S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) will unveil its latest earnings on Thursday, January 5, 2012. Constellation Brands is a wine company with operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

Constellation Brands, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for profit of 52 cents per share, a decline of 20% from the company’s actual earnings for the same quarter a year ago. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved down from 56 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It has been unchanged at 52 cents during the last month. For the year, analysts are projecting net income of $2.06 per share, a rise of 7.9% from last year.

Past Earnings Performance: Last quarter, the company beat estimates by 11 cents, coming in at profit of 77 cents a share versus the estimate of net income of 66 cents a share. It marked the fourth straight quarter of beating estimates.

Investing Insights: Here’s Why Chipotle’s Stock Keeps Winning.

Wall St. Revenue Expectations: On average, analysts predict $720.4 million in revenue this quarter, a decline of 25.4% from the year ago quarter. Analysts are forecasting total revenue of $2.68 billion for the year, a decline of 19.5% from last year’s revenue of $3.33 billion.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts are bullish on Constellation Brands as four analysts rate it as a buy, none rate it as a sell and four rate it as a hold. Over the past 90 days, the average rating for the stock has moved up from hold to moderate buy.

A Look Back: In the second quarter, profit rose 78.2% to $162.7 million (76 cents a share) from $91.3 million (39 cents a share) the year earlier, exceeding analyst expectations. Revenue fell 20% to $690.2 million from $862.8 million.

Key Stats:

Revenue has fallen in the past two quarters. In the first quarter, the figure fell 19.3%.

Competitors to Watch: Castle Brands Inc. (AMEX:ROX), Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. (NASDAQ:WVVI), Molson Coors Brewing Co. (NYSE:TAP), Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOK), Compania Cervecerias Unidas S.A. (NYSE:CCU), Scheid Vineyards Inc. (SVIN), Heineken N.V. (HINKY), and Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO).

Stock Price Performance: During October 5, 2011 to December 30, 2011, the stock price had risen $1.95 (10.4%) from $18.72 to $20.67. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between March 16, 2011 and March 25, 2011 when shares rose for eight-straight days, rising 7.1% (+$1.28) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between July 21, 2011 and August 4, 2011 when shares fell for 11-straight days, falling 15.5% (-$3.33) over that span.

(Company fundamentals by Xignite Financials. Earnings estimates provided by Zacks)

Investing Insights: Here’s Why Chipotle’s Stock Keeps Winning.

Get Your FREE Special Report: 4 Things You Must Know About the US Economy Now!