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

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 38,290,000 shares, a growth of 21.4% from the January 31st total of 31,550,000 shares. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 36,230,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.1 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ABEV has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Ambev in a report on Monday, January 27th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Bank of America cut Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $2.45.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. GQG Partners LLC raised its position in Ambev by 51.9% during the 4th quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 196,676,003 shares of the company’s stock valued at $363,851,000 after purchasing an additional 67,180,274 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in shares of Ambev by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 42,904,893 shares of the company’s stock worth $104,688,000 after acquiring an additional 226,238 shares in the last quarter. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Ambev by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC now owns 30,069,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $73,368,000 after acquiring an additional 1,770,000 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in shares of Ambev by 201.7% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 26,087,675 shares of the company’s stock worth $48,262,000 after acquiring an additional 17,440,564 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Talaria Asset Management Pty Ltd bought a new position in shares of Ambev in the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,602,000. Institutional investors own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

Ambev Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of ABEV stock opened at $2.24 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $1.89 and a 200 day moving average of $2.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $35.21 billion, a PE ratio of 12.42, a P/E/G ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.94. 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 has a 1-year low of $1.76 and a 1-year high of $2.58.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last released its quarterly 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 business had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.42 billion. Ambev had a net margin of 17.02% and a return on equity of 16.12%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Ambev will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be given a dividend of $0.0221 per share. This represents a $0.09 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 18th. Ambev’s payout ratio is 52.94%.

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.