocks are expected to show sustained recovery into the summer, particularly beer companies like Constellation Brands and Anheuser-Busch InBev, which are viewed as the most attractive recovery trades, reflecting market confidence in consumer staples.
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Analyst Views on STZ
Wall Street analysts forecast STZ stock price to rise
15 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
7 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 146.470
Low
135.00
Averages
163.00
High
209.00
Current: 146.470
Low
135.00
Averages
163.00
High
209.00
About STZ
Constellation Brands, Inc. is a producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the United States, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy with brands, such as Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, Robert Mondavi Winery, Kim Crawford, The Prisoner Wine Company, High West, Casa Noble, and Mi CAMPO. Its segments include Beer, Wine and Spirits, and Corporate Operations and Other. In the Beer segment, its portfolio consists of high-end imported beer brands and ABAs. It has a perpetual brand license to produce its Mexican beer portfolio and to import, market, and sell such a portfolio in the United States. In the Wine and Spirits segment, it sells a portfolio that includes higher-end wine brands complemented by certain higher-end spirits brands. Its Corporate Operations and Other segment consists of costs of corporate development, corporate finance, corporate strategy, executive management, growth, human resources, internal audit, investor relations, IT, legal and public relations.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Constellation Brands Outlook: Despite a decline in share price since late 2024 and a drop in U.S. alcohol consumption to a multi-decade low of 54%, Constellation is undergoing a self-reform by divesting lower-priced wine brands, and the new CEO is expected to bring fresh perspectives for future growth.
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- Cyclical Challenges in Brewing: Constellation Brands has underperformed since 2024, with shares declining as the proportion of U.S. adults consuming alcohol falls to 54%, yet the cyclical nature of the industry suggests demand may rebound when consumer confidence improves.
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- Market Underperformance: On Wednesday, the beverages and wineries sector collectively declined by approximately 1.1%, indicating a weakening market confidence that could impact long-term investor expectations.
- Brown Forman Decline: As a leading player in the industry, Brown Forman's stock fell by about 7%, which not only affects its market capitalization but may also heighten investor concerns regarding its future performance.
- Constellation Brands Pressure: Constellation Brands experienced a decline of around 3%, reflecting the company's vulnerability in the current market environment, potentially affecting its market share and profitability.
- Industry Trend Warning: The overall downturn in the beverages and wineries sector may signal a shift in consumer demand, prompting companies to reassess their market strategies to address potential sales pressures.
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- Market Share Dynamics: Constellation Brands has seen steady market share gains in the U.S. since acquiring Modelo, Corona, and Pacifico in 2013, although recent trends show a 2.2% year-over-year decline in beer shipments and a 1% drop in net sales and operating income due to decreasing alcohol consumption among younger generations.
- Revenue Fluctuations: The company's revenue has fallen from a peak of nearly $10 billion in 2024 to $9.4 billion over the past 12 months, reflecting long-term changes in alcohol consumption trends, particularly as the percentage of U.S. drinkers has dropped to 54%, the lowest level on record.
- Attractive Stock Valuation: Despite the challenges of declining consumption, Constellation Brands' stock trades at just 11.6 times trailing operating earnings and offers a 2.56% dividend yield, making it appealing for contrarian investors, especially given the company's ongoing stock repurchase program.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: With continued market share gains and enhanced pricing power, Constellation Brands' earnings are expected to gradually recover over the next few years, suggesting that while short-term challenges exist, long-term holding could yield significant returns for investors.
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