AB InBev returns to growth as it cheers better beer sales

Belgian brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev sold more drinks for the first time since 2023 in the ​first quarter, as growth ​in major beer ​brands such as Corona and Michelob Ultra ended a prolonged slide in volumes. Shares in the world's most valuable brewer rose almost 7% as it also posted revenue and profit well ⁠ahead ‌of forecasts. Volumes, which had been expected to fall, ⁠instead rose 0.8%. That brought AB InBev into line with rivals that in recent weeks have also reported their first volume growth in at least a year. "Cheers to beer," CEO Michel Doukeris said in a ‌statement, adding the performance reflected the resilience of the category despite weaker demand in key markets. AB InBev said its top global brands, including pricier labels ​such as Corona and Stella Artois, helped lift revenues. Its push into non-beer drinks also paid off, with revenues from those brands, including canned cocktail label Cutwater, jumping 37%. The brewer also beat expectations in Mexico, a key market, overtaking ⁠Heineken and other rivals and benefiting from the timing of Easter, analysts said. Siphelele Mdudu, an analyst ‌at AB InBev investor Matrix Fund Managers, said it was ‌unclear how much of the company's volume growth was thanks to such calendar effects, but the company had also executed a strategy to focus resources on a handful of key global brands ⁠well. "They've got (that strategy) right; you can't take that away from them," he said. …