Ethic Inc. Raises Stake in Ambev S.A. $ABEV

Key Points

• Ethic Inc. significantly increased its stake in Ambev S.A. by 1,059.5% in the first quarter, acquiring an additional 547,323 shares and raising its total to 598,982 shares, valued at approximately $1.4 million.
• Ambev announced an increase in its dividend from $0.02 to $0.023 per share, with a yield of 660.0% and a payout ratio of 31.25%.
• Recent analysts' ratings for Ambev have shifted, with Barclays increasing their price target from $2.00 to $2.50, indicating a generally neutral stance while the stock maintains an average target price of $2.60.

Ethic Inc. increased its holdings in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) by 1,059.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 598,982 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 547,323 shares during the quarter. Ethic Inc.'s holdings in Ambev were worth $1,402,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of Ambev by 468.4% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,998 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 9,063 shares in the last quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Ambev in the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Ambev in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. M&T Bank Corp bought a new position in shares of Ambev in the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, R Squared Ltd bought a new position in shares of Ambev in the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Ambev Stock Performance

Shares of ABEV traded up $0.0350 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $2.2250. 16,212,793 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 26,252,100. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.11. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $2.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $2.32. Ambev S.A. has a 1 year low of $1.76 and a 1 year high of $2.63. The stock has a market cap of $35.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.91, a P/E/G ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.74.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.03. The firm had revenue of $3.59 billion during 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%. Equities analysts anticipate that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Ambev Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a -- dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 14th. Investors of record on Monday, August 11th will be given a dividend of $0.023 per share. This represents a yield of 660.0%. This is a positive change from Ambev's previous -- dividend of $0.02. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 11th. Ambev's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.25%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. HSBC restated a "hold" rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of Ambev to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Ambev from $2.50 to $2.20 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. 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. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Reduce" and an average target price of $2.35.

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.