Moran Wealth Management LLC Increases Holdings in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV)

Moran Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) by 9.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,863,326 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 157,817 shares during the quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Ambev were worth $4,342,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of ABEV. Principal Securities Inc. raised its holdings in Ambev by 185.5% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 34,678 shares of the company’s stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 22,531 shares in the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 37.8% during the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 1,085,500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,008,000 after purchasing an additional 298,000 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc increased its position in shares of Ambev by 7.5% during the fourth quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 84,868 shares of the company’s stock valued at $157,000 after buying an additional 5,900 shares during the period. CORDA Investment Management LLC. bought a new position in Ambev in the fourth quarter worth about $11,987,000. Finally, Verus Capital Partners LLC raised its stake in Ambev by 24.6% in the fourth quarter. Verus Capital Partners LLC now owns 70,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $130,000 after buying an additional 13,800 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

Ambev Price Performance

Shares of ABEV opened at $2.32 on Thursday. Ambev S.A. has a fifty-two week low of $1.76 and a fifty-two week high of $2.64. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $2.47 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $2.19. The stock has a market cap of $36.56 billion, a PE ratio of 14.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.11.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.04. Ambev had a return on equity of 14.74% and a net margin of 15.76%. The firm had revenue of $3.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.40 billion. Analysts anticipate that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a — dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be paid a $0.0219 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 19th. This represents a dividend yield of 5%. Ambev’s dividend payout ratio is currently 68.75%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ABEV has been the topic of several research reports. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Ambev from $2.60 to $2.70 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. Barclays lifted their price target on Ambev from $2.00 to $2.50 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Wall Street Zen assumed coverage on Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley downgraded Ambev from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, April 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $2.60.

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.