A-B InBev Revenue Up 5%, Profit Gains 3%

Anheuser-Busch InBev reports total revenue in the third quarter rose 5% with revenue per hectoliter growing 9%. But that growth was far outpaced by a 15.1% growth in ABI's global brands – Budweiser, Stella Artois, Corona and Michelob outside their home markets. ABI owns Corona everywhere but in the U.S.

ABI posted a $1.47 billion, or 73 cents a share, profit in the third quarter, up about 3% from $1.43 billion, or 71 cents a share, a year earlier.

About 66% – over $125 million – of ABI's was generated through B2B digital platforms and digital ecosystem.

In what has become a recurring feature, higher dollar sales does not mean higher case volume. In fact, in the third quarter, total volumes declined 3.4%. ABI's own beer volumes were down 4% and non-beer volumes wee up 1.4%.

About 80% of its markets saw growth, ABI said, noting that the topline increased 5%. This was a "a result of pricing actions, ongoing premiumization and other revenue management initiatives," the company said. It noted that growth in Middle Americas, Africa and APAC regions was primarily offset by performance in the US and a soft industry in Europe.