Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) Now Covered by Analysts at StockNews.com

StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) in a report published on Monday. The firm issued a buy rating on the stock.

A number of other brokerages have also commented on ABEV. Bank of America lowered Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Citigroup reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $2.45.

Ambev Price Performance

Shares of ABEV stock opened at $1.84 on Monday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $2.01 and its 200-day moving average is $2.18. 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 has a 52 week low of $1.76 and a 52 week high of $2.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.91 billion, a PE ratio of 10.19, a PEG ratio of 5.44 and a beta of 1.05.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The business 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 of this dividend was Monday, December 23rd. This represents a yield of 1.93%. Ambev’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.89%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ambev

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABEV. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ambev by 37.9% during the 3rd 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. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in Ambev by 37.4% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 18,324 shares of the company’s stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 4,984 shares during the last quarter. PDS Planning Inc raised 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 acquiring an additional 5,409 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC lifted its position in Ambev by 23.8% during the third quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 28,787 shares of the company’s stock worth $70,000 after acquiring an additional 5,526 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Endowment Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 21.6% during the third quarter. Endowment Wealth Management Inc. now owns 31,525 shares of the company’s stock worth $77,000 after acquiring an additional 5,592 shares during the period. 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.