PDS Planning Inc Buys 6,374 Shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV)

PDS Planning Inc lifted its stake in shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) by 18.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 41,244 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,374 shares during the quarter. PDS Planning Inc’s holdings in Ambev were worth $76,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ABEV. MCIA Inc bought a new position in shares of Ambev during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Insight Inv LLC bought a new position in shares of Ambev during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Naviter Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Ambev during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in Ambev during the fourth quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Angeles Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Ambev during the fourth quarter worth approximately $36,000. 8.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. 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 note on Tuesday, January 21st. Bank of America cut Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Ambev in a research note on Monday, January 27th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $2.45.

Ambev Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of Ambev stock opened at $2.37 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.20. Ambev S.A. has a 52 week low of $1.76 and a 52 week high of $2.56. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $1.96 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $2.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $37.26 billion, a PE ratio of 13.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.94.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.06 by ($0.01). Ambev had a net margin of 17.02% and a return on equity of 16.12%. The firm had revenue of $4.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.42 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be given a dividend of $0.0221 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $0.09 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.73%. Ambev’s payout ratio is 52.94%.

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.