Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. Takes Position in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV)

Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. bought a new position in shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 396,969 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $925,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 51.4% in the 4th quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 17,084 shares of the company's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 5,798 shares in the last quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 40.4% in the 4th quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD now owns 20,810 shares of the company's stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 5,993 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 85,142 shares of the company's stock valued at $158,000 after purchasing an additional 6,164 shares in the last quarter. PDS Planning Inc boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 18.3% in the 4th quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 41,244 shares of the company's stock valued at $76,000 after purchasing an additional 6,374 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Insigneo Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ambev by 22.1% in the 1st quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 38,457 shares of the company's stock valued at $90,000 after purchasing an additional 6,949 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 8.13% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Ambev Stock Down 0.2%

Shares of NYSE ABEV traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $2.49. The company's stock had a trading volume of 8,251,170 shares, compared to its average volume of 30,461,732. Ambev S.A. has a fifty-two week low of $1.76 and a fifty-two week high of $2.64. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $2.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $2.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.53, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last posted 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. The firm had revenue of $3.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.40 billion. Ambev had a return on equity of 14.74% and a net margin of 15.76%. Equities research analysts predict that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

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

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.