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Investing.com -- Constellation Brands reported weaker‑than‑expected first‑quarter earnings but stuck with its full‑year profit forecast, betting solid demand for its Modelo Especial and Corona beer franchises will help offset a tariff-driven uptick in costs later in the year.
Shares of the brewer were last down 0.8% in premarket trading at $165.06 on Wednesday.
Net earnings attributable to common shareholders fell to $3.22 per share for the three months ended May 31, below analysts’ average estimate of $3.41.
Net sales rose 6% to $2.52 billion, missing Wall Street’s consensus forecast of $2.56 billion.
The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 earnings guidance of $12.60 to $12.90 a share, bracketing the $12.65 average predicted by analysts.
Constellation reiterated that the guidance includes the anticipated impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s punishing "reciprocal" tariffs, which he unveiled at a White House event on April 2. Although the move was later mostly delayed, a baseline 10% tariff and trade taxes on specific goods like steel and aluminum -- a key input for the beer industry in particular -- remain in place.
The outlook also reflects the effect of increased levies on steel and aluminum tariffs now in effect, Constellation said, adding that separate Canadian duties announced in March could dent its wine and spirits business as well.
Many packaged food and beverage sellers have subsequently noted some caution around the coming months, with drinks industry bodies and analysts flagging that the tariffs could push up the prices of cocktails and foreign beers -- possibly threatening demand from customers looking to protect their wallets in an uncertain economic environment.
In a note, analysts at JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) said "the broad expectation was for the company to reiterate guidance, which it did, although we thought it would have been more prudent for Constellation to guide lower” due to a weakening economic environment and consumer sentiment indicators.
(Pratyush Thakur contributed reporting.)