Top brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI.BR) reported forecast-beating revenue, profit and volumes in the second quarter on Thursday, boosted by higher demand in markets across the Americas and from the soccer World Cup.
The largest beer maker by market value posted a 5.8% rise in organic operating profit, higher than the 4.6% growth expected by analysts in a company-compiled consensus.
The result marked another period of strong performance for AB InBev in 2026, a year in which investors hoped the world's major brewers would enjoy a rebound after a difficult 2025.
The company, which makes Budweiser beer, also grew volumes by 0.9%, marking the second consecutive quarter of growth after years of declines.
Industry-wide, brewers' efforts to grow sales have faced repeated setbacks ranging from pressure on consumer incomes and geopolitical turbulence to poor weather.
AB InBev said key global brands such as Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra logged 17%, 19% and 21% growth in revenue outside their home markets, including a boost from the recent World Cup. The brewer was a top global sponsor.
"The momentum of our business continued in Q226," the company said in a statement.
AMERICAS DRIVE GROWTH
Beer volumes hit record highs in the quarter in Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador and returned to growth in Brazil, one of its largest markets, though analysts flagged it faced easier comparative numbers there.
In the United States, sales to retailers and wholesalers fell but AB InBev said it had outperformed the industry in a market where drinkers are cutting back or swapping beer for spirits or canned cocktails.
However, sales remained under pressure in China, where it has performed worse than rivals in an industry-wide downturn in demand.
Broader challenges such as shifting drinking habits, emerging threats like weight-loss drugs and competition from alternatives like cannabis cocktails have also weighed on annual profit growth.
