AB InBev: shares open higher after well-received numbers

(CercleFinance.com) - Anheuser-Busch InBev expects to post strong growth in both revenue and earnings in 2018, despite "volatility" in some of its key markets, such as Brazil.


The Belgium-based beer maker said on Thursday that it anticipates a "softer" first quarter in 2018, on the back of a tough comparison basis and the phasing of sales and marketing initiatives, but insisted that growth should accelerate over the rest of the year.

Revenue grew by 5.1% in the past year, with total volumes up 0.2%, including beer volumes that were up 0.6% and non-beer volumes down 3.1%.

For 2017, the group's normalized profit increased by 64% as reported, to 7.97 billion dollars, mainly due to synergy generation, the group said.

For 2018 the brewer continues to expect 3.2 billion dollars in synergies and cost savings, on a constant currency basis.

The Brussels-listed shares jumped after these comments: on Euronext the AB InBev stock was up 5.7% in early morning trading today.

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