Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Shares Sold by Seafarer Capital Partners LLC

Key Points

• Seafarer Capital Partners LLC has reduced its holdings in Ambev S.A. by 3.3%, now owning approximately 29 million shares, which represent about 21.9% of its total holdings.
• Ambev's stock has seen a fluctuation range with a 52-week low of $1.76 and a high of $2.63, currently trading down at $2.31.
• The company announced a minor dividend of $0.0219 per share, reflecting a 5% dividend yield and a payout ratio of 68.75%.

Seafarer Capital Partners LLC lowered its stake in shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) by 3.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 29,069,000 shares of the company's stock after selling 1,000,000 shares during the period. Ambev accounts for 21.9% of Seafarer Capital Partners LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its largest position. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC owned 0.18% of Ambev worth $67,731,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its position in shares of Ambev by 9.1% during the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 108,271 shares of the company's stock worth $200,000 after purchasing an additional 9,040 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 6.4% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,232,357 shares of the company's stock worth $4,130,000 after acquiring an additional 135,132 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of Ambev by 36.8% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 808,204 shares of the company's stock worth $1,495,000 after purchasing an additional 217,527 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp acquired a new stake in Ambev in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $584,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in Ambev by 2,385.2% in the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,005,614 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,710,000 after purchasing an additional 1,924,912 shares during the period. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ambev Stock Up 1.5%

Shares of Ambev stock traded up $0.04 on Tuesday, reaching $2.34. 19,367,046 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 28,005,690. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $2.42 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.80. Ambev S.A. has a 1-year low of $1.76 and a 1-year high of $2.63. The company has a market cap of $36.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.74.

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

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a -- dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th were given a dividend of $0.0219 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 19th. Ambev's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.75%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on ABEV. Wall Street Zen initiated coverage on Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Ambev from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating in a research report on Monday, April 7th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Ambev from $2.60 to $2.70 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 4th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on shares of Ambev from $2.00 to $2.50 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Ambev has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $2.60.

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.