Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich Takes $71,000 Position in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV)

Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich purchased a new stake in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 34,878 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $71,000.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. MCIA Inc acquired a new stake in Ambev during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Insight Inv LLC acquired a new stake in Ambev during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Wealthstream Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Ambev during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in Ambev during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Ambev during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

Ambev Price Performance

Shares of ABEV opened at $2.19 on Wednesday. Ambev S.A. has a twelve month low of $1.76 and a twelve month high of $2.57. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $1.90 and its 200-day simple moving average is $2.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.14, a PEG ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.06 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $4.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.42 billion. Ambev had a net margin of 17.02% and a return on equity of 16.12%. Equities analysts forecast that Ambev S.A. will post 0.18 EPS 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 $0.0221 dividend. This represents a $0.09 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 18th. Ambev’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.94%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Ambev in a report on Monday, January 27th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Bank of America lowered shares of Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ambev has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $2.45.

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.