Short Interest in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Decreases By 59.8%

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV - Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 19,270,000 shares, a decline of 59.8% from the December 15th total of 47,940,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 28,460,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.7 days. Approximately 0.1% of the company's shares are short sold.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ambev

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of ABEV. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Ambev by 9.2% in the 3rd 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 in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC grew its stake in Ambev by 132.9% in the third 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 in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Ambev by 18.3% during the 3rd 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 last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp raised its stake in shares of Ambev by 298.1% during the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 802,016 shares of the company's stock worth $1,957,000 after purchasing an additional 600,545 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 32.0% in the 3rd 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 last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.13% of the company's stock.

Ambev Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:ABEV traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $1.81. 39,167,531 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 51,988,758. The firm has a market cap of $28.44 billion, a PE ratio of 10.03, a P/E/G ratio of 6.67 and a beta of 1.05. Ambev has a fifty-two week low of $1.76 and a fifty-two week high of $2.75. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $2.07 and a two-hundred 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 company also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 9th. Investors of record on Monday, December 23rd were given a $0.0414 dividend. This represents a yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 23rd. Ambev's dividend payout ratio is presently 33.33%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on Ambev in a report on Saturday. They set a "buy" rating on the stock.

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.

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