Anheuser-Busch Cos. Reports Improved Sales and Earnings Per Share for the
                            First Quarter 2008
 
    ST. LOUIS, April 23 -- Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. (NYSE: BUD) reported 
improved sales and earnings for the first quarter 2008 today at its annual 
meeting of shareholders held in Orlando, Fla. Consolidated net sales 
increased 6.2 percent in the first quarter 2008 and earnings per share 
increased 6.0 percent.   
    "Our operations achieved solid results in the quarter, growing sales and 
operating income six percent over the first quarter last year," said August A. 
Busch IV, president and chief executive officer of the company. "We have 
successfully implemented U.S. beer price increases and expect good revenue per 
barrel performance in 2008. Our cost reduction efforts are significantly 
mitigating the impact of industry-wide cost pressures. We are increasing 
marketing and sales support for our core beer brands, and, although U.S. beer 
sales-to-retailers results were below expectations, we are optimistic 
concerning the outlook for beer sales during the key summer selling season."   
 
    BEER SALES RESULTS 
 
    The company's reported beer volume is summarized in the following table: 
          
                     Beer Volume (millions of barrels) 
                                First Quarter           2008 vs. 2007 
                              2008         2007      Barrels         %      
    U.S.                      25.8         25.7       Up 0.1      Up 0.4% 
    International              5.4          5.2       Up 0.2      Up 3.1% 
      Worldwide A-B Brands    31.2         30.9       Up 0.3      Up 0.8% 
    Equity Partner Brands      7.3          6.7       Up 0.6      Up 9.3% 
      Total Brands            38.5         37.6       Up 0.9      Up 2.3% 
 
 
 
    U.S. beer shipments-to-wholesalers increased 0.4 percent for the first 
quarter 2008, with import brands contributing 60 basis points to overall 
growth. First quarter 2008 sales-to-retailers were down 0.7 percent, and 
sales-to-retailers for Anheuser-Busch produced brands, excluding imports, 
declined 1.4 percent. Sales-to-retailers trends have improved in April and for 
the first three weeks of the month are up 2 percent for Anheuser-Busch 
produced brands. Wholesaler inventories for Anheuser-Busch produced brands at 
the end of the first quarter were approximately the same as a year ago.    
    The company's estimated U.S. market share for the first quarter 2008 was 
50.9 percent, compared to first quarter 2007 market share of 50.6 percent. 
Market share is based on estimated U.S. beer industry shipment volume using 
information provided by the Beer Institute and the U.S. Department of 
Commerce. 
    International volume, consisting of Anheuser-Busch brands produced 
overseas by company-owned breweries and under license and contract-brewing 
agreements, plus exports from the company's U.S. breweries, increased  
3.1 percent for the first quarter 2008, driven primarily by sales in Canada, 
Mexico, Argentina and China.   
    Worldwide Anheuser-Busch beer sales volume for the first quarter 2008 
increased 0.8 percent, to 31.2 million barrels. Worldwide beer volume is 
comprised of domestic volume plus international volume.   
    Equity partner brands volume, representing the company's share of its 
equity partners' volume reported on a one-month lag, increased 9.3 percent for 
the first quarter of 2008 due to increased volume for Modelo and Tsingtao.   
    Total brands volume increased 2.3 percent for the first quarter 2008. 
 
    FIRST QUARTER 2008 FINANCIAL RESULTS 
    Key operating results and a discussion of financial highlights for the 
first quarter 2008 compared to the first quarter 2007 follow.   
     
          
    In millions, except  
     per share                   First Quarter             2008 vs. 2007 
                               2008          2007         $             %      
    Gross Sales               $4,655       $4,406      Up $249      Up 5.7% 
    Net Sales                 $4,099       $3,858      Up $241      Up 6.2% 
    Operating Income            $763         $718       Up $45      Up 6.2% 
    Income Before Income Taxes  $635         $596       Up $39      Up 6.5% 
    Equity Income               $126         $159       Dn $33     Dn 21.0% 
    Net Income                  $511         $518       Dn  $7      Dn 1.3% 
    Diluted Earnings per Share  $.71         $.67      Up $.04      Up 6.0% 
 
 
 
    *     Net sales increased 6.2 percent on increased sales from all business 
          segments.  U.S. beer sales were up due to increased volume and 
          pricing, international beer net sales increased 20 percent from 
          higher volume, packaging segment sales were up 8 percent due 
          primarily to higher volume and entertainment sales increased 
          20 percent primarily from higher attendance.   

          U.S. beer segment sales increased 4 percent on improved revenue per
          barrel and increased sales volume. Revenue per barrel(1) was up 
          2.3 percent primarily due to the implementation of price increases
          on a majority of the company's U.S. volume late last year and in the
          first quarter of 2008.   
 
    *     Operating income increased 6.2 percent due primarily to higher 
          profits for U.S. beer and international beer operations and improved 
          results from entertainment operations, partially offset by lower 
          packaging segment results.   
 
          Income before income taxes for U.S. beer was up $18 million, 
          reflecting higher volume and pricing, partially offset by increased 
          marketing expense for trademark brands.  
  
          International beer pretax income was up $18 million, primarily due 
          to increased profits in China, Canada and improved results in the 
          United Kingdom.   
 
          Packaging segment pretax income decreased $5 million primarily due 
          to lower earnings from recycling operations.   
           
          Entertainment segment pretax results improved $12 million primarily 
          from increased attendance due to the Easter holiday occurring in the 
          first quarter in 2008 versus the second quarter last year.   
 
     *    Equity income decreased $33 million in the first quarter 2008, 
          primarily due to a combination of higher materials and operating 
          costs for Grupo Modelo partially offset by higher beer volume. 
          Additionally, equity income for the first quarter 2007 included a 
          $17 million benefit from the return of an advertising fund that was 
          part of Modelo's former beer import contract.  
 
     *    Net income in the first quarter 2008 decreased 1.3 percent and 
          diluted earnings per share were up 6.0 percent versus prior year. 
          Earnings per share continue to benefit from the company's ongoing 
          share repurchase program. The company repurchased over 9 million 
          shares in the first quarter. 
 
 
    Other Matters 
    Anheuser-Busch will conduct a conference call with investors to discuss 
first quarter earnings results at 3 p.m. CDT today. The company will broadcast 
the conference call live via the Internet. For details visit the company's 
site on the Internet at http://www.anheuser-busch.com. 
 
    Note  
    1. Domestic revenue per barrel is calculated as net sales generated by the  
       company's U.S. beer operations on barrels of beer sold, determined on a  
       U.S. GAAP basis, divided by the volume of beer shipped to U.S.  
       wholesalers. 
 
    This release contains forward-looking statements regarding the company's 
expectations concerning its future operations, earnings and prospects. On the 
date the forward-looking statements are made, the statements represent the 
company's expectations, but the company's expectations concerning its future 
operations, earnings and prospects may change. The company's expectations 
involve risks and uncertainties (both favorable and unfavorable) and are based 
on many assumptions that the company believes to be reasonable, but such 
assumptions may ultimately prove to be inaccurate or incomplete, in whole or 
in part. Accordingly, there can be no assurances that the company's 
expectations and the forward-looking statements will be correct. Important 
factors that could cause actual results to differ (favorably or unfavorably) 
from the expectations stated in this release include, among others, changes in 
the pricing environment for the company's products; changes in U.S. demand for 
malt beverage products, including changes in U.S. demand for other alcohol 
beverages; changes in consumer preference for the company's malt beverage 
products; changes in the distribution for the company's malt beverage 
products; changes in the cost of marketing the company's malt beverage 
products; regulatory or legislative changes, including changes in beer excise 
taxes at either the federal or state level and changes in income taxes; 
changes in the litigation to which the company is a party; changes in raw 
materials prices; changes in packaging materials costs; changes in energy 
costs; changes in the financial condition of the company's suppliers; changes 
in interest rates; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; unusual weather 
conditions that could impact beer consumption in the U.S.; changes in 
attendance and consumer spending patterns for the company's theme park 
operations; changes in demand for aluminum beverage containers; changes in the 
company's international beer business or in the beer business of the company's 
international equity partners; changes in the economies of the countries in 
which the company, its international beer business or its international equity 
partners operate; future acquisitions or divestitures by the company, 
including effects on its credit rating; changes resulting from transactions 
among the company's global or domestic competitors; and the effect of stock 
market conditions on the company's share repurchase program.  Anheuser-Busch 
disclaims any obligation to update or revise any of these forward-looking 
statements.  Additional risk factors concerning the company can be found in 
the company's most recent Form 10-K. 
 
 
 
                           Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
             Comparative Consolidated Statement of Earnings (Unaudited)

                           (In Millions, Except Per Share)

                              First Quarter           Change 2008 vs. 2007  
                              Ended March 31,             Fav./(Unfav.) 
                            2008           2007          $            % 
     
    Gross sales           $4,654.7     $4,405.6       $249.1         5.7% 
      Excise taxes          (555.5)      (547.2)        (8.3)       (1.5)% 
    Net Sales              4,099.2      3,858.4        240.8         6.2% 
      Cost of sales       (2,630.1)    (2,474.7)      (155.4)       (6.3)% 
      Marketing,  
       distribution and            
       administrative  
       expenses             (706.3)      (665.7)       (40.6)       (6.1)% 
    Operating income         762.8        718.0         44.8         6.2% 
      Interest expense      (129.1)      (119.9)        (9.2)       (7.7)% 
      Interest capitalized     4.9          3.5          1.4        40.0% 
      Interest income          1.1          0.5          0.6         N/M 
      Other expense, net      (4.9)        (5.9)         1.0        16.9% 
    Income before income  
     taxes                   634.8        596.2         38.6         6.5% 
      Provision for income  
       taxes                (249.9)      (238.1)       (11.8)       (5.0)% 
    Equity income, net of 
     tax                     126.0        159.4        (33.4)      (21.0)% 
    Net income              $510.9       $517.5        $(6.6)       (1.3)% 
     
    Basic earnings per share  $.71         $.68         $.03         4.4% 
    Diluted earnings per 
     share                    $.71         $.67         $.04         6.0%
                                   
    Weighted Average Shares                                 Decrease 
     Outstanding                                       Shares         % 
                                   
    Basic                    716.7        763.5        (46.8)       (6.1)%
                                   
    Diluted                  721.6        773.3        (51.7)       (6.7)%
                                   
    
 
 
                         Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
                         Business Segments (Unaudited)
                          First Quarter Ended March 31

                                 (In Millions)

                               Inter-
                    U.S.     national            Enter- Corporate 
                    Beer        Beer  Packaging tainment & Elims Consolidated 
       2008 
    Gross Sales   $3,574.7     337.8    644.5    221.6   (123.9)   $4,654.7 
    Net Sales:             
     - Intersegment   $0.8       0.1    242.0       --   (242.9)         -- 
     - External   $3,065.9     290.2    402.5    221.6    119.0    $4,099.2 
    Income Before  
     Income Taxes   $775.5      37.5     39.9     (6.1)  (212.0)     $634.8 
    Equity Income    $(0.4)    126.4       --       --       --      $126.0 
    Net Income      $480.4     149.7     24.7     (3.8)  (140.1)     $510.9 
     
       2007                   
    Gross Sales   $3,457.4     285.6    604.5    185.0   (126.9)   $4,405.6 
    Net Sales:             
     - Intersegment   $0.8       0.3    232.0       --   (233.1)         -- 
     - External   $2,953.3     241.4    372.5    185.0    106.2    $3,858.4 
    Income Before  
     Income Taxes   $758.0      19.1     44.5    (18.5)  (206.9)     $596.2 
    Equity Income     $0.1     159.3       --       --       --      $159.4 
    Net Income      $470.1     171.1     27.6    (11.5)  (139.8)     $517.5 
 
  
    In 2008, the company changed reporting responsibility for beer sales in 
the Caribbean region from U.S. Beer to International Beer and also reassigned 
certain administrative and technology support costs between Corporate and U.S. 
Beer. Segment results for 2007 have been updated to conform to the revised 
reporting conventions.  


 
                          Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
                      Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

                                  (In Millions)
  
                                          March 31,          December 31,  
                                            2008                 2007  
    Assets                                         
    Current Assets:                                
      Cash                                  $217.8              $283.2      
      Accounts receivable                  1,001.6               805.2      
      Inventories                            818.3               723.5      
      Other current assets                   222.0               212.6      
      Total current assets                 2,259.7             2,024.5      
    Investments in affiliated companies    4,231.4             4,019.5      
    Plant and equipment, net               8,765.1             8,833.5      
    Intangible assets, including goodwill  
     of $1,160.3 and $1,134.6              1,556.0             1,547.9      
    Other assets                             739.0               729.6      
        Total Assets                     $17,551.2           $17,155.0      
     
     
    Liabilities and Shareholders Equity            
    Current Liabilities:                           
      Accounts payable                    $1,405.6            $1,464.5      
      Accrued salaries, wages and benefits   313.3               374.3      
      Accrued taxes                          387.9               106.2      
      Accrued interest                       125.6               136.4      
      Other current liabilities              309.6               222.4      
      Total current liabilities            2,542.0             2,303.8      
    Retirement benefits                    1,015.4             1,002.5      
    Debt                                   9,281.0             9,140.3      
    Deferred income taxes                  1,323.1             1,314.6      
    Other long-term liabilities              241.1               242.2      
    Shareholders Equity:                           
      Common stock                         1,483.4             1,482.5      
      Capital in excess of par value       3,423.6             3,382.1      
      Retained earnings                   18,198.5            17,923.9      
      Treasury stock, at cost            (19,165.3)          (18,714.7)      
      Accumulated non-owner changes in  
       equity                               (791.6)             (922.2)      
      Total Shareholders Equity            3,148.6             3,151.6      
    Commitments and contingencies               --                  --      
        Total Liabilities and Shareholders  
         Equity                          $17,551.2           $17,155.0      
     
 
 
                        Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
                Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

                               (In Millions)
 
                                                   Three Months 
                                                  Ended March 31, 
                                             2008                2007 
    Cash flow from operating activities:  
      Net income                            $510.9              $517.5      
      Adjustments to reconcile net income  
       to cash provided by operating  
       activities:                                 
        Depreciation and amortization        253.3               246.0      
        Decrease in deferred income taxes     (9.6)              (21.9)      
        Stock-based compensation expense      14.4                15.1      
        Undistributed earnings of  
         affiliated companies               (126.0)             (159.4)      
        Other, net                            12.6               (40.9)      
      Operating cash flow before the change  
       in working capital                    655.6               556.4      
        Increase in working capital          (44.9)             (240.4)      
      Cash provided by operating activities  610.7               316.0      
     
    Cash flow from investing activities:           
      Capital expenditures                  (150.3)             (154.4)      
      Acquisitions                            (1.5)              (83.5)      
      Cash used for investing activities    (151.8)             (237.9)      
     
    Cash flow from financing activities:           
      Increase in debt                       353.3               585.1      
      Decrease in debt                      (218.9)               (0.7)      
      Dividends paid to shareholders        (236.3)             (225.5)      
      Acquisition of treasury stock         (458.7)             (477.4)      
      Shares issued under stock plans         36.3                95.3      
      Cash used for financing activities    (524.3)              (23.2)      
    Net increase / (decrease) in cash  
     during the period                       (65.4)               54.9      
    Cash, beginning of period                283.2               219.2      
    Cash, end of period                     $217.8              $274.1      
     
SOURCE  Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. 
    -0-                             04/23/2008 
    /CONTACT:  Brenda Williams of Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc., +1-203-846-6636/ 
    /Web site: http://www.anheuser-busch.com / 
    (BUD)  
 
 
 
 



END

Anheuser-Busch (LSE:AHB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024 Click Here for more Anheuser-Busch Charts.
Anheuser-Busch (LSE:AHB)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024 Click Here for more Anheuser-Busch Charts.