Analysts Set Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) PT at $2.60

Shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of "Reduce" from the five brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $2.60.

Several research analysts recently issued reports on ABEV shares. Barclays increased their price objective on Ambev from $2.00 to $2.50 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Morgan Stanley cut Ambev from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating in a report on Monday, April 7th. UBS Group raised their price target on Ambev from $2.60 to $2.70 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 4th. Finally, Wall Street Zen began coverage on Ambev in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. They issued a "buy" rating for the company.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ambev

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in ABEV. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Ambev by 468.4% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,998 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 9,063 shares during the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in Ambev in the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Perigon Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Ambev in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Ambev in the first quarter worth $28,000. Finally, M&T Bank Corp acquired a new position in shares of Ambev during the first quarter worth $30,000. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ambev Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of ABEV traded down $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $2.40. 23,374,383 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 29,950,954. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $2.47 and its 200 day moving average price is $2.19. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The firm has a market cap of $37.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.97, a PEG ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.76. Ambev has a 12-month low of $1.76 and a 12-month high of $2.64.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.04. The company had revenue of $3.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $22.40 billion. Ambev had a net margin of 15.76% and a return on equity of 14.74%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Ambev will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a -- dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be issued a $0.0219 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 19th. This represents a dividend yield of 5%. Ambev's dividend payout ratio is presently 68.75%.

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.