The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS - Roughly half the beer people drink in the United States is brewed by Anheuser-Busch.
The brewery's president, August Busch IV, said this week that the St. Louis-based company gained 1.2 share points year-to-date, reaching 50 percent market share for the first time in the history of the world's largest brewer.
Based on the company's domestic-market share, more than half of all beers bought in the U.S. are Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob, Busch or others from the beer-maker.
Anheuser-Busch says it is also recording its fifth straight year of solid earnings.
Company executives said that despite the difficult industry volume environment because of weather and other short-term factors, Anheuser-Busch's market share, revenue per barrel and earnings performances have been favorable.
In addition, beer volume growth trends are rebounding, company executives told investors at the Morgan Stanley Consumer Conference.
Shares closed up $2.04 for the week, to $51.30, on the New York Stock Exchange.
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Anheuser-Busch brews half of the beer drunk in the U.S.
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