Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) Sets New 1-Year Low – Should You Sell?

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $2.01 and last traded at $2.02, with a volume of 29282479 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $2.12.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Ambev in a research report on Friday, October 18th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock.

Ambev Price Performance

The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $2.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.23. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $32.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.44, a P/E/G ratio of 6.67 and a beta of 1.05.

Ambev Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced an annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 9th. Investors of record on Monday, December 23rd will be issued a $0.0414 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 23rd. This represents a yield of 1.93%. Ambev’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.89%.

Institutional Trading of Ambev

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABEV. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its stake in shares of Ambev by 0.5% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 42,904,893 shares of the company’s stock valued at $104,688,000 after purchasing an additional 226,238 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of Ambev by 27.7% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 34,133,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $69,973,000 after buying an additional 7,412,395 shares in the last quarter. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ambev by 6.3% during 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 during the period. Pzena Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Ambev by 29.4% during the 2nd 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Brandes Investment Partners LP increased its stake in Ambev by 23.9% in the second quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 15,456,266 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,024,000 after acquiring an additional 2,982,621 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

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.