Companhia De Bebidas Das Americas Ambev (ABV): Today's Featured Food & Beverage Winner

Companhia de Bebidas das Americas Ambev ( ABV) pushed the Food & Beverage industry higher today making it today's featured food & beverage winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.7%. By the end of trading, Companhia de Bebidas das Americas Ambev rose $1.34 (3.6%) to $38.89 on average volume. Throughout the day, 4.2 million shares of Companhia de Bebidas das Americas Ambev exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3.3 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $38.12-$39.35 after having opened the day at $38.15 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $37.55. Other companies within the Food & Beverage industry that increased today were: Agria Corporation ( GRO), up 5.3%, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A ( CCH), up 5%, Coffee Holding Company ( JVA), up 4.6%, and Le Gaga Holdings ( GAGA), up 4.5%.

Companhia de Bebidas das Americas Ambev engages in the production, distribution, and sale of beer, draft beer, carbonated soft drinks, malt, and other non-alcoholic and non-carbonated products in the Americas. It also sells bottled water, isotonics, and ready-to-drink teas. Companhia de Bebidas das Americas Ambev has a market cap of $113.78 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 103.6, above the average food & beverage industry P/E ratio of 23.9 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 4% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are three analysts that rate Companhia de Bebidas das Americas Ambev a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and three rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Companhia de Bebidas das Americas Ambev as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its expanding profit margins, increase in net income, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, notable return on equity and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company is trading at a premium valuation based on our review of its current price compared to such things as earnings and book value.

On the negative front, Tianli Agritech ( OINK), down 14.8%, Archer-Daniels Midland Company ( ADM), down 3.6%, Key Technology ( KTEC), down 3.3%, and Monster Beverage ( MNST), down 3.3%, were all losers within the food & beverage industry with Sanderson Farms ( SAFM) being today's food & beverage industry loser.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the food & beverage industry could consider PowerShares Dynamic Food & Beverage ( PBJ) while those bearish on the food & beverage industry could consider PowerShares DB Agriculture Sht ETN ( ADZ).
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