Beer Stocks Set for Billion-Pint World Cup Boost, Jefferies Says

This summer’s soccer World Cup is expected to provide relief to the shares of European beer makers including Anheuser-Busch InBev SA and Heineken NV, according to analysts at Jefferies.

Analysts led by Edward Mundy wrote that the World Cup is set to lift beer sales globally by roughly one billion pints — or 568 million liters — which should help drive a re-rating for brewers’ shares. European beer stocks are trading at a discount to consumer staples because of concerns surrounding the growth prospects for the alcoholic category.