Profitability Improvement
Underlying pretax income rose 16.2% year-over-year in Q1 and underlying diluted earnings per share increased 24%, reflecting stronger margin performance despite a mixed top-line.
Stable Top-Line and Reaffirmed Guidance
Consolidated net sales revenue was essentially flat, up 0.1% on a constant currency basis in Q1, and management reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance, signaling confidence in execution amid macro uncertainty.
Capital Return and Balance Sheet Strength
Company repurchased $164 million of stock (3.4 million shares) in Q1, paid $94 million in cash dividends, raised the quarterly dividend to $0.48 (up 2.1%), extended repurchase authorization to up to $4.0 billion through 2031, and finished the quarter with net debt to underlying EBITDA of 2.5x with an expectation to be below 2.5x by year-end.
Strategic M&A to Expand Portfolio
Acquired Monaco Cocktails (RTD), expected to contribute approximately 1% to global MSR on a trailing 12-month basis and deliver incremental profitability in year 1 (9 months of ownership), while adding ~80 sales team members to expand Beyond Beer execution.
Beyond Beer Momentum
Beyond Beer brands showed strong performance: Fever‑Tree contributed meaningfully to Q1 top-line, Topo Chico Hard returned to growth, and new national U.S. advertising and sponsorship plans are in place to accelerate growth in the segment.
On-Premise Strength
On-premise performance improved with the top six brands (Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Coors Light, Banquet, Blue Moon and Peroni) delivering share growth in the quarter, supporting occasion-led strategies (e.g., March Madness, World Cup media plans).
Cost Savings and Operating Changes
Company is advancing a 3-year $450 million cost savings program, implemented operating model changes to drive speed and accountability, and took restructuring actions in EMEA and APAC to strengthen the cost base.
G&A Reduction
General & administrative expenses were down 9.1% year-over-year in Q1, driven largely by lapping approximately $30 million of prior-year transition costs and lower employee-related expenses, partly offsetting investments.