Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Short Interest Down 59.8% in January

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Ambev in a report on Monday, January 27th. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Bank of America downgraded Ambev from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. 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 note on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Citigroup restated a "neutral" rating on shares of Ambev in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Ambev presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $2.45.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ambev

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABEV. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of Ambev by 9.2% during 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 in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Ambev by 132.9% in the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,976,147 shares of the company's stock worth $4,822,000 after purchasing an additional 1,127,719 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 18.3% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 54,013 shares of the company's stock valued at $129,000 after purchasing an additional 8,350 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 298.1% during the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 802,016 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,957,000 after purchasing an additional 600,545 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Ambev by 32.0% during 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 last quarter. 8.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Ambev Stock Up 0.3 %

NYSE:ABEV traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $1.85. 22,627,128 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 48,848,551. Ambev has a one year low of $1.76 and a one year high of $2.72. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $1.97 and a 200 day moving average price of $2.17. The company has a market cap of $29.07 billion, a PE ratio of 10.25, a P/E/G ratio of 5.59 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.89.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

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