42,000 Shares in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Acquired by Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC

Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 42,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $78,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ABEV. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its position in Ambev by 324.8% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 8,324,037 shares of the company’s stock valued at $17,064,000 after acquiring an additional 6,364,592 shares in the last quarter. Private Management Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 43.8% in the third quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 13,428,352 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,765,000 after purchasing an additional 4,087,442 shares in the last quarter. Altrius Capital Management Inc acquired a new position in shares of Ambev during the third quarter worth about $8,630,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ambev by 33.5% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 13,236,234 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,296,000 after buying an additional 3,322,952 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brandes Investment Partners LP raised its position in Ambev by 23.9% in the 2nd quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 15,456,266 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,024,000 after buying an additional 2,982,621 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on ABEV. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Ambev in a research note on Sunday, January 19th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Bank of America downgraded shares of Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research report on Wednesday. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $2.45.

Ambev Stock Performance

NYSE ABEV opened at $1.83 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $28.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.50 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $2.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $2.18. Ambev S.A. has a 1 year low of $1.76 and a 1 year high of $2.72.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

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

Ambev 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.