Ambev S.A. $ABEV Shares Bought by American Century Companies Inc.

Key Points

• American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in Ambev S.A. by 10.0%, holding 2,455,125 shares valued at approximately $5.72 million.
• Ambev has announced a dividend increase from $0.02 to $0.023 per share, representing a substantial 660.0% dividend yield.
• Research analysts have mixed views on Ambev, with HSBC maintaining a "hold" rating while UBS lowered its price target from $2.50 to $2.20.

American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) by 10.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,455,125 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 222,768 shares during the quarter. American Century Companies Inc.'s holdings in Ambev were worth $5,720,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. purchased a new stake in shares of Ambev in the first quarter worth about $925,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in Ambev by 14.4% during the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 339,069 shares of the company's stock worth $790,000 after purchasing an additional 42,722 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in Ambev by 98.6% during the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,803,683 shares of the company's stock worth $8,863,000 after purchasing an additional 1,887,987 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in Ambev by 46.8% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 99,571 shares of the company's stock worth $232,000 after purchasing an additional 31,746 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Altrius Capital Management Inc boosted its position in Ambev by 13.3% during the first quarter. Altrius Capital Management Inc now owns 4,058,686 shares of the company's stock worth $9,457,000 after purchasing an additional 475,419 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.13% of the company's stock.

Ambev Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ABEV traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $2.15. The company had a trading volume of 60,306,211 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,221,100. Ambev S.A. has a twelve month low of $1.76 and a twelve month high of $2.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The stock has a market cap of $33.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.84. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $2.30 and its 200-day simple moving average is $2.33.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $0.03 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.03. Ambev had a return on equity of 15.39% and a net margin of 16.18%.The firm had revenue of $3.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $21.84 billion. On average, research analysts predict that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Ambev Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a -- dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 14th. Investors of record on Monday, August 11th will be issued a $0.023 dividend. This is a boost from Ambev's previous -- dividend of $0.02. This represents a dividend yield of 660.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 11th. Ambev's payout ratio is 31.25%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. UBS Group lowered their price target on Ambev from $2.50 to $2.20 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 20th. Barclays increased their price target on Ambev from $2.00 to $2.50 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. HSBC reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Ambev in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Hsbc Global Res upgraded Ambev to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Reduce" and a consensus target price 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.