Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) Given New $2.70 Price Target at UBS Group

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by analysts at UBS Group from $2.60 to $2.70 in a research note issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a "neutral" rating on the stock. UBS Group's target price points to a potential upside of 9.98% from the stock's previous close.

A number of other analysts have also commented on the company. Barclays boosted their price target on Ambev from $2.00 to $2.50 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, May 12th. Morgan Stanley lowered Ambev from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating in a report on Monday, April 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen initiated coverage on Ambev in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $2.60.

Ambev Price Performance

ABEV traded down $0.02 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $2.46. The company's stock had a trading volume of 26,087,708 shares, compared to its average volume of 29,424,686. 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 12 month low of $1.76 and a 12 month high of $2.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $38.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.80. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $2.43 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $2.17.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.04. Ambev had a net margin of 17.02% and a return on equity of 16.12%. The company had revenue of $3.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.40 billion. Sell-side analysts forecast that Ambev will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Ambev

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ABEV. State of Wyoming grew its position in shares of Ambev by 11.3% during the 1st quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 39,606 shares of the company's stock valued at $92,000 after purchasing an additional 4,030 shares in the last quarter. Tranquilli Financial Advisor LLC grew its position in Ambev by 37.3% in the first quarter. Tranquilli Financial Advisor LLC now owns 20,943 shares of the company's stock worth $49,000 after acquiring an additional 5,685 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in Ambev by 51.4% in the fourth quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 17,084 shares of the company's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 5,798 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc grew its position in Ambev by 7.5% in the fourth quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 84,868 shares of the company's stock worth $157,000 after acquiring an additional 5,900 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mondrian Investment Partners LTD grew its position in Ambev by 40.4% in the fourth quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD now owns 20,810 shares of the company's stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 5,993 shares in the last quarter. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by 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.