Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) Earns Buy Rating from Analysts at StockNews.com

Analysts at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) in a report issued on Wednesday. The brokerage set a “buy” rating on the stock.

ABEV has been the topic of several other reports. Bank of America lowered shares of Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley downgraded Ambev from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating in a research note on Monday, April 7th. Barclays decreased 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. UBS Group cut Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ambev currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $2.45.

Ambev Stock Up 1.0 %

Ambev stock opened at $2.43 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $2.21 and its 200 day moving average price is $2.12. Ambev has a 1-year low of $1.76 and a 1-year high of $2.56. The company has a market cap of $38.20 billion, a PE ratio of 13.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.89.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.06 by ($0.01). Ambev had a return on equity of 16.12% and a net margin of 17.02%. The company had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.42 billion. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Ambev will post 0.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ambev

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ABEV. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in Ambev by 468.4% during the 1st 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. Insight Inv LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ambev during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Naviter Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ambev during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Generation Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ambev in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ambev during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 8.13% of the stock is 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.