Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA vs Diageo plc — how do they compare? Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA trades at $79.37 (market cap $153.45B), while Diageo plc trades at $80.96 (market cap $45.41B). The key difference: Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA is far larger — about 3.4× Diageo plc's market cap, and Diageo plc pays the higher dividend (4.02%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BUD | DEO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $153.45B | $45.41B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $85.09 | $115.33 |
52-Week Low | $57.10 | $72.47 |
Enterprise Value | $214.64B | $66.23B |
Dividend Yield | 1.7% | 4.02% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
BUD trades at $79.33, down 0.35% with bearish technical signals. The company demonstrates solid fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, 11.9% net margin, and improving cash flow. Recent dividend payment of $1.17 and positive analyst sentiment with 57.8% buy ratings support the investment case. Premiumization strategy and digital expansion drive growth amid changing consumer preferences.
Outlook remains positive with $90.08 consensus price target offering 13.5% upside. Key risks include alcohol moderation trends and competitive pressures. Strong balance sheet with declining debt-to-asset ratio to 33.9% provides financial stability. Revenue growth expected to accelerate to $61B in 2026 with expanding margins.
Diageo (DEO) trades at $82.50, up 0.57% today, with a bullish technical trend and strong profitability metrics including a 12.19% net margin and 22.29% ROE. Recent earnings show mixed results with a Q4 2025 beat but a Q2 2025 miss, while analyst sentiment is positive with 49% buy ratings. The stock faces headwinds from weak U.S. spirits demand and promotional pressures, as noted in recent Deutsche Bank and UBS reports from July 2026.
The outlook hinges on management's strategy reset in August 2026 to address U.S. volume declines and margin pressures. Investment appeal lies in its discounted valuation relative to historical multiples and dividend yield, but risks include sustained consumer moderation trends and execution challenges in key markets.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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.
Read more on BUD →Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, and Guinness. It operates a vast portfolio of spirits and beers across more than 180 countries.
Read more on DEO →