Ambev S.A. Plans Dividend of $0.02 (NYSE:ABEV)

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) announced a dividend on Wednesday, February 26th, NASDAQ Dividends reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be paid a dividend of 0.0221 per share on Monday, April 14th. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 18th.

Ambev has a payout ratio of 83.3% indicating that its dividend is currently covered by earnings, but may not be in the future if the company’s earnings decline. Equities analysts expect Ambev to earn $0.17 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.15 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 88.2%.

Ambev Stock Up 5.8 %

NYSE ABEV traded up $0.12 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $2.11. 40,312,567 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 39,283,379. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.16 billion, a PE ratio of 11.69, a PEG ratio of 5.80 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. Ambev has a 12 month low of $1.76 and a 12 month high of $2.72. The company has a 50 day moving average of $1.86 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.14.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.06 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.42 billion. Ambev had a return on equity of 16.12% and a net margin of 17.02%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Ambev will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com began coverage on Ambev in a research report on Monday, January 27th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Bank of America cut shares of Ambev from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Ambev from $2.50 to $2.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $2.45.

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.