Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) Now Covered by Analysts at StockNews.com

StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) in a research report report published on Wednesday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the stock.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Bank of America cut Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Barclays decreased their target price on Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. UBS Group downgraded shares of Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday. Citigroup reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Ambev from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, April 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $2.45.

Ambev Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ABEV opened at $2.46 on Wednesday. Ambev has a fifty-two week low of $1.76 and a fifty-two week high of $2.56. The company has a market cap of $38.76 billion, a PE ratio of 13.67, a P/E/G ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.20. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $2.24 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $2.12.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.06 by ($0.01). Ambev had a net margin of 17.02% and a return on equity of 16.12%. The company had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.42 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that Ambev will post 0.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th were issued a dividend of $0.0221 per share. This represents a $0.09 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 18th. Ambev’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 52.94%.

Institutional Trading of Ambev

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABEV. Insight Inv LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ambev during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in Ambev by 468.4% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,998 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 9,063 shares in the last quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Ambev in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Generation Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ambev in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Naviter Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ambev during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

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.