Brokerages Set Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) PT at $2.45

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) has received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the five brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Four 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 objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $2.45.

A number of analysts recently issued reports on ABEV shares. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Ambev in a research report on Sunday, January 19th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday. Barclays lowered their price objective on Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. 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 Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its stake in Ambev by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 42,904,893 shares of the company’s stock worth $104,688,000 after acquiring an additional 226,238 shares during the last quarter. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Ambev by 6.3% in the third quarter. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC now owns 30,069,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $73,368,000 after purchasing an additional 1,770,000 shares during the last quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP boosted its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 2,982,621 shares during the period. Kiltearn Partners LLP lifted its position in Ambev by 43.3% during the second quarter. Kiltearn Partners LLP now owns 14,575,900 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,881,000 after purchasing an additional 4,407,800 shares during the period. Finally, Private Management Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Ambev by 43.8% during the 3rd quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 13,428,352 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,765,000 after acquiring an additional 4,087,442 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

Ambev Stock Performance

Ambev stock opened at $1.80 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $2.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $2.18. The company has a market capitalization of $28.28 billion, a PE ratio of 9.97, a P/E/G ratio of 5.44 and a beta of 1.05. Ambev has a fifty-two week low of $1.76 and a fifty-two week high of $2.72. 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 Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced 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 yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 23rd. Ambev’s payout ratio is currently 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.