Ethic Inc. Grows Holdings in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV)

Ethic Inc. grew its holdings in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) by 79.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 51,659 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 22,925 shares during the period. Ethic Inc.’s holdings in Ambev were worth $96,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of ABEV. Insight Inv LLC bought a new stake in Ambev during the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Generation Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ambev during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Naviter Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ambev during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC purchased a new position in Ambev during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its position in Ambev by 51.4% during the fourth quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 17,084 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 5,798 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

Ambev Stock Performance

Shares of Ambev stock opened at $2.56 on Monday. 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 firm has a market cap of $40.26 billion, a PE ratio of 14.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.80. Ambev S.A. has a 52 week low of $1.76 and a 52 week high of $2.64. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $2.38 and its 200-day simple moving average is $2.14.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.04. Ambev had a return on equity of 16.12% and a net margin of 17.02%. The firm had revenue of $3.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.40 billion. Equities analysts forecast that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a — dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 17th. Investors of record on Monday, May 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.0219 per share. This represents a yield of 5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 19th. Ambev’s payout ratio is 68.75%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ABEV. UBS Group lowered Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Citigroup reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Barclays lifted their price target on Ambev from $2.00 to $2.50 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered Ambev from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating in a research note on Monday, April 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $2.70.

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.