Constellation Brands

The new year's first week will be busy. Due out on Friday is December's umemployment rate, and the consensus is for it to drop to 9.7%. However, few expect real improvement until well into 2011. Also on tap: weekly and monthly chain-store sales, FOMC minutes, ISM services report and more.

The holidays usually bring good cheer to purveyors of wine and spirits. But looming concerns about consumer spending are keeping some names off our wish lists. Still, the worst of the downturn seems to be behind the industry, making some of the bigger names worth a sniff.

Constellation Brands (STZ) reported better than expected fiscal first-quarter earnings Thursday morning, thanks in part to a more favorable tax situation. While revenue figures were below Wall Street's estimates, the company also raised its full-year earnings guidance. The wine and spirits...

U.S. stocks may be poised to drop for a third day following yesterday's disappointing results from Alcoa Inc. (AA), the first major Dow component to report this earnings season. According to Bloomberg News, futures on the S&P 500 expiring in June decreased 0.9 percent to 806.60 at 10:50 a.m. in...