Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. Grows Stake in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV)

Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. increased its position in shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) by 83.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,454,174 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,118,685 shares during the quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A.'s holdings in Ambev were worth $4,516,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of ABEV. GQG Partners LLC boosted its position in Ambev by 51.9% during the 4th quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 196,676,003 shares of the company's stock worth $363,851,000 after buying an additional 67,180,274 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 1,641.9% during the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 19,001,985 shares of the company's stock worth $35,154,000 after purchasing an additional 17,911,122 shares during the period. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co grew its stake in shares of Ambev by 101.1% in the fourth quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 15,639,612 shares of the company's stock worth $29,512,000 after purchasing an additional 7,862,672 shares during the last quarter. FIL Ltd acquired a new stake in Ambev in the fourth quarter valued at $13,412,000. Finally, CORDA Investment Management LLC. bought a new position in Ambev during the 4th quarter worth $11,987,000. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ambev Price Performance

ABEV remained flat at $2.49 during trading on Friday. 32,568,014 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 28,927,021. Ambev S.A. has a one year low of $1.76 and a one year high of $2.59. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $2.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $2.12. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.83, a P/E/G ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.80.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.06 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.42 billion. Ambev had a return on equity of 16.12% and a net margin of 17.02%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th were paid a dividend of $0.0221 per share. This represents a $0.09 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.54%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 18th. Ambev's dividend payout ratio is 52.94%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on ABEV shares. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Ambev from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating in a research report on Monday, April 7th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Ambev in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Barclays decreased their price target on Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Citigroup reissued a "neutral" rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, UBS Group cut Ambev from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $2.45.

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.