LONDON (Reuters) – Dutch brewer Heineken (AS:) reported a 12.5% rise in half-year working revenue on Monday after an anticipated increase from sporting occasions in June and July didn’t materialise, lacking analyst estimates and sending its shares down 7%.
The outcomes and an 874-million euro ($948 million) impairment associated to its Chinese language accomplice China Sources Beer disillusioned buyers even because the maker of Europe’s top-selling lager raised its full-year steering, as anticipated.
The rise in half-year working revenue was beneath analysts’ forecast of 13.2%. Its first-half income and volumes additionally got here in barely beneath expectations.
The world’s second-largest brewer, whose manufacturers embrace Tiger and Sol, additionally took an 874-million euro ($948 million) impairment associated to its Chinese language accomplice China Sources Beer.
Firm executives nevertheless mentioned the brewers’ first-half efficiency was stable. Alongside plans to step up investments, this gave them confidence to lift their full-year revenue steering.
Heineken now expects to ship natural working revenue progress of between 4% and eight% in 2024, in comparison with its earlier steering of between high and low single-digit progress.
Traders have been looking forward to Heineken to replace its steering because it disillusioned the market in February by setting a wide-ranging outlook for revenue progress, drawing criticism for being overly cautious.
Heineken’s new steering stays beneath the 8.2% progress analysts presently count on.
Chief Monetary Officer Harold van den Broek mentioned the steering mirrored a weak June and July in Europe, the place poor climate impacted Heineken’s efficiency and an anticipated increase from sporting occasions didn’t materialise.
Ongoing warning in Heineken’s newest forecast would seemingly disappoint some, Bernstein analyst Trevor Stirling mentioned in a observe.
“There may be meals for bulls and bears,” he mentioned of Heineken’s outcomes, including the positives included progress on margins.
Heineken wrote down the worth of its round 20% stake in China Sources Beer, prompting a internet loss.
Van den Broek mentioned this associated solely to a decline within the enterprise’ share worth, and it was in any other case performing nicely.
($1 = 0.9218 euros) (This story has been corrected to point out that Heineken’s stake in China Sources Beer is round 20%, not 40%, in paragraph 12)