Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Shares Purchased by AQR Capital Management LLC

AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) by 223.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,163,956 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,185,372 shares during the quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC's holdings in Ambev were worth $5,853,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Insight Inv LLC bought a new position in shares of Ambev during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Generation Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Ambev during the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Naviter Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ambev in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ambev in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 51.4% during the 4th quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 17,084 shares of the company's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 5,798 shares during the period. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on ABEV. Bank of America downgraded shares of Ambev from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley downgraded Ambev from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. UBS Group downgraded shares of Ambev from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. They set a "buy" rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $2.45.

Ambev Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ABEV remained flat at $2.53 during trading hours on Friday. 19,610,472 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 29,248,519. The company's 50 day moving average is $2.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.13. Ambev S.A. has a twelve month low of $1.76 and a twelve month high of $2.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.89.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.04 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.04. Ambev had a return on equity of 16.12% and a net margin of 17.02%. The company had revenue of $3.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.40 billion. On average, equities research analysts predict that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 18th were paid a $0.0221 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $0.09 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.49%. Ambev's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 52.94%.

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.