Lower costs lift Molson’s outlook

Article Excerpt

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 Molson Coors should be in a good position to profit. The company has cut its costs over the past few years through two big mergers, so any rise in beer sales will have a big impact on its earnings. Molson Coors’low-cost operations also help it cope with volatile raw-material costs and foreign-exchange rates. 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…