We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best NYSE Penny Stocks To Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) stands against the other NYSE penny stocks.

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics was released on June 12, which suggests a deceleration in inflation, which could be positive for the US market and economy. Stabilizing prices, particularly in core categories like shelter and food, indicate potential relief for consumers and might influence the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions favorably. The steadying of inflation could enhance consumer confidence and support economic stability.

Additionally, the latest inflation report for May, released on June 28, showed that personal income in the U.S. increased by $114.1 billion, up 0.5%, while disposable personal income (DPI) also rose by 0.5% to $94 billion, showing its slowest increase since March 2021. The core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, a key measure for the Federal Reserve that excludes food and energy costs, rose by 0.1% from April, matching Wall Street's expectations and slowing from April's 0.3% rise. Annually, core PCE increased by 2.6% which was the smallest gain in over three years.

The data showed a steady rise in income and spending. Real DPI, adjusted for inflation, grew by 0.5%, and real PCE rose by 0.3% due to a 0.6% increase in spending on goods and a 0.1% increase in spending on services. Healthcare, housing, and transportation services contributed to the rise in service spending, while prescription drugs led to an increase in goods spending. Overall, the data showed rising incomes, controlled inflation, and increased consumer spending. This combination suggests steady economic growth and stability, along with manageable inflationary pressures.

What Does the Data Mean for Small-Cap Stocks?

We discussed the key developments of the Fed’s latest meeting in our best Robinhood stocks article, where we mentioned that the chairman's statement indicated that there has been some improvement in lowering inflation toward the desired 2% target. However, he emphasized the need for more data and evidence to confirm that this downward trend is consistent and sustainable. This means that the latest data might not be sufficient enough yet, but it still is a good start to making up the Fed’s mind toward rate cuts. The CME FedWatch Tool reveals that 58% of the market believes that the Fed will cut rates by 25 basis points.

Back in April, Peter Kraus, CEO of Aperture Investors told CNBC that inflation has restricted the growth of small-cap stocks and they have underperformed the large-cap stocks by 9% per annum for the last three years. While he had some recession concerns, he said that if the interest rates decline, the small-cap stocks are going to outperform. He noted that over the long term, even though the falls of the broader market and the small caps are different, the returns are usually equal.

Keeping that in mind, we look at some of the best NYSE penny stocks in our current article. While not all of them are small-cap stocks, they could certainly benefit from a decline in interest rates.

Our Methodology

For this article, we identified over 60 stocks trading under $5 with Buy or better ratings from Wall Street analysts and a market cap of over $200 million. We further narrowed down our list to 10 stocks based on multiple but different metrics such as future growth prospects, valuations, and shareholder returns. We listed the stocks in ascending or of their hedge fund sentiment which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of over 900 elite hedge funds. We preferred the stocks that were profitable over the last twelve months. Nevertheless, some stocks in the list are yet to post profits and analysts keep an optimistic outlook for them.

Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

A close-up on several cans of freshly brewed beer in a commercial brewery.

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV)

Share Price as of June 27: $2.09

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) produces, distributes, and sells beer, draft beer, carbonated soft drinks, malt and food, other alcoholic beverages, and non-alcoholic and non-carbonated products.

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) stands as the largest beverage company in Brazil, controlling over 60% of the beer market in the country while maintaining a strong presence across Latin America. The company's diversified portfolio includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, which positions it strategically to benefit from evolving consumer preferences and market opportunities. Ambev S.A.'s dominant position in the Brazilian beer market provides a solid foundation for revenue growth. The Brazil beer market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 4.83% from 2023 to 2028, according to the Brazil Beer Market Overview, 2028 report by Bonafide Research. This growth trajectory presents significant opportunities for Ambev S.A. to expand its market share and profitability.

As mentioned in Ambev S.A.’s (NYSE:ABEV) Q1 2024 earnings call, it reported its best volume performance in history for beer in Brazil, with a 3.6% growth in beer volumes. The management mentioned that the growth outpaced the industry's performance, which indicates market share gains. Premium and super-premium brands such as Corona, Spaten, and Original grew impressively, with Corona registering over 70% growth. The management maintains a strong focus on financial discipline and value creation and it is evident from its solid free cash flow generation. Cash flow from operating activities and free cash flow grew by approximately BRL 1.3 billion (1 BRL = US$0.18) each.

Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) was held by 14 hedge funds in the first quarter and the stakes amounted to $166.139 million. First Eagle Investment Management is the largest shareholder of the company and has a position worth $775.509 million, as of March 31.

Overall ABEV ranks 3rd on our list of the best NYSE penny stocks to buy. You can visit 10 Best NYSE Penny Stocks To Buy to see the other NYSE penny stocks that are on hedge funds’ radar. While we acknowledge the potential of ABEV as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ABEV but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.