Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to other peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM), and the best and worst performers in the beverages and alcohol group.

These companies' performance is influenced by brand strength, marketing strategies, and shifts in consumer preferences. Changing consumption patterns are particularly relevant and can be seen in the explosion of alcoholic craft beer drinks or the steady decline of non-alcoholic sugary sodas. Companies that spend on innovation to meet consumers where they are with regards to trends can reap huge demand benefits while those who ignore trends can see stagnant volumes. Finally, with the advent of the social media, the cost of starting a brand from scratch is much lower, meaning that new entrants can chip away at the market shares of established players.

The 14 beverages and alcohol stocks we track reported a weaker Q4; on average, revenues were in line with analyst consensus estimates while next quarter's revenue guidance was 20.2% below consensus. Investors abandoned cash-burning companies to buy stocks with higher margins of safety, but beverages and alcohol stocks held their ground better than others, with share prices down 2.8% on average since the previous earnings results.

Weakest Q4: Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM)

Known for its flavorful beverages challenging the status quo, Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM) is a pioneer in craft brewing and a symbol of American innovation in the alcoholic beverage industry.

Boston Beer reported revenues of $393.7 million, down 12% year on year, falling short of analyst expectations by 4.8%. It was a weak quarter for the company, with a miss of analysts' revenue and EPS estimates.

“The investments we made in our brands, marketing mix changes and supply chain enhancements drove improvement in operational and financial performance in 2023 and position us well to further fortify our business in 2024 and beyond,” said President and CEO Dave Burwick.

Boston Beer delivered the slowest revenue growth of the whole group. The stock is down 18.9% since the results and currently trades at $300.

Read our full report on Boston Beer here, it's free.

Best Q4: Vita Coco (NASDAQ:COCO)

Founded in 2004 followed by a 2021 IPO, The Vita Coco Company (NASDAQ:COCO) offers coconut water products that are a natural way to quench thirst.

Vita Coco reported revenues of $106.1 million, up 15.4% year on year, outperforming analyst expectations by 7%. It was a very strong quarter for the company, with an impressive beat of analysts' earnings and revenue estimates. On the other hand, its full-year revenue guidance was underwhelming. However, adjusted EBITDA guidance came in ahead, which is sure to blunt the impact of the below-Consensus revenue guidance.

Vita Coco achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The stock is up 7.4% since the results and currently trades at $24.1.

Is now the time to buy Vita Coco? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free.

Anheuser-Busch (NYSE:BUD)

Born out of a complicated web of mergers and acquisitions, Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:BUD) boasts a powerhouse beer portfolio of Budweiser, Stella Artois, Corona, and local favorites around the world.

Anheuser-Busch reported revenues of $14.47 billion, down 1.3% year on year, falling short of analyst expectations by 7.2%. It was a weak quarter for the company, with a miss of analysts' revenue estimates.

Anheuser-Busch had the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. The stock is down 2.8% since the results and currently trades at $60.7.

Read our full analysis of Anheuser-Busch's results here.

Molson Coors (NYSE:TAP)

Sporting an impressive roster of iconic beer brands, Molson Coors (NYSE:TAP) is a global brewing giant with a rich history dating back more than two centuries.

Molson Coors reported revenues of $2.79 billion, up 6.1% year on year, in line with analyst expectations. It was a slower quarter for the company, with a miss of analysts' operating margin estimates. It was encouraging to see Molson Coors slightly top analysts' EPS expectations during the quarter on roughly in line volumes and small beat on revenue.

The stock is up 9.7% since the results and currently trades at $68.14.

Read our full, actionable report on Molson Coors here, it's free.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ)

With a presence in more than 100 countries, Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) is a globally renowned producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits.

Constellation Brands reported revenues of $2.47 billion, up 1.4% year on year, falling short of analyst expectations by 2.6%. It was a weak quarter for the company, with underwhelming earnings guidance for the full year.

The stock is up 10.3% since the results and currently trades at $267.41.

Read our full, actionable report on Constellation Brands here, it's free.

Join Paid Stock Investor Research

Help us make StockStory more helpful to investors like yourself. Join our paid user research session and receive a $50 Amazon gift card for your opinions. Sign up here.