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AB InBev Bolsters Position With Premiumization and Digital Expansion
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Key Takeaways
BUD's digital platforms, including BEES and Ze Delivery, are expanding customer reach and engagement.
BUD's B2B digital platforms contributed about 72% of revenues in Q1 2026, supporting growth.
BUD's premium beer portfolio posted 11% revenue rise in Q1, led by Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra.
In a fast-evolving beverage environment, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD - Free Report) , also known as AB InBev, emerges as a distinctively positioned contender, strengthening its foothold in the global alcoholic beverage market. As a global brewing titan, AB InBev continues to dominate the industry through its expansive sourcing and distribution network, strategic focus on premiumization, accelerating digital transformation and consistent investment in brand equity.
AB InBev continues to enhance its digital capabilities to deepen customer engagement, with a strong emphasis on digitizing and monetizing its ecosystem. The company is expanding its tech-driven platforms, particularly its B2B and e-commerce channels like BEES and Zé Delivery. BEES delivered a strong performance, generating $14.6 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV), up 15% year over year. Digital DTC megabrands, Zé Delivery, TaDa Delivery and PerfectDraft, served 12 million active consumers, generating $139 million in revenues in first-quarter 2026, with third-party sales through DTC marketplace reaching $41 million of GMV.
The company’s digital transformation initiatives have been on track, with B2B digital platforms contributing about 72% to its revenues in first-quarter 2026. In DTC, BUD’s digital platforms enable a one-to-one connection with consumers, hence developing new occasions. Digital momentum is likely to continue and bolster the company’s overall revenues.
Premiumization remains a key lever for AB InBev as consumers trade up within beer and it concentrates investment behind its megabrands. In first-quarter 2026, the above core beer portfolio delivered an 11% revenue increase, driven by Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra. Corona also increased volumes by double digits in 32 markets in the reported quarter, supporting a sustained premium mix contribution. The company has highlighted that its disciplined revenue management and strong portfolio of higher-priced brands support revenue per hl and margin resiliency over time. As AB InBev continues to activate global platforms such as major sports moments and scale premium brands across more markets, it has an opportunity to protect pricing power through the cycle.
BUD’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
AB InBev shares have gained 27.5% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 14.9% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, BUD trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 17.99X compared with the industry’s average of 15.38X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BUD’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share (EPS) indicates year-over-year growth of 16.1% and 11.5%, respectively. The company’s EPS estimates for 2026 have moved upward in the past seven days while that of 2027 have moved downward.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AB InBev currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Chefs' Warehouse current financial-year sales indicates growth of 8.3% from the prior-year level. CHEF delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 28.9%, on average.
Nomad Foods Limited (NOMD - Free Report) , which manufactures and distributes frozen foods, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The consensus estimate for Nomad Foods’ current financial-year sales is expected to rise 0.5% from the year-ago reported figure. NOMD delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.6%, on average.
Medifast, Inc. (MED - Free Report) , which is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically-proven healthy living products and programs, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. MED delivered an average earnings surprise of 65.5% in the last reported quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Medifast’s current financial-year sales indicates a decline of 26% from the year-ago number.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
AB InBev Bolsters Position With Premiumization and Digital Expansion
Key Takeaways
In a fast-evolving beverage environment, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD - Free Report) , also known as AB InBev, emerges as a distinctively positioned contender, strengthening its foothold in the global alcoholic beverage market. As a global brewing titan, AB InBev continues to dominate the industry through its expansive sourcing and distribution network, strategic focus on premiumization, accelerating digital transformation and consistent investment in brand equity.
AB InBev continues to enhance its digital capabilities to deepen customer engagement, with a strong emphasis on digitizing and monetizing its ecosystem. The company is expanding its tech-driven platforms, particularly its B2B and e-commerce channels like BEES and Zé Delivery. BEES delivered a strong performance, generating $14.6 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV), up 15% year over year. Digital DTC megabrands, Zé Delivery, TaDa Delivery and PerfectDraft, served 12 million active consumers, generating $139 million in revenues in first-quarter 2026, with third-party sales through DTC marketplace reaching $41 million of GMV.
The company’s digital transformation initiatives have been on track, with B2B digital platforms contributing about 72% to its revenues in first-quarter 2026. In DTC, BUD’s digital platforms enable a one-to-one connection with consumers, hence developing new occasions. Digital momentum is likely to continue and bolster the company’s overall revenues.
Premiumization remains a key lever for AB InBev as consumers trade up within beer and it concentrates investment behind its megabrands. In first-quarter 2026, the above core beer portfolio delivered an 11% revenue increase, driven by Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra. Corona also increased volumes by double digits in 32 markets in the reported quarter, supporting a sustained premium mix contribution. The company has highlighted that its disciplined revenue management and strong portfolio of higher-priced brands support revenue per hl and margin resiliency over time. As AB InBev continues to activate global platforms such as major sports moments and scale premium brands across more markets, it has an opportunity to protect pricing power through the cycle.
BUD’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
AB InBev shares have gained 27.5% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 14.9% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, BUD trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 17.99X compared with the industry’s average of 15.38X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BUD’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share (EPS) indicates year-over-year growth of 16.1% and 11.5%, respectively. The company’s EPS estimates for 2026 have moved upward in the past seven days while that of 2027 have moved downward.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AB InBev currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Stocks to Consider in the Consumer Staples Space
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF - Free Report) , which is a distributor of specialty food products in the United States, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Chefs' Warehouse current financial-year sales indicates growth of 8.3% from the prior-year level. CHEF delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 28.9%, on average.
Nomad Foods Limited (NOMD - Free Report) , which manufactures and distributes frozen foods, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The consensus estimate for Nomad Foods’ current financial-year sales is expected to rise 0.5% from the year-ago reported figure. NOMD delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.6%, on average.
Medifast, Inc. (MED - Free Report) , which is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically-proven healthy living products and programs, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. MED delivered an average earnings surprise of 65.5% in the last reported quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Medifast’s current financial-year sales indicates a decline of 26% from the year-ago number.