Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Given Consensus Rating of “Hold” by Brokerages

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) has received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the five analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $2.45.

ABEV has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Ambev in a report on Monday, January 27th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Citigroup reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Bank of America downgraded shares of Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ambev

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of ABEV. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 83.8% in the 4th quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. now owns 2,454,174 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,516,000 after buying an additional 1,118,685 shares in the last quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 1,313.2% in the 4th quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 268,500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $497,000 after buying an additional 249,500 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 223.3% in the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,163,956 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,853,000 after buying an additional 2,185,372 shares in the last quarter. Capstone Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Ambev in the 4th quarter valued at $46,000. Finally, Aquatic Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 210.1% in the 4th quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC now owns 1,143,156 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,115,000 after buying an additional 774,556 shares in the last quarter. 8.13% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ambev Stock Performance

Shares of ABEV stock opened at $1.91 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $1.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.20. Ambev has a one year low of $1.76 and a one year high of $2.72. The firm has a market cap of $30.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.58, a P/E/G ratio of 5.56 and a beta of 1.04.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 23rd were given a $0.0414 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 23rd. Ambev’s dividend payout ratio is presently 38.89%.

Ambev Company Profile

Ambev SA, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of beer, draft beer, carbonated soft drinks, malt and food, other alcoholic beverages, and non-alcoholic and non-carbonated products in Brazil, Central America and Caribbean, Latin America South, and Canada. It offers beer primarily under the Skol, Brahma, Antarctica, Brahva, Budweiser, Bud Light, Beck, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Balboa ICE, Balboa, Atlas Golden Light, Atlas, Bucanero, Cristal, Mayabe, Presidente, Presidente Light, Brahma Light, Bohemia, The One, Corona, Modelo Especial, Stella Artois, Quilmes Clásica, Paceña, Taquiña, Huari, Becker, Cusqueña, Michelob Ultra, Busch, Pilsen, Ouro Fino, Bud 66, Banks, Deputy, Patricia, Labatt Blue, Alexander Keith’s, and Kokanee brands.