Anheuser-Busch
formerly New York symbol BUD, is the world's largest brewer, and accounts for 50% of the U.S. beer market. Acquired by InBev in 2008.
MOLSON COORS BREWING CO. $44 (New York symbol TAP; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 184 million; Market cap: $8.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.1; WSSF Rating: Average) is the world’s fifth-largest brewer by volume. Its major brands include Coors Light, Molson Canadian and Carling.
Molson Coors was formed in February 2005, when Canadian brewer Molson Inc. merged with U.S.-based Adolph …read more »
Global beer consumption rose 14% between 2005 and 2008. However, the recession will probably limit growth to around 1% this year. Moreover, brewers face rising competition from makers of wine and liquor. Consumers have also become more health-conscious in recent years, and are drinking less beer as a result.
Still, beer sales should improve as the economy begins to recover, and …read more »
MOLSON COORS BREWING CO. $57 has received approval from anti-trust regulators to merge its operations in the United States and Puerto Rico with those of rival brewer SABMiller plc. The new venture will account for about 30% of U.S. beer sales. The cost savings will also help Molson Coors compete with market leader Anheuser-Busch, which recently accepted a takeover offer …read more »
MOLSON COORS CANADA INC. (Toronto symbols TPX.A $56 and TPX.B $54; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 181.5 million; Market cap: $10.0 billion; SI Rating: Average) is the world’s fifth-largest brewer by volume. It operates mainly in the United States (58% of 2007 sales volume), Canada (19%) and Europe (23%). Molson Coors also exports its products to Latin America …read more »
Molson successfully merged with Coors in 2005. The merger let the company cut its costs and expand market share. It now aims to repeat this success with a new joint venture in the U.S. with SABMiller PLC, the parent of Miller Brewing.
The additional cost savings will help Molson Coors offset rising prices for barley, hops, packaging and transportation. Lower costs …read more »
MOLSON COORS CANADA INC. $57 has won U.S. regulatory approval for its joint venture with rival brewer SABMiller plc. Called MillerCoors, this new company will own Molson Coors’ and Miller’s operations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Molson Coors will own 42% of the new company. The merger will cut operating and distribution costs, and help both companies compete …read more »
BCE INC. $35 has delayed declaring its second-quarter dividend of $0.365 a share. The company is currently appealing a ruling by the Quebec Court of Appeal in favour of BCE’s bondholders that could threaten the company’s $42.75-a-share privatization plan. The case will go to the Supreme Court of Canada on June 17, 2008. Delaying the dividend gives BCE more financial …read more »
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. $36 (New York symbol VZ) will merge its local telephone operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont with FairPoint Communications Inc. on March 31, 2008. Verizon stockholders will receive about 0.0188 shares of FairPoint common stock as a special dividend for each share of Verizon they hold. This is a tax-deferred distribution, so investors will only be …read more »
ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES INC. $49 (New York symbol BUD; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 733.8 million; Market cap: $36.0 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) is the world’s largest brewer, and accounts for 50% of the U.S. beer market. Beer provides 85% of Anheuser-Busch’s earnings. The remaining 15% comes from its nine theme parks and aluminum can recycling operations.
While demand …read more »
ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES INC. $51 (New York symbol BUD; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 749.6 million; Market cap: $38.2 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) is the world’s largest brewer. Major brands include Budweiser, Bud Light, Busch and Michelob. Anheuser-Busch accounts for roughly half of the beer sold in the United States.
Beer supplies 85% of the company’s profit. The other …read more »
