AB InBev Q1 Earnings Beat on Brand Momentum, Revenues Fall Short

Core Viewpoint - AB InBev reported first-quarter 2025 results with earnings per share (EPS) exceeding estimates, while revenue declined and missed expectations, indicating mixed performance driven by strong consumer demand for megabrands and a diversified market presence [1][2]. Financial Performance - Underlying EPS was 81 cents, reflecting a 7.1% year-over-year increase, driven by 10.3% EBIT growth and optimized net finance costs, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 77 cents [2]. - Revenues totaled $13.63 billion, falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.85 billion and declining 6.3% year over year, although organic revenue grew by 1.5% in half of its markets [3][4]. - Revenue per hectoliter improved by 3.7% year over year, supported by revenue-management initiatives, despite a total organic volume decline of 2.2% [4]. Brand Performance - Premium and super premium beer brands showed strong performance, with the above-core beer portfolio growing by 1.8% year over year, led by Corona's 11.2% revenue increase outside Mexico [5]. - Megabrands revenues increased by 4.4%, primarily driven by the strong performance of the Corona brand [5]. Digital Transformation - AB InBev has focused on digital investments, with B2B digital platforms contributing approximately 72% to revenues in Q1 2025, and the omnichannel ecosystem generating $275 million in revenues [6][8]. Cost and Margin Analysis - Cost of sales decreased by 9.2% to $6.04 billion, while SG&A expenses rose by 5.6% year over year to $4.2 billion [9]. - Normalized EBITDA was $4.9 billion, down 2.6% year over year, but improved 7.9% on an organic basis, with the EBITDA margin expanding to 35.6% [10]. Future Outlook - For 2025, AB InBev anticipates EBITDA growth of 4-8%, with net capital expenditure projected at $3.5-$4 billion [12].