Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) Short Interest Update

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of June. As of June 15th, there was short interest totalling 27,890,000 shares, a growth of 169.2% from the May 31st total of 10,360,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 15,920,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.8 days.

Ambev Stock Performance

Ambev stock traded down $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $2.05. 35,972,876 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 20,916,364. Ambev has a fifty-two week low of $2.01 and a fifty-two week high of $3.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market cap of $32.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.79, a P/E/G ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 1.07. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $2.25 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $2.48.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 8th. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.05. Ambev had a return on equity of 17.53% and a net margin of 18.25%. The company had revenue of $4.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4 billion. On average, research analysts expect that Ambev will post 0.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ambev

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Perpetual Ltd lifted its position in Ambev by 10.1% during the first quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 65,003,922 shares of the company’s stock worth $161,210,000 after purchasing an additional 5,943,974 shares during the period. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in Ambev by 29.9% during the first quarter. Seafarer Capital Partners LLC now owns 25,199,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $62,494,000 after purchasing an additional 5,800,000 shares during the period. Ruffer LLP lifted its position in Ambev by 12.4% during the fourth quarter. Ruffer LLP now owns 51,517,699 shares of the company’s stock worth $144,494,000 after purchasing an additional 5,699,184 shares during the period. Oldfield Partners LLP acquired a new position in Ambev during the first quarter worth about $12,157,000. Finally, Kiltearn Partners LLP raised its stake in Ambev by 73.3% during the first quarter. Kiltearn Partners LLP now owns 10,168,100 shares of the company’s stock worth $24,607,000 after acquiring an additional 4,300,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.13% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Barclays lowered their target price on Ambev from $3.00 to $2.50 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 9th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Ambev from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, June 24th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $2.68.

Ambev Company Profile

Ambev SA, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of beer, draft beer, carbonated soft drinks, other non-alcoholic beverages, malt, and food products. It offers beer primarily under the Skol, Brahma, Antarctica, Brahva, Budweiser, Bud Light, Beck, Leffe and Hoegaarden, 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, Banks, Deputy, Patricia, Labatt Blue, Alexander Keith's, and Kokanee brands.