Anheuser-Busch Cos. Reports Increased Sales and Earnings for the Second Quarter and First Six Months of 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 11:12 AM
Symbols: BUD

ST. LOUIS, July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. (NYSE: BUD) today reported that second quarter 2008 net sales increased 4.6 percent and diluted earnings per share (excluding a one-time item in 2007) increased 9.2 percent (1). For the first six months of 2008, net sales increased 5.3 percent and diluted earnings per share (excluding the one-time item) improved 7.1 percent (1).

'Anheuser-Busch achieved solid sales and earnings per share growth for the quarter and first half of the year,' said August A. Busch IV, president and chief executive officer of the company. 'U.S. beer shipments and wholesaler sales-to-retailers increased in the quarter over last year, led by the successful launch of Bud Light Lime and improved performance of other core brands. According to IRI supermarket data, Anheuser-Busch has gained 1.0 share points at the consumer level during the last four weeks. We are encouraged by the success of our marketing and selling initiatives, and are optimistic concerning the outlook for the remaining summer selling season.'

The U.S. beer pricing environment remained favorable through the important Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays, as expected. The company plans to implement price increases on the majority of its U.S. beer volume in September and October. These pricing initiatives will cover approximately 85 percent of the company's domestic volume and will be tailored to selected markets, brands and packages. Overall, the company expects to achieve revenue per barrel(2) growth of 4 percent for 2008, including favorable brand mix.

'The company's new Strategic Plan expands and accelerates our cost reduction and operating efficiency initiatives generated by our Blue Ocean project, as well as our planned price increases. These initiatives, combined with our increased marketing and selling efforts, are all contributing to our very strong outlook for profit growth,' said Mr. Busch IV.

BEER SALES RESULTS

The company's reported beer volume for the second quarter and first six months of 2008 is summarized in the following table:


         Reported Beer Volume (millions of barrels) for Periods Ended June 30
                               Second Quarter           First Six Months
                                    Versus 2007                Versus 2007
                          2008     Barrels    %       2008    Barrels     %
    U.S.                  27.6     Up 0.1   Up 0.5%   53.4    Up 0.2   Up 0.4%
    International          6.2     Up 0.3   Up 4.8%   11.6    Up 0.5   Up 4.0%
      Worldwide A-B
       Brands             33.8     Up 0.4   Up 1.2%   65.0    Up 0.7   Up 1.1%
    Equity Partner Brands  9.3     Up 0.2   Up 2.1%   16.6    Up 0.8   Up 5.2%
      Total Brands        43.1     Up 0.6   Up 1.4%   81.6    Up 1.5   Up 1.9%

U.S. beer shipments-to-wholesalers increased 0.5 percent for the second quarter. Sales-to-retailers for the quarter increased 0.4 percent despite the timing of the Fourth of July holiday that adversely impacted the comparison with second quarter 2007 results. Sales-to-retailers for the second quarter plus first week of July, which eliminates the holiday timing distortion, were up 1.9 percent over the comparable period last year.

For the first six months of 2008, shipments-to-wholesalers increased 0.4 percent, and sales-to-retailers decreased 0.1 percent with import brands contributing 0.2 basis points of growth to shipments and 0.4 basis points to sales-to-retailers. The Fourth of July timing also adversely impacted year- to-date sales-to-retailers although to a lesser degree than in the quarter. Wholesaler inventories for Anheuser-Busch produced brands at the end of the second quarter were essentially level compared with inventories at the end of the second quarter 2007.

The company's estimated U.S. beer market share for the first six months of 2008 was 48.8 percent compared to prior year market share of 48.9 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 4.8 percent for the second quarter and 4.0 percent for the first six months of 2008. These increases are primarily due to increased volume in China, Canada and Argentina, partially offset by lower volume in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Worldwide Anheuser-Busch brands volume, comprised of domestic volume and international volume, increased 1.2 percent for the second quarter and 1.1 percent for the first six months of 2008 to 33.8 million and 65.0 million barrels, respectively.

Total brands volume, which combines worldwide Anheuser-Busch brand volume with equity partner volume (representing the company's share of its equity partners' volume on a one-month lag basis) was 43.1 million barrels in the second quarter 2008, up 0.6 million barrels, or 1.4 percent. Total brands volume was up 1.9 percent, to 81.6 million barrels for the first six months of 2008.

Equity partner brands volume grew 2.1 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively, for the second quarter and first six months of 2008 due to Modelo and Tsingtao volume growth.

SECOND QUARTER 2008 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Key operating results and a discussion of financial highlights for the second quarter 2008 versus 2007 follow.


                                   ($ in millions, except per share)
                               Second Quarter            2008 vs. 2007
                             2008          2007          $           %
    Gross Sales             $5,336       $5,126      Up $210      Up 4.1%
    Net Sales               $4,721       $4,515      Up $206      Up 4.6%
    Income Before Income
     Taxes                    $816         $797       Up $19      Up 2.4%
    Equity Income             $167         $195       Dn $28     Dn 14.2%
    Net Income                $689         $677       Up $12      Up 1.8%
    Diluted Earnings per
     Share                    $.95         $.88      Up $.07      Up 8.0%

    --  Net sales increased 4.6 percent driven by sales increases from U.S.
        beer, international beer and entertainment operations. U.S. beer
        segment sales increased 4.5 percent due primarily to 0.5 percent
        higher beer sales volume, and a 3.2 percent increase in revenue per
        barrel (2) resulting from price increases late last year and in the
        first quarter 2008 and favorable brand mix. International beer sales
        were up 17 percent primarily on higher sales in China and Canada and
        entertainment revenues increased 4 percent primarily due to increased
        attendance. Packaging segment sales declined 3 percent due to lower
        can manufacturing revenues.
    --  The comparability of income before income taxes is impacted by the
        company's sale of the remaining interest in its Spanish theme park
        investment during the second quarter 2007.  The sale resulted in a $16
        million pretax gain ($.01 per share) on the disposition which is
        reported as a corporate item for business segment reporting purposes.
        Excluding this gain to better portray underlying results, income
        before income taxes increased 4.5 percent (1) in the second quarter
        2008 due to improved results for U.S. and international beer,
        partially offset by lower results for packaging and entertainment
        operations. Reported pretax income was up 2.4 percent for the second
        quarter 2008.
        Pretax profits for U.S. beer increased $18 million due to increased
        revenue per barrel and higher beer sales volume, partially offset by
        higher production and distribution costs and increased marketing
        spending.
        International beer pretax income was up $18 million versus prior year,
        primarily on improved results in the United Kingdom, Canada and China.
        Packaging segment pretax profits declined $6 million on lower earnings
        from can manufacturing and recycling operations.
        Entertainment segment pretax income declined $8 million primarily due
        to the timing of the Easter holiday, which occurred in the first
        quarter this year versus the second quarter in 2007.
    --  Equity income decreased $28 million reflecting higher materials and
        operating costs at Grupo Modelo partially offset by volume growth and
        higher pricing. In the second quarter 2007 equity income for Modelo
        included a $12 million benefit from the return of an advertising fund
        that was part of a prior import beer contract. Tsingtao equity results
        include a $7 million charge due to higher Chinese income tax rates
        mandated by the government retroactively for 2007.
    --  The effective tax rate for the second quarter 2008 declined 350 basis
        points, to 36.0 percent compared with prior year due to lower taxes on
        foreign earnings and tax benefits related to the exercise of employee
        incentive stock options.
    --  Net income and earnings per share in the second quarter of 2007 also
        include the impact of the gain on sale of the company's remaining
        equity stake in its Spanish theme park investment. Excluding this one-
        time item, underlying second quarter 2008 net income and diluted
        earnings per share increased 3.3 percent and 9.2 percent,
        respectively, versus 2007 (1).  On a reported basis, net income
        increased 1.8 percent and diluted earnings per share increased 8.0
        percent, to $.95.

FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2008 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Key operating results and a discussion of financial highlights for the first six months of 2008 versus 2007 follow.


                                 ($ in millions, except per share)
                              First Six Months           2008 vs. 2007
                              2008        2007          $            %
    Gross Sales             $9,991       $9,532      Up $459      Up 4.8%
    Net Sales               $8,821       $8,374      Up $447      Up 5.3%
    Income Before Income
     Taxes                  $1,451       $1,393       Up $58      Up 4.2%
    Equity Income             $293         $354       Dn $61     Dn 17.3%
    Net Income              $1,200       $1,195        Up $5      Up 0.5%
    Diluted Earnings per
     Share                   $1.65        $1.55      Up $.10      Up 6.5%

    --  Net sales increased 5.3 percent on increased sales from all business
        segments. U.S. beer segment sales were up 4 percent on increased
        volume and higher revenue per barrel. U.S. beer volume was up 0.4
        percent while revenue per barrel (2) was up 2.7 percent primarily due
        to price increases on a majority of the company's U.S. volume in late
        2007 and in the first quarter of 2008. International beer net sales
        increased 18 percent primarily on higher sales in China and Canada.
        Packaging segment sales were up 2 percent due to higher recycling
        revenues and entertainment sales increased 9 percent primarily from
        higher attendance and increased ticket pricing.
    --  Excluding the impact of the gain on disposal of the Spanish theme park
        interest in 2007, income before income taxes increased 5.4 percent due
        primarily to higher profits for U.S. beer, international beer and
        entertainment operations, partially offset by lower packaging segment
        results. On a reported basis, pretax income increased 4.2 percent.
        Income before income taxes for U.S. beer increased $35 million,
        reflecting higher volume and pricing, partially offset by increased
        marketing expense for trademark brands.
        International beer pretax income was up $37 million, primarily due to
        increased profits in the United Kingdom, China and Canada.
        Packaging segment pretax income decreased $10 million primarily due to
        lower earnings from recycling operations and strong performance in the
        prior year.
        Entertainment segment pretax results improved $5 million primarily
        from increased attendance and higher ticket pricing, partially offset
        by higher operating expenses.
    --  Equity income decreased $61 million for the first half of 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 six months of 2007 included a $29 million
        benefit from the return of an advertising fund that was part of
        Modelo's former beer import contract.
    --  The effective tax rate for the first half of 2008 declined 220 basis
        points, to 37.5 percent compared with the prior year primarily due to
        the same factors that impacted the second quarter effective tax rate,
        as previously discussed.
    --  Excluding the impact of the gain on disposal of the Spanish theme park
        interest in 2007, net income in the first six months of 2008 increased
        1.3 percent and diluted earnings per share were up 7.1 percent versus
        prior year. Earnings per share continue to benefit from the company's
        ongoing share repurchase program. The company repurchased over 13
        million shares through June 2008. Reported net income increased 0.5
        percent and diluted earnings per share increased 6.5 percent, to
        $1.65.

Other Matters

Anheuser-Busch will conduct a conference call with investors to discuss second quarter earnings results at 11:00 a.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.

    Notes
    1.  Reconciliation of Comparative Second Quarter and First Six Months
        Results

    ($ in millions,
     except per
     share)         Income
                    Before    Provision                  Diluted
                    Income    for Income      Net        Earnings    Effective
                     Taxes      Taxes        Income     Per Share    Tax Rate
    Second Quarter
    2008
    Reported        $816.4     ($294.2)       $689.2        $.95       36.0%
    2007
    Reported        $796.9     ($314.6)       $677.0       $0.88       39.5%
    Gain on Sale
     of Spanish
     Theme Park      (16.0)        6.1          (9.9)      (0.01)
    Excluding One-
     Time Item      $780.9     ($308.5)       $667.1       $0.87       39.5%
    Percentage Change
     - 2008 vs. 2007
    Reported          2.4%                      1.8%        8.0%  (350) points
    Excluding One-
     Time Item        4.5%                      3.3%        9.2%  (350) points
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    First Six Months
    2008
    Reported      $1,451.2     ($544.1)     $1,200.1       $1.65       37.5%
    2007
    Reported      $1,393.1     ($552.7)     $1,194.5       $1.55       39.7%
    Gain on Sale
     of Spanish
     Theme Park      (16.0)        6.1          (9.9)      (0.01)
    Excluding One-
     Time Item    $1,377.1     ($546.6)     $1,184.6       $1.54       39.7%
    Percentage Change
     - 2008 vs. 2007
    Reported          4.2%                      0.5%        6.5%  (220) points
    Excluding One-
     Time Item        5.4%                      1.3%        7.1%  (220) points

    2.  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)
                              Second Quarter              Six Months
                              Ended June 30,            Ended June 30,
                            2008         2007         2008         2007
    Gross sales           $5,336.1     $5,126.2     $9,990.8     $9,531.8
      Excise taxes          (614.7)      (610.8)    (1,170.2)    (1,158.0)
    Net Sales              4,721.4      4,515.4      8,820.6      8,373.8
      Cost of sales       (2,998.4)    (2,857.9)    (5,628.5)    (5,332.6)
    Gross profit           1,723.0      1,657.5      3,192.1      3,041.2
      Marketing,
       distribution
       and administrative
       expenses             (793.2)      (756.2)    (1,499.5)    (1,421.9)
    Operating income         929.8        901.3      1,692.6      1,619.3
      Interest expense      (121.6)      (119.7)      (250.7)      (239.6)
      Interest capitalized     4.1          4.2          9.0          7.7
      Interest income          1.2          1.5          2.3          2.0
      Other income/(expense),
       net                     2.9          9.6        (2.0)          3.7
    Income before income
     taxes                   816.4        796.9      1,451.2      1,393.1
      Provision for income
       taxes                (294.2)      (314.6)      (544.1)      (552.7)
    Equity income, net of
     tax                     167.0        194.7        293.0        354.1
    Net income              $689.2       $677.0     $1,200.1     $1,194.5
    Basic earnings per share  $.96         $.90        $1.68        $1.57
    Diluted earnings per
     share                    $.95         $.88        $1.65        $1.55
    Weighted Average Shares
     Outstanding
      Basic                  714.2        754.8        715.4        759.2
      Diluted                727.1        765.1        725.8        770.3

                        Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
                        Business Segments (Unaudited)
                         Second Quarter Ended June 30
                                (In Millions)
                     Intern-
              U.S.   ational                            Corporate
              Beer    Beer    Packaging   Entertainment  & Elims  Consolidated
       2008
    Gross
     Sales  $3,893.1  402.6     726.7         416.4      (102.7)   $5,336.1
    Net Sales:
     - Inter-
       segment  $0.9     --     245.6            --      (246.5)        $--
     - Exte-
       rnal $3,346.3  333.8     481.1         416.4       143.8    $4,721.4
    Income
     Before
     Income
     Taxes    $809.2   48.1      49.5         106.4      (196.8)     $816.4
    Equity
     Income    $(0.7) 167.7        --            --          --      $167.0
    Net
     Income   $501.0  197.5      30.7          66.0      (106.0)     $689.2
       2007
    Gross
     Sales  $3,741.9  356.5     744.9         400.6      (117.7)   $5,126.2
    Net Sales:
     - Inter-
       segment  $0.9    0.2     249.7             -      (250.8)         $-
     - Exte-
       rnal $3,200.9  285.6     495.2         400.6       133.1    $4,515.4
    Income
     Before
     Income
     Taxes    $791.7   30.0      55.0         113.9      (193.7)     $796.9

    Equity
     Income     $1.5  193.2         -             -           -      $194.7
    Net
     Income   $492.3  211.8      34.1          70.6      (131.8)     $677.0

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.
                        Business Segments (Unaudited)
                           Six Months Ended June 30
                                (In Millions)
                     Intern-
              U.S.   ational                            Corporate
              Beer    Beer    Packaging   Entertainment  & Elims  Consolidated
       2008
    Gross
     Sales  $7,467.8  740.4    1,371.2        638.0      (226.6)    $9,990.8
    Net
     Sales:
     - Inter-
       segment  $1.7    0.1      487.6           --      (489.4)         $--
     - Exte-
       rnal $6,412.2  624.0      883.6        638.0       262.8     $8,820.6
    Income
     Before
     Income
     Taxes  $1,584.7   85.6       89.4        100.3      (408.8)    $1,451.2
    Equity
     Income    $(1.1) 294.1         --           --          --       $293.0
    Net
     Income   $981.4  347.2       55.4         62.2      (246.1)    $1,200.1
       2007
    Gross
     Sales  $7,199.3  642.1    1,349.4        585.6      (244.6)    $9,531.8
    Net
     Sales:
     - Inter-
       segment  $1.7    0.5      481.7            -      (483.9)          $-
     - Exte-
       rnal $6,154.2  527.0      867.7        585.6       239.3     $8,373.8
    Income
     Before
     Income
     Taxes  $1,549.7   49.1       99.5         95.4      (400.6)    $1,393.1
    Equity
     Income     $1.6  352.5          -            -           -       $354.1
    Net
     Income   $962.4  382.9       61.7         59.1      (271.6)    $1,194.5

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)
                                                     June 30,    December 31,
                                                       2008           2007
    Assets
    Current Assets:
      Cash                                            $252.8         $283.2
      Accounts receivable                            1,252.3          805.2
      Inventories                                      711.3          723.5
      Other current assets                             281.9          212.6
      Total current assets                           2,498.3        2,024.5
    Investments in affiliated companies              4,138.4        4,019.5
    Plant and equipment, net                         8,742.7        8,833.5
    Intangible assets, including goodwill
     of $1,174.4 and $1,134.6                        1,587.3        1,547.9
    Other assets                                       746.0          729.6
        Total Assets                               $17,712.7      $17,155.0
    Liabilities and Shareholders Equity
    Current Liabilities:
      Accounts payable                              $1,620.4       $1,464.5
      Accrued salaries, wages and benefits             333.4          374.3
      Accrued taxes                                    168.5          106.2
      Accrued interest                                 143.8          136.4
      Other current liabilities                        350.8          222.4
      Total current liabilities                      2,616.9        2,303.8
    Retirement benefits                                882.3        1,002.5
    Debt                                             8,483.2        9,140.3
    Deferred income taxes                            1,365.8        1,314.6
    Other long-term liabilities                        260.5          242.2
    Shareholders Equity:
      Common stock                                   1,495.0        1,482.5
      Capital in excess of par value                 3,944.6        3,382.1
      Retained earnings                             18,652.7       17,923.9
      Treasury stock, at cost                      (19,401.9)     (18,714.7)
      Accumulated non-owner changes in equity         (586.4)        (922.2)
      Total Shareholders Equity                      4,104.0        3,151.6
    Commitments and contingencies                         --             --
        Total Liabilities and Shareholders Equity  $17,712.7      $17,155.0

                        Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
               Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
                                (In Millions)
                                                           Six Months
                                                          Ended June 30,
                                                       2008           2007
    Cash flow from operating activities:
      Net income                                    $1,200.1       $1,194.5
      Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
       provided by operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization                 505.5          494.2
         Decrease in deferred income taxes             (16.3)         (39.2)
         Stock-based compensation expense               30.9           31.3
         Undistributed earnings of affiliated
          companies                                    128.4           49.0
         Gain on sale of business                         --          (16.0)
         Other, net                                    (82.0)          16.8
      Operating cash flow before the
       change in working capital                     1,766.6        1,730.6
         Increase in working capital                  (150.7)        (117.5)
      Cash provided by operating activities          1,615.9        1,613.1
    Cash flow from investing activities:
      Capital expenditures                            (357.0)        (346.2)
      Acquisitions                                     (49.0)         (84.6)
      Proceeds from sale of business                    37.0           16.2
      Cash used for investing activities              (369.0)        (414.6)
    Cash flow from financing activities:
      Increase in debt                                   3.5          333.2
      Decrease in debt                                (665.9)         (71.5)
      Dividends paid to shareholders                  (471.3)        (448.1)
      Acquisition of treasury stock                   (695.3)      (1,131.4)
      Shares issued under stock plans                  551.7          203.2
      Cash used for financing activities            (1,277.3)      (1,114.6)
    Net increase / (decrease) in cash during the
     period                                           (30.4)           83.9
    Cash, beginning of period                          283.2          219.2
    Cash, end of period                               $252.8         $303.1

SOURCE Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.

(Source: PR Newswire )

More Options



Subscribe to Email Alerts rss feed or RSS feeds rss feed for articles from more than 300 contributors and press releases, SEC filings and full text news from thousands of sources.


 
Rate :  Rate this Commentary  


 Number of Comments (0) Post Comment
 
  
Good Rating(+1)    Bad Rating(-1)
No Data Found

 
Enter Symbol
Enter Search String
Bookmark This Article
Email Article

Send this article by email


Recipient's Name
Recipient's E-mail
Your Name
Your E-mail
Related Quotes

 
  Home | Login |Research | Earnings | Scans | Chat Rooms | Charts | Submit Article | Join Blog Network | Contributors | Subscribe to RSS

copryright 2008 all rights reserved