5 Best Alcohol Stocks To Buy Now

3. Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (ADR) (NYSE:BUD)

Investors with Long Positions (as of June 30): 41

Aggregate Value of Investors’ Holdings (as of June 30): $3.34 Billion

Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (ADR) (NYSE:BUD) also received a vote of confidence from money managers during the recent quarter, as the number of hedge funds with stakes in the stock was up by three. Similarly, the value of the money poured into the stock climbed by $338.25 million during the quarter. As is commonly known, AB Inbev recently approached SABMiller plc (ADR) (OTCMKTS:SBMRY) about a takeover. Even though the deal isn’t sealed yet and is accompanied by high uncertainty, a potential merger could eventually create a brewing giant with a market value of over $250 billion. In the meantime, it appears that the global macroeconomic concerns have been putting downward pressure on the stock, which has lost nearly 4% since the beginning of the year. Eric W. Mandelblatt’s Soroban Capital Partners disclosed an ownership stake of 7.45 million shares in Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (ADR) (NYSE:BUD) via its recent 13F filing.

2. Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE:STZ)

Investors with Long Positions (as of June 30): 62

Aggregate Value of Investors’ Holdings (as of June 30): $4.13 Billion

The value of hedge funds’ holdings in Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE:STZ) shrank by $211.82 million during the second quarter in spite of the fact that the number of money managers invested in the stock remained unchanged. The shares of Constellation have had a great run in 2015, advancing by more than 30% year-to-date. The recent broader market declines have not been a major impediment for the stock either. The company has delivered a great financial performance over the last few quarters, posting double-digit earnings per share growth for eight consecutive quarters, mainly driven by the increasing demand for its beer brands. Constellation’s beer net sales reached a year-over-year increase of 11% in its most recent quarter. Michael Lowenstein’s Kensico Capital is a top shareholder of Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE:STZ) among the hedge funds monitored by us, owning a 6.64 million-share stake.

1. Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE:TAP)

Investors with Long Positions (as of June 30): 66

Aggregate Value of Investors’ Holdings (as of June 30): $2.12 Billion

Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE:TAP) is the most popular alcohol-beverage stock among the top money managers tracked by the Insider Monkey team, with 66 hedge funds holding positions in the stock at the end of the latest quarter, up by four quarter-over-quarter. By the same token, the value of these positions grew by $48.85 million during the June quarter. The shares of Molson surged on the news of a potential AB Inbev-SABMiller deal discussed above, pushing it to a year-to-date return of 9%. Let us remind you that SABMiller holds an economic stake of 58% in MillerCoors LLC, while the remaining 42% is owned by Molson Coors. Therefore, should the aforementioned deal take place, the combined company will most probably have to divest some of its assets, which will allow Molson to acquire the entire economic stake in MillerCoors. James Dinan’s York Capital Management owns 3.21 million shares of Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE:TAP) as of June 30, which makes it the largest shareholder within our database.

Disclosure: None