U.S.-listed shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) surged 8% Wednesday when the world's biggest beermaker posted better-than-expected results and planned to raise its dividend as demand grew in North America.

The brewer of Budweiser and Bud Light reported fourth-quarter underlying 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:earnings per share (EPS) of $0.8💜8, well above the $0.71 estimate of analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha. Revenue increased more than 3% year-over-year to $14.84 billion, also well above forecasts.

U.S. sales climbed 0.8%, which the company explained was driven by "revenue management initiatives and premiumization." It was the second straight quarter of year-over-year gains after sales sank following the company's relationship with transgend💧er influencer Dylan Mulvaney led to a Bud Light boycott. AB InBev noted it believed the company picked up♍ market share thanks to higher sales of its Michelob Ultra and Busch Light brands.

"Beer is a passion point for consumers and a vibrant category globally," CEO Michel Doukeris said. "The strength of our 2024 results is a testament to the consistent execution of our strategy and the hard work and dedication of our people."

AB InBev's board proposed boosting the annual dividend by 22% to 1.00 euro per share ($1.05), subject to shareholder approval at its annual meeting in April.

Even with today’s gains, AB InBev ADRs remain down about 6% over the past year.