We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Digital Push Gains Pace: Is BEES Driving AB InBev's Incremental Value?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
AB InBev's BEES platform drives digital growth with $52.5B GMV, up 12% y/y.
BUD sees BEES Marketplace GMV jump 61% to $3.5B, boosting margins and asset-light expansion.
AB InBev captures 72% of revenues via digital platforms, strengthening efficiency and engagement.
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD - Free Report) , alias AB InBev, is gaining meaningful traction with its digital transformation, with the BEES platform emerging as a critical driver of incremental value. The company’s push to digitize its vast ecosystem, spanning more than 6 million customers globally, is already delivering scale benefits, improved efficiencies and new revenue streams. As of 2025, BEES was live in 29 markets, with 72% of AB InBev’s revenues captured through B2B digital platforms, underscoring rapid adoption and deep integration into its route-to-market strategy.
The platform’s gross merchandise value (GMV) was $52.5 billion in 2025, growing 12% year over year, signaling strong underlying demand and increased customer engagement. Beyond digitization, the real value creation lies in monetization. BEES Marketplace, which enables third-party product sales, saw GMV surge 61% to $3.5 billion, driven by the expansion of its asset-light third-party model. This not only enhances assortment for retailers but also boosts margins and capital efficiency for AB InBev.
BEES strengthens customer stickiness by embedding ordering, payments and analytics into a single platform, improving convenience and decision-making for small and medium retailers. This data-driven ecosystem allows AB InBev to optimize pricing, promotions and inventory, reinforcing its revenue management capabilities.
While still evolving, BEES is increasingly becoming more than just a digital ordering tool; it is a scalable marketplace and a monetization engine. Coupled with the company’s growing DTC ecosystem, which generated $1.3 billion in revenues in 2025, AB InBev is building a comprehensive digital flywheel.
Overall, BEES appears well-positioned to drive incremental value through higher revenues, better margins and stronger customer relationships, making it a key pillar of AB InBev’s long-term growth strategy.
BUD’s Zacks Rank & Share Price Performance
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have rallied 13% in the past three months, outperforming the industry and the broader Consumer Staples sector’s rallies of 4.2% and 4.1%, respectively. The stock has also outpaced the S&P 500’s decline of 2% in the same period.
BUD Stock's 3-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AB InBev currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 16.78X, which is higher than the industry average of 14.72X and below the sector average of 16.99X. This valuation positions the stock at a premium relative to its industry peers, suggesting that investors may be pricing in stronger growth prospects, brand strength or operational efficiency compared with competitors.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Constellation Brands’ fiscal 2026 sales and earnings suggests declines of 10.7% and 15.5%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. STZ delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.6%, on average.
Carlsberg (CABGY - Free Report) is a brewing company and has operations in Northern and Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carlsberg’s 2026 sales and earnings indicates growth of 34.9% and 17.8%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
Heineken (HEINY - Free Report) is engaged in producing and distributing beverages, including beer, cider, soft drinks, and other beverages. The company currently has a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Heineken’s 2026 sales implies a decline of 6.3% from the previous year’s reported number, while the consensus mark for EPS suggests growth of 18.2%.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Digital Push Gains Pace: Is BEES Driving AB InBev's Incremental Value?
Key Takeaways
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD - Free Report) , alias AB InBev, is gaining meaningful traction with its digital transformation, with the BEES platform emerging as a critical driver of incremental value. The company’s push to digitize its vast ecosystem, spanning more than 6 million customers globally, is already delivering scale benefits, improved efficiencies and new revenue streams. As of 2025, BEES was live in 29 markets, with 72% of AB InBev’s revenues captured through B2B digital platforms, underscoring rapid adoption and deep integration into its route-to-market strategy.
The platform’s gross merchandise value (GMV) was $52.5 billion in 2025, growing 12% year over year, signaling strong underlying demand and increased customer engagement. Beyond digitization, the real value creation lies in monetization. BEES Marketplace, which enables third-party product sales, saw GMV surge 61% to $3.5 billion, driven by the expansion of its asset-light third-party model. This not only enhances assortment for retailers but also boosts margins and capital efficiency for AB InBev.
BEES strengthens customer stickiness by embedding ordering, payments and analytics into a single platform, improving convenience and decision-making for small and medium retailers. This data-driven ecosystem allows AB InBev to optimize pricing, promotions and inventory, reinforcing its revenue management capabilities.
While still evolving, BEES is increasingly becoming more than just a digital ordering tool; it is a scalable marketplace and a monetization engine. Coupled with the company’s growing DTC ecosystem, which generated $1.3 billion in revenues in 2025, AB InBev is building a comprehensive digital flywheel.
Overall, BEES appears well-positioned to drive incremental value through higher revenues, better margins and stronger customer relationships, making it a key pillar of AB InBev’s long-term growth strategy.
BUD’s Zacks Rank & Share Price Performance
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have rallied 13% in the past three months, outperforming the industry and the broader Consumer Staples sector’s rallies of 4.2% and 4.1%, respectively. The stock has also outpaced the S&P 500’s decline of 2% in the same period.
BUD Stock's 3-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AB InBev currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 16.78X, which is higher than the industry average of 14.72X and below the sector average of 16.99X. This valuation positions the stock at a premium relative to its industry peers, suggesting that investors may be pricing in stronger growth prospects, brand strength or operational efficiency compared with competitors.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to Consider
Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ - Free Report) is the third-largest beer company and a leading, high-end wine company in the United States. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Constellation Brands’ fiscal 2026 sales and earnings suggests declines of 10.7% and 15.5%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. STZ delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.6%, on average.
Carlsberg (CABGY - Free Report) is a brewing company and has operations in Northern and Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carlsberg’s 2026 sales and earnings indicates growth of 34.9% and 17.8%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
Heineken (HEINY - Free Report) is engaged in producing and distributing beverages, including beer, cider, soft drinks, and other beverages. The company currently has a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Heineken’s 2026 sales implies a decline of 6.3% from the previous year’s reported number, while the consensus mark for EPS suggests growth of 18.2%.