Cans of Budweiser brand beer are pictured at a liquor store in Washington, D.C. U.S., September 1, 2024. REUTERS
LONDON, Feb 12 (Reuters) – Top brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev beat forecasts for fourth-quarter profits, revenues and volumes on Thursday and said it could grow profits at a faster rate than its main rivals in 2026.
The world’s most valuable beer maker reported a 2.3% increase in quarterly organic operating profits, ahead of the 1.4% rise expected by analysts. It repeated regular annual guidance for further growth of between 4% and 8% in 2026, even as Heineken and Carlsberg forecast up to 6% growth.
The maker of Budweiser and Stella Artois said it had invested $7.4 billion in sales and marketing, gained or maintained share in two-thirds of its markets ,and was set to benefit in 2026 from a variety of major events like the Super Bowl, Winter Olympics and Fifa World Cup.
AB InBev’s 2.5% organic revenue growth in the quarter was also ahead of the 1.5% anticipated by analysts, while its volumes, which brewers have been struggling to revive amid weak demand for beer, fell less than expected with a 1.5% decline versus estimates of a 2.7% drop.
Reporting by Emma Rumney; Editing by Kim Coghill amd Subhranshu Sahu
