Brazilian beverage company Companhia de Bebidas das Americas - AmBev (ABV) reported Thursday a 5.8% rise in profit for the third quarter, driven by good volume growth mainly in Brazil and price increases. Net sales for the quarter increased 12.7%.
Third-quarter net income attributable to AmBev holders, on International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, basis, increased to R$1.231 billion from R$1.163 billion in the year-ago period. On a per share basis, earnings rose 5.4% to R$2.00 from prior year's R$1.89.
Normalized net income attributable to AmBev holders rose 5.6% to R$1.233 billion from R$1.167 billion in the prior year period, and earnings per share grew 5.2% to R$2.00 from last year's R$1.90.
In the quarter, net sales were R$5.41 billion, up 12.7% from R$4.80 billion in the comparable period. On an organic basis, net sales rose 9.8% driven by volume growth and price increases across all regions.
Total volumes in the quarter grew 5.5% to 36.35 million hectoliters from 34.45 million hectoliters a year ago, and the volume growth was 4.7% organically. Beer volume rose 7.5% to 26.22 million hectoliters, and CSD and NANC volume edged up 0.7% to 10.13 million hectoliters. Organically, beer volume rose 7.5%, while CSD and NANC volume dropped 1.1%. The company noted that total organic volume growth was driven by a 9.5% volume growth in Brazil, partly offset by a 5.6% and 4.5% decline in South Latin America and Hila-Ex volumes, respectively.
Quarterly gross profit increased 14.5% to R$3.55 billion from R$3.10 billion a year ago, and gross margin went up to 65.7% from prior year's 64.6%.
Cost of Goods Sold, or COGS, per hectoliter increased 1.4% as inflation was partly offset by expected gains on the company's hedges, lower commodity prices for PET and corn and productivity initiatives. Operating cash flow generation was R$1.83 billion in the quarter, up 3.3% from last year.
For the nine months of fiscal 2009, net income attributable to AmBev holders climbed 22.7% to R$4.20 billion from R$3.42 billion in 2008. Earnings per share grew 22.3% to R$6.81 from R$5.57 a year ago. Normalized net income - AmBev holders went up 16.5% to R$3.995 billion from R$3.43 billion last year, and earnings per share rose 16% to R$6.48 from R$5.59 in the previous year.
AmBev's nine-month net sales climbed 14.4% to R$16.42 billion from R$14.35 billion a year ago, and the sales growth was 9.8% organically. Total volumes rose 4.5% to 107.69 million hectoliters from last year's 103.01 million hectoliters, while the growth was 4.7% organically.
ABV closed Wednesday's regular trading session at US$101.63, up US$0.87 or 0.86%, on a volume of 868,777 shares. In the past 52 weeks, shares have been trading in a broad range of US$36.19 to US$103.59.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.