XTX Topco Ltd Makes New $1.03 Million Investment 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 Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 440,428 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,026,000.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in Ambev by 468.4% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,998 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 9,063 shares in the last quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ambev during the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ambev during the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. M&T Bank Corp purchased a new position in shares of Ambev during the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Generation Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ambev during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Institutional investors own 8.13% of the company's stock.

Ambev Price Performance

Shares of Ambev stock traded up $0.03 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $2.29. 22,005,000 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 33,691,324. Ambev S.A. has a 1 year low of $1.76 and a 1 year high of $2.63. The company has a market capitalization of $36.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.74. The business has a fifty day moving average of $2.39 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.28. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.03. The company had revenue of $3.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.84 billion. Ambev had a net margin of 16.18% and a return on equity of 15.39%. As a group, research analysts predict that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ambev Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a -- dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.023 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 11th. This is an increase from Ambev's previous -- dividend of $0.02. This represents a yield of 660.0%. Ambev's dividend payout ratio is 25.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on ABEV. 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 report on Monday, May 12th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Ambev to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. UBS Group upped their target price 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. HSBC reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Wall Street Zen assumed coverage on shares of Ambev in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $2.60.

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.