XTX Topco Ltd Takes Position in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV)

Key Points

• XTX Topco Ltd has acquired 440,428 shares of Ambev S.A. valued at approximately $1,026,000 in the first quarter, marking a new institutional investment in the company.
• Ambev's stock is currently rated as "Hold" with a consensus target price of $2.60, following multiple analysts' opinions, including a downgrade from Morgan Stanley.
• The company recently announced a dividend cut, with a yield of 500% on its last dividend of $0.0219 per share, while maintaining a payout ratio of 68.75%.

XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 440,428 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,026,000.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its stake in Ambev by 201.7% during the fourth 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 last quarter. Talaria Asset Management Pty Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Ambev during the 4th quarter worth $38,602,000. Two Sigma Advisers LP raised its holdings in shares of Ambev by 329.6% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 16,354,000 shares of the company's stock worth $30,255,000 after buying an additional 12,546,800 shares in the last quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co lifted its position in shares of Ambev by 101.1% during the 4th quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 15,639,612 shares of the company's stock worth $29,512,000 after buying an additional 7,862,672 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Management Group Inc. boosted its stake in 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 buying an additional 926,982 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.13% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Morgan Stanley downgraded Ambev from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating in a research note on Monday, April 7th. Wall Street Zen initiated coverage on shares of Ambev in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Ambev from $2.60 to $2.70 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 4th. HSBC restated a "hold" rating on shares of Ambev in a research report on Friday. Finally, 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 report on Monday, May 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ambev presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $2.60.

Ambev Stock Performance

Ambev stock opened at $2.19 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $2.41 and a 200-day moving average of $2.27. The company has a market capitalization of $34.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.74. Ambev S.A. has a 1 year low of $1.76 and a 1 year 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.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share (EPS) 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 15.15%. On average, equities research analysts predict 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 was paid on Thursday, July 17th. Investors of record on Monday, May 19th were given a dividend of $0.0219 per share. This represents a yield of 500.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 19th. Ambev's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 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.

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