Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Receives Average Rating of "Hold" from Analysts

Shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of "Hold" from the five brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $2.45.

Several equities analysts have weighed in on ABEV shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Ambev in a research report on Sunday. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Barclays dropped their price target on Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Bank of America cut Ambev from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Citigroup restated a "neutral" rating on shares of Ambev in a report on Wednesday.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ambev

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABEV. MCIA Inc bought a new position in shares of Ambev in the third quarter valued at $25,000. Insight Inv LLC acquired a new stake in Ambev during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. HTLF Bank acquired a new stake in Ambev during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Wealthstream Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Ambev during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in Ambev during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ambev Price Performance

NYSE ABEV traded down $0.02 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $1.81. The stock had a trading volume of 24,831,815 shares, compared to its average volume of 45,771,277. Ambev has a 52-week low of $1.76 and a 52-week high of $2.72. The company has a market cap of $28.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.03, a P/E/G ratio of 5.38 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $2.03 and a 200 day simple moving average of $2.19. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 23rd were given a dividend of $0.0414 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 23rd. This represents a dividend yield of 1.93%. Ambev's dividend payout ratio is presently 38.89%.

About Ambev

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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