The world's biggest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev forecast a weak start to the year in its two largest markets, the United States and Brazil, as it strives to take control of Mexico's top beer producer.The maker of Budweiser and Stella Artois said on Wednesday that volumes in the United States, where it has half of the market, would be hit by tax and petrol price pressure on consumers' disposable income and a harsher winter than in 2012.In Brazil, where its market share is about two thirds, volumes would be soft because of wet weather and an early Carnival period. For the whole year, AB InBev expects Brazilian volumes to rise by a low to mid-single-digit percentage.Despite its plans to pay $20.1 billion to purchase the 50 percent of Grupo Modelo that it does not already own, AB InBev increased its full-year 2012 dividend by 50 cents to 1.7 euros ($2.22). The Starmine SmartEstimate was 1.48 euros.
Anheuser Busch Inbev SA is a brewing company. The Company produces, markets, distributes and sells a balanced portfolio of approximately 200 beer brands. Shares of BUD remained unchanged at $91.80. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $64.99 and as high as $94.49. On average, 1556480 shares of BUD exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 0.
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