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

Shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the five brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $2.45.

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Ambev in a research report on Monday, January 27th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Morgan Stanley cut 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 report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ambev

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ambev by 468.4% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,998 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 9,063 shares in the last quarter. MCIA Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Ambev during the third quarter valued at $25,000. Insight Inv LLC purchased a new position in Ambev in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Naviter Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Ambev during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Generation Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ambev in the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

Ambev Stock Performance

Ambev stock opened at $2.25 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.37 billion, a PE ratio of 12.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.68. Ambev has a one year low of $1.76 and a one year high of $2.56. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $2.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $2.12. 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 (NYSE:ABEV) last released its quarterly earnings results 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 firm had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.42 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Ambev will post 0.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.0221 per share. This represents a $0.09 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.93%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 18th. Ambev’s payout ratio is currently 52.94%.

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.