Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Given Average Rating of "Hold" by Brokerages

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of "Hold" by the five ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $2.45.

ABEV has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Citigroup reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Barclays decreased their target price on Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Bank of America lowered shares of Ambev from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Ambev in a research report on Monday, January 27th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ambev

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ABEV. State Street Corp lifted its stake in Ambev by 9.2% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,425,374 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,438,000 after acquiring an additional 878,900 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its stake in Ambev by 132.9% in the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,976,147 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,822,000 after purchasing an additional 1,127,719 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Ambev by 18.3% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 54,013 shares of the company's stock worth $129,000 after purchasing an additional 8,350 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp increased its position in Ambev by 298.1% during the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 802,016 shares of the company's stock worth $1,957,000 after buying an additional 600,545 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Ambev by 32.0% in the third quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,067,893 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,606,000 after buying an additional 258,875 shares during the period. 8.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Ambev Trading Down 0.8 %

NYSE ABEV traded down $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $1.90. The company's stock had a trading volume of 12,892,690 shares, compared to its average volume of 42,353,586. Ambev has a twelve month low of $1.76 and a twelve month high of $2.72. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.53, a PEG ratio of 5.74 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $1.89 and a 200 day moving average of $2.15.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

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