AB InBev Offsets Volume Drop With Higher Premium Beer Sales (1)

Anheuser-Busch InBev offset a fall in volumes with higher profits by cutting costs and driving consumers to drink more of its premium beer.

The maker of Michelob Ultra and Stella Artois said adjusted organic earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization rose 7.9% in the first quarter, more than the 3.7% analysts had expected.

That came despite a 2.2% fall in beer volumes, with North America down more than expected as US sales suffered from adverse weather and a later Easter. The company has been investing in bigger brands in the market, like Michelob Ultra and Busch Light, which gained ...