Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) Downgraded by UBS Group to "Neutral"

UBS Group downgraded shares of Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report issued on Tuesday morning, Marketbeat.com reports.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Ambev in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Citigroup reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of Ambev in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Ambev from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Bank of America cut shares of Ambev from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Ambev presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $2.45.

Ambev Stock Performance

ABEV stock remained flat at $2.46 during trading on Tuesday. 50,320,918 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 28,289,855. The firm has a market cap of $38.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.67, 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 company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.20. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $2.24 and a 200-day simple moving average of $2.12.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.06 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $4.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $22.42 billion. Ambev had a return on equity of 16.12% and a net margin of 17.02%. Sell-side analysts expect that Ambev will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 14th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 18th were paid a dividend of $0.0221 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $0.09 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.59%. Ambev's payout ratio is 52.94%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ambev

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. GQG Partners LLC grew its position in Ambev by 51.9% during the fourth quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 196,676,003 shares of the company's stock valued at $363,851,000 after buying an additional 67,180,274 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 201.7% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 26,087,675 shares of the company's stock worth $48,262,000 after acquiring an additional 17,440,564 shares in the last quarter. Talaria Asset Management Pty Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Ambev during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,602,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its stake in shares of Ambev by 1,641.9% in the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 19,001,985 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,154,000 after purchasing an additional 17,911,122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Ambev by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 18,614,210 shares of the company's stock worth $34,436,000 after purchasing an additional 880,763 shares during the period. 8.13% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.