Anheuser-Busch Cos. reported slightly improved earnings Monday,...
From Times Wire Services
Anheuser-Busch Cos. reported slightly improved earnings Monday, but said it expects lower beer sales in the first quarter.
The company said it earned $161.6 million in the fourth quarter, or 58 cents a share, up from $159.2 million, or 55 cents.
Revenue grew to $2.73 billion from $2.67 billion.
Earnings for the period were hurt by a charge of $8.4 million, or 3 cents a share, relating to accounting changes for post-retirement benefits and income taxes.
Anheuser-Busch said it expects to report first-quarter beer sales volume slightly below levels of a year ago because of the phase-in of production at its new Cartersville, Ga., brewery, scheduled for spring.
