Vident Advisory LLC Boosts Holdings in Ambev S.A. $ABEV

Key Points

• Vident Advisory LLC increased its stake in Ambev S.A. by 374.1% during the first quarter, now owning 203,247 shares worth approximately $474,000.
• Ambev S.A. announced a dividend increase to $0.023 per share, representing a yield of 660.0%, with payments scheduled for October 14th.
• Analysts have mixed views on Ambev, with HSBC rating it as "hold" and Barclays increasing its target price from $2.00 to $2.50.

Vident Advisory LLC boosted its position in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) by 374.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 203,247 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 160,373 shares during the quarter. Vident Advisory LLC's holdings in Ambev were worth $474,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABEV. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in Ambev by 468.4% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,998 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 9,063 shares in the last quarter. 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 acquired a new stake in Ambev in the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. M&T Bank Corp acquired a new stake in Ambev during the first quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in Ambev during the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.13% of the company's stock.

Ambev Stock Performance

Shares of Ambev stock traded up $0.02 during trading on Friday, reaching $2.31. The company's stock had a trading volume of 38,456,803 shares, compared to its average volume of 30,622,928. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $2.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $2.34. The firm has a market cap of $36.32 billion, a PE ratio of 14.41, a P/E/G ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.84. Ambev S.A. has a fifty-two week low of $1.76 and a fifty-two week high of $2.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.80 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 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.03. The business had revenue of $3.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.84 billion. Ambev had a net margin of 16.18% and a return on equity of 15.39%. On average, analysts forecast that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 EPS for the current year.

Ambev Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a -- dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 14th. Investors of record on Monday, August 11th will be given a $0.023 dividend. This is a positive change from Ambev's previous -- dividend of $0.02. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 11th. This represents a yield of 660.0%. Ambev's payout ratio is 25.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ABEV has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of Ambev from $2.50 to $2.20 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of Ambev to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. Finally, HSBC reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Ambev in a report on Friday, August 1st. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Reduce" and an average price target of $2.35.

Ambev 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.