Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Given Consensus Rating of "Reduce" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Ambev S.A. has received a consensus rating of "Reduce" from nine brokerages, with one sell rating and eight hold ratings, and an average 12-month price target of $2.35.
• The company announced a dividend of $0.023 per share, an increase from the previous $0.02 dividend, representing a yield of 660.0%.
• Analysts predict Ambev will post 0.18 EPS for the current year, with the company's last earnings report meeting the consensus estimate.

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of "Reduce" from the nine brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have issued a hold rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $2.35.

A number of research firms recently weighed in on ABEV. Hsbc Global Res upgraded Ambev to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, August 1st. UBS Group decreased their price target on Ambev from $2.50 to $2.20 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 20th. Zacks Research upgraded Ambev from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 30th. HSBC reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Ambev in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Ambev in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th.

Ambev Trading Up 0.2%

ABEV opened at $2.21 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $34.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 0.85. Ambev has a 52 week low of $1.76 and a 52 week high of $2.63. The business's 50 day moving average is $2.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.03. Ambev had a return on equity of 15.39% and a net margin of 16.18%.The company had revenue of $3.59 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.84 billion. On average, research analysts predict that Ambev will post 0.18 EPS for the current year.

Ambev Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a -- dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 11th were given a dividend of $0.023 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 11th. This is a positive change from Ambev's previous -- dividend of $0.02. This represents a yield of 660.0%. Ambev's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.25%.

Institutional Trading of Ambev

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ambev by 468.4% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,998 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 9,063 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ambev during the first quarter worth about $359,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ambev by 14.4% during the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 339,069 shares of the company's stock worth $790,000 after buying an additional 42,722 shares in the last quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ambev by 9.3% during the first quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,863,326 shares of the company's stock worth $4,342,000 after buying an additional 157,817 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Perigon Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Ambev in the first quarter valued at $27,000. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ambev Company Profile

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.

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