How These 5 Beer Companies Have Performed So Far This Year

According to a Gallup Poll released July 23, the American adult beverage of choice is beer.

Of those Americans who consume alcohol, 41 percent prefer beer, 31 percent wine and 23 percent named liquor.

As of 2013, there were about 2,822 breweries in the U.S, including 119 regional breweries, 1,412 microbreweries and 1,237 brewpubs. The number has risen to more than 3,000 so far in 2014.

Given that summer is considered prime “beer-drinking” season, here are five well-known brewers and some of their performance stats to date in 2014.

Anheuser-Busch

Anheuser-Busch BUD, makers of Budweiser, Michelob, Busch and a host of other brands, said July 31 that its Q2 2014 revenues were $12.2 billion, up 15.2 percent year over year.

Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer with a 47.6 percent share of beer sales to retailers.

Molson Coors

Molson Coors TAP reported a 7.9 percent increase in after-tax income for second quarter 2014. Prime drivers were improved performance from MillerCoors and sales in Europe.

Also cited was lower interest expense versus last year.

Related: Tigress Reiterates Position On Anheuser-Busch And Boston Beer

Boston Beer

Sam Adams brewer, Boston Beer SAM posted strong financial results for Q2 2014, including earnings of $1.88 per share, an increase of 29.7 percent year over year.

Although Zacks reported higher advertising, promotional and sales expenses, the increase in shipments helped overcome those increased costs.

Constellation

One of the top beer companies in the U.S., Constellation STZ is responsible for several high-end imports including Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo and Pacifico.

The Street’s Jim Cramer recently named Constellation one of his favorites, saying he would take that stock over Molson Coors (another top stock on Cramer’s list).

Cramer said, “The beer market can do no wrong. People love the margins and they love the consolidations.”

Yuengling

Privately owned D.G. Yengling & Son has the distinction of being the oldest operating brewing company in the U.S. Yuengling was established in 1829 and is one of the largest American-owned breweries by volume in the country, tied with Boston Beer for that honor.

Yuengling has made news recently by announcing it would expand into Connecticut, adding to previous launches in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The Massachusetts move earlier this year was the company’s first expansion since it launched in Ohio in 2011.

At the time of this writing, Jim Probasco  had no position in any mentioned securities.