Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 43,980,000 shares, an increase of 6.5% from the September 15th total of 41,290,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 28,180,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.6 days. Currently, 0.3% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Ambev Price Performance

NYSE ABEV traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $2.30. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 18,233,774 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,850,510. Ambev has a 1 year low of $2.01 and a 1 year high of $3.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The company has a market capitalization of $36.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.11, a PEG ratio of 5.34 and a beta of 1.05. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $2.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.27.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.03. Ambev had a net margin of 17.93% and a return on equity of 16.94%. The company had revenue of $3.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.56 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.03 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Ambev will post 0.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Ambev

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ABEV. Perpetual Ltd raised its position in shares of Ambev by 10.1% in the first quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 65,003,922 shares of the company’s stock worth $161,210,000 after acquiring an additional 5,943,974 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in Ambev by 27.7% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 34,133,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $69,973,000 after acquiring an additional 7,412,395 shares during the period. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Ambev by 12.3% during the 2nd quarter. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC now owns 28,299,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $58,013,000 after purchasing an additional 3,100,000 shares during the last quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Ambev by 29.4% during the second quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 18,385,312 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,690,000 after acquiring an additional 4,179,978 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brandes Investment Partners LP increased its holdings in Ambev by 23.9% in the 2nd quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 15,456,266 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,024,000 after purchasing an additional 2,982,621 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ABEV has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com lowered shares of Ambev from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Ambev from $3.20 to $2.90 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $2.75.

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.