Core Insights - Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. is facing significant challenges in recovering from a cyberattack that severely impacted its production and distribution capabilities, leading to a notable decline in alcohol sales in Japan [1][2]. Sales Performance - In November, Asahi's alcohol sales in Japan fell over 20% compared to the previous year, worsening from a nearly 10% decline in October [1]. - Soft drink sales showed some recovery, with a decline of around 25% in November, an improvement from a roughly 40% drop in October [2]. - Food product sales decreased by about 10%, which is better than the more than 20% decline experienced the previous month [2]. Cyberattack Impact - The cyberattack in September caused significant disruptions, shutting down key internal systems for order and shipment management, forcing the company to process transactions manually [2]. - Asahi expects its supply chain to be largely restored by February, but the attack has resulted in a projected delay of over 50 days for the company's financial results following the fiscal year-end [3]. - The company acknowledged that a "short-term impact" on earnings in Japan is unavoidable due to the cyberattack [3]. Competitor Performance - In contrast to Asahi, Kirin Holdings Co. reported a 1% increase in beer sales in November, while Sapporo Holdings Ltd. experienced a 12% drop in sales volume for the same period [3]. Data Breach - Asahi disclosed that up to 1.9 million records of private information may have been compromised during the cyberattack, although no ransom was paid [4]. - Additional leaked information was found on the dark web following the attack [4]. Stock Performance - Despite the challenges, Asahi's shares rose by 0.2% on Wednesday, with a total increase of 6.2% for the year [4].

My prediction is that the company's long-term prospects will outweigh any near-term slowdown in consumer spending. While Dutch Bros (BROS 0.62%) has rallied off its 2025 lows, the stock is still well off its highs for the year, since there continues to be some worry about the state of the consumer economy. However, the drive-thru coffee chain's recent quarterly earnings report showed why a potential slowdown shouldn't scare investors away from the stock. The long-term story is intact There have been clear s ...