Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) reported a Q4 profit despite a revenue miss of $14.7 billion, attributed to recent price hikes, with adjusted earnings per share gaining $0.82. However, the company experienced a 17.3% decline in US revenue and a 2.6% drop in volume, largely due to the poor performance of Bud Light following a boycott in 2023. The CEO acknowledged the challenging year for the US business but noted gradual improvement and a market share of 38.3%.
Bud Light's parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev, has seen its stock price fall for five consecutive days, as the boycott against the brand gains momentum. The controversy began when Bud Light aired a commercial during the Super Bowl that mocked corn syrup, a key ingredient in rival brands' beers. The boycott highlights the power of consumer behavior in the stock market.
Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) beat estimates for Q1 earnings, with revenue growth of 13.2%, but its Q2 market share was impacted by a recent boycott of Bud Light following a controversial marketing campaign. Bud Light sales volumes fell 26.1% YoY for the week ending April 22, and 21.1% for the week ending April 15. The boycott was led by conservative consumers and resulted in a nearly one-for-one swap in market share between Coors Light and Miller Lite vs Bud Light. BUD stock retreated 3.4% early Friday after surging on Thursday following the earnings report.
