Ambev’s (ABEV) “Neutral” Rating Reaffirmed at Citigroup

Citigroup reiterated their neutral rating on shares of Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) in a research note published on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on ABEV. StockNews.com started coverage on Ambev in a research note on Sunday, January 19th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Barclays dropped their price target on Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Bank of America cut Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $2.45.

Ambev Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ABEV opened at $1.80 on Wednesday. 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. 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 has a twelve month low of $1.76 and a twelve month high of $2.72. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $2.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $2.18.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Caprock Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Ambev by 12.4% during the fourth quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 65,189 shares of the company’s stock valued at $128,000 after purchasing an additional 7,211 shares in the last quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network increased its stake in Ambev by 89.5% in the 4th quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network now owns 45,355 shares of the company’s stock valued at $84,000 after buying an additional 21,420 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in shares of Ambev by 29.3% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 169,664 shares of the company’s stock worth $314,000 after buying an additional 38,417 shares in the last quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 78.6% in the 4th quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC now owns 46,755 shares of the company’s stock worth $86,000 after buying an additional 20,575 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Insight Inv LLC bought a new position in shares of Ambev in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Institutional investors own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

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.