Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV – Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 3,520,000 shares, a drop of 6.6% from the December 31st total of 3,770,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 9,540,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
ABEV has been the subject of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. They issued a “hold” rating and a $2.86 price target for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on Ambev in a research note on Friday, January 26th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised Ambev from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. TheStreet upgraded Ambev from a “c+” rating to a “b-” rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on shares of Ambev in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $3.30.
Ambev Stock Down 1.7 %
Shares of Ambev stock opened at $2.63 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.11. Ambev has a 52-week low of $2.40 and a 52-week high of $3.23. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $2.79 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.16.
Ambev (NYSE:ABEV – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.04 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $4.16 billion for the quarter. Ambev had a net margin of 18.24% and a return on equity of 17.95%. Equities research analysts forecast that Ambev will post 0.18 EPS for the current year.
Ambev Cuts Dividend
The firm also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 26th were paid a $0.1443 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 22nd. This represents a dividend yield of 3.7%. Ambev’s payout ratio is presently 144.45%.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ABEV. SVB Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Ambev in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Hartford Financial Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Ambev by 49.9% in the 4th quarter. Hartford Financial Management Inc. now owns 12,739 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 4,238 shares during the period. Sapient Capital LLC bought a new position in Ambev in the fourth quarter worth about $94,000. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Ambev by 199.6% in the fourth quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 66,735 shares of the company’s stock worth $186,000 after buying an additional 44,460 shares during the period. Finally, Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich bought a new stake in Ambev during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $210,000. Institutional investors own 8.37% of the company’s stock.
Ambev Company Profile
Ambev SA, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of beer, draft beer, carbonated soft drinks, other non-alcoholic beverages, malt, and food products. It offers beer primarily under the Skol, Brahma, Antarctica, Brahva, Budweiser, Bud Light, Beck, Leffe and Hoegaarden, 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, Banks, Deputy, Patricia, Labatt Blue, Alexander Keith’s, and Kokanee brands.