The soccer world championship and a focus on more premium labels helped AB InBev lift revenue and earnings above expectations at the start of the summer. Total sales volumes were 0.9% higher year‑on‑year organically over the quarter through June, driven by beer volumes rising 1.1%, beating the consensus forecast of 0.7% growth.

Revenue outstripped volumes, rising 5.6% year‑on‑year to $16.66 billion, surpassing analysts’ expectation of 4.4% growth. The increase was fueled by a concentration on the group’s more premium labels.

The FIFA soccer championship that kicked off in June boosted growth of its brand Michelob Ultra in the U.S. and expanded the label across key markets in Latin America. The group said some of its major labels like Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra booked double‑digit revenue growth outside their home markets.