AB InBev reports higher-than-expected revenue in first quarter despite ongoing weakness in the US
Anheuser-Busch InBev reported higher-than-expected revenue in the first quarter despite lower sales in the U.S. and China
Anheuser-Busch InBev reported higher-than-expected revenue in the first quarter despite lower sales in the U.S. and China.
The world’s largest brewer — whose brands include Budweiser, Stella Artois and Corona — said its revenue rose 2.6% to $14.5 billion. That beat Wall Street’s forecast of $14.3 billion, according to analysts polled by FactSet.
Volumes declined 0.6% for the quarter, the Leuven, Belgium-based company said. Beer volumes were down 1.3%, while volumes of non-beer products – including Cutwater and Nutrl spirits – rose 3.5%.
The company continued to struggle in the U.S., where revenue fell by 9% for the January-March period. North American beer volumes dropped 10% for the quarter.
Sales of Bud Light, the company's longtime bestseller in the U.S., plunged last spring amid conservative backlash after the brand sent a commemorative can to transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Customers who felt Bud Light didn't do enough to support Mulvaney also abandoned the brand.
InBev CEO Michel Doukeris said Wednesday that U.S. beer volumes did improve from the end of last year, and the company is seeing significant U.S. market share gains for some of its other brands, including Michelob Ultra and Busch Light.
Doukeris said Michelob Ultra will get a further marketing push during the Olympics this summer. In January, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced that Michelob Ultra will be the exclusive beer sponsor for Team U.S.A. for this summer’s Olympics and will be the official beer sponsor of the Olympic games in Los Angeles in 2028.
AB InBev also announced a deal with the International
Read more on abcnews.go.com
