Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” from Analysts

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the five research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $2.45.

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Ambev in a research report on Monday, January 27th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Bank of America cut Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Barclays dropped their target price on Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd.

Ambev Price Performance

NYSE:ABEV opened at $1.91 on Friday. Ambev has a 52 week low of $1.76 and a 52 week high of $2.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.01 billion, a PE ratio of 10.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.56 and a beta of 1.04. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $1.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.15.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ambev

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Ambev by 37.9% during the third quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 17,685 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 4,861 shares during the last quarter. PDS Planning Inc boosted its holdings in Ambev by 18.4% in the 3rd quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 34,870 shares of the company’s stock valued at $85,000 after purchasing an additional 5,409 shares during the last quarter. Endowment Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Ambev by 21.6% in the 3rd quarter. Endowment Wealth Management Inc. now owns 31,525 shares of the company’s stock valued at $77,000 after purchasing an additional 5,592 shares during the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Ambev by 9.2% in the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 67,247 shares of the company’s stock valued at $164,000 after purchasing an additional 5,677 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Ambev by 51.4% in the 4th quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 17,084 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 5,798 shares during the last quarter. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Ambev

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.