AES Corp vs Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.66 (market cap $10.51B), while Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA trades at $80.61 (market cap $163.79B). The key difference: Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA is far larger — about 15.6× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | BUD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.51B | $163.79B |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $86.48 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $57.93 |
Enterprise Value | $40.77B | $228.20B |
Dividend Yield | 4.78% | 1.62% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.73, up 0.2% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong profitability with a net income margin of 14.34% and ROE of 45.05% for 2025, though Q2 2026 EPS missed expectations. A pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT, approved by stockholders, dominates recent developments, alongside a consistent dividend payout.
The acquisition offers a near-term catalyst with a capped upside at the buyout price of $15 per share, presenting a low-risk arbitrage opportunity. Risks include deal completion uncertainty amid shareholder complaints and regulatory scrutiny. Analyst consensus is mixed with 43% buy ratings, reflecting cautious optimism tied to the acquisition's successful closure and the company's strategic shift toward renewable energy investments.
BUD trades at $83.76, down 0.25% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $90.17. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $1.21 versus $1.09 expected, while revenue trends show modest growth, and net income margin improved to 11.52% in 2025. Cash flow remains positive, and debt-to-asset ratios have declined steadily since 2021.
The outlook is positive given strong analyst buy ratings (57.78%) and projected earnings growth, but risks include competitive pressures and macroeconomic sensitivity. The stock offers value with a P/E of 18.05 and stable profitability, though investor sentiment is mixed amid recent institutional selling and news of a major shareholder divestment.
Trailing returns across standard periods
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →Anheuser-Busch InBev is the largest brewer in the world and one of the world's top five consumer product companies, as measured by EBITDA. After the SABMiller acquisition, the company's portfolio now contains five of the top 10 beer brands by sales and 18 brands with retail sales over $1 billion. AB InBev was created by the 2008 merger of Belgium-based InBev and U.S.-based Anheuser-Busch. The firm holds a 62% economic interest in Ambev and in 2016 acquired SABMiller.
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