Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA Has $77.10 Million Stock Position in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV)

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA cut its stake in shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) by 2.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 41,678,006 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,226,887 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA’s holdings in Ambev were worth $77,104,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in ABEV. MCIA Inc acquired a new stake in Ambev during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Insight Inv LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ambev during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Naviter Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ambev in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ambev in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Angeles Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Ambev during the fourth quarter worth about $36,000. Institutional investors own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Ambev Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:ABEV opened at $2.31 on Friday. Ambev S.A. has a 1 year low of $1.76 and a 1 year high of $2.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $36.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $2.08 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.12.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.06 by ($0.01). Ambev had a net margin of 17.02% and a return on equity of 16.12%. The business had revenue of $4.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.42 billion. As a group, research analysts predict 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. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be issued a $0.0221 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $0.09 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.83%. Ambev’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 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.