Qtron Investments LLC Invests $545,000 in Ambev S.A. $ABEV

Key Points

• Qtron Investments LLC made a significant investment of $545,000 in Ambev S.A., acquiring 233,928 shares during the first quarter of the year.
• Ambev also increased its dividend from $0.02 to $0.023 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 660.0%.
• The company reported earnings of $0.03 per share, meeting analysts' expectations, alongside a quarterly revenue of $3.59 billion.

Qtron Investments LLC bought a new stake in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 233,928 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $545,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 201.7% in the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 26,087,675 shares of the company's stock valued at $48,262,000 after purchasing an additional 17,440,564 shares during the period. Talaria Asset Management Pty Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Ambev in the fourth quarter valued at $38,602,000. Two Sigma Advisers LP boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 329.6% in the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 16,354,000 shares of the company's stock valued at $30,255,000 after purchasing an additional 12,546,800 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 105.8% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 16,170,388 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,677,000 after purchasing an additional 8,312,561 shares during the period. Finally, Private Management Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 6.4% in the first quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 15,439,216 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,973,000 after purchasing an additional 926,982 shares during the period. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ambev Stock Up 1.6%

NYSE ABEV traded up $0.0350 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $2.2250. 16,212,793 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 26,252,100. Ambev S.A. has a 12 month low of $1.76 and a 12 month 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. The stock has a market capitalization of $35.06 billion, a PE ratio of 13.91, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a 50 day moving average of $2.33 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.32.

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

Ambev Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Ambev from $2.50 to $2.20 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Ambev from $2.00 to $2.50 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. HSBC reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Ambev to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Reduce" and a consensus price target 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.