Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Shares Bought by Altrius Capital Management Inc

Altrius Capital Management Inc raised its stake in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) by 13.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,058,686 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 475,419 shares during the period. Ambev comprises 2.3% of Altrius Capital Management Inc's holdings, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. Altrius Capital Management Inc's holdings in Ambev were worth $9,457,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. GQG Partners LLC increased 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 valued at $363,851,000 after purchasing an additional 67,180,274 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of Ambev by 201.7% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 26,087,675 shares of the company's stock worth $48,262,000 after purchasing an additional 17,440,564 shares during the period. Talaria Asset Management Pty Ltd bought a new position in shares of Ambev during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,602,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in Ambev by 1,641.9% during the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 19,001,985 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,154,000 after buying an additional 17,911,122 shares during the period. Finally, Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Ambev by 5.0% in the fourth quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 18,614,210 shares of the company's stock worth $34,436,000 after buying an additional 880,763 shares in the last quarter. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Ambev Stock Down 3.3%

Shares of ABEV traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $2.32. 63,093,169 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 30,229,606. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $36.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.76. Ambev S.A. has a 1 year low of $1.76 and a 1 year high of $2.64. The firm's fifty day moving average is $2.47 and its 200-day moving average is $2.19.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.04 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.04. Ambev had a return on equity of 14.74% and a net margin of 15.76%. The business had revenue of $3.92 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.40 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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