Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Receives $2.45 Consensus PT from Analysts

Shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Reduce” from the five research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and four have given a hold recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $2.45.

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on ABEV shares. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Ambev in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Ambev from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Bank of America lowered Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Citigroup reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Barclays cut 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, January 21st.

Ambev Stock Performance

Ambev stock opened at $2.49 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $2.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $2.12. The stock has a market cap of $39.24 billion, a PE ratio of 13.83, a P/E/G ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.80. Ambev has a 12-month low of $1.76 and a 12-month high of $2.59. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.42 billion. As a group, analysts expect that Ambev will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 18th were paid a dividend of $0.0221 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $0.09 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.54%. Ambev’s dividend payout ratio is presently 52.94%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co lifted its position in shares of Ambev by 101.1% in the fourth quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 15,639,612 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,512,000 after buying an additional 7,862,672 shares in the last quarter. Private Management Group Inc. increased its stake in Ambev by 8.1% in the 4th quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 14,512,234 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,848,000 after buying an additional 1,083,882 shares during the period. Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 76.9% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 52,625 shares of the company’s stock valued at $128,000 after purchasing an additional 22,880 shares during the period. RWC Asset Management LLP grew its position in shares of Ambev by 4.4% during the 4th quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP now owns 13,063,556 shares of the company’s stock worth $24,168,000 after buying an additional 552,220 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caprock Group LLC grew its holdings in Ambev by 12.4% during the 4th quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 65,189 shares of the company’s stock worth $128,000 after acquiring an additional 7,211 shares in the last quarter. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.