Is it good to invest in beer?

Beer stocks have struggled in recent years, but there will always be demand for beer. Consumer tastes change, and beer could see another wave of growth at some point.

Which beer stock is best?

One of the fastest-growing beer stocks right now is Kirin, the Japanese beer company, which also offers geographic diversification for U.S. investors.

Do beer companies have stocks?

Most large beer brands are owned by a handful of publicly traded companies so they do have stocks.

What are the top three beer companies?

By market cap, the top three beer companies are AB/InBev, Heineken, and Constellation Brands.

Which beverage stock is best?

Probably, the most highly regarded beverage stock is Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), which is one of the best-performing stocks of all time.

Can beer stocks be part of a diversified portfolio?

Yes, beer stocks can be part of a diversified portfolio. The sector is typically considered to be part of the consumer staples sector, so beer stocks tend to be relatively stable in a recession and are reliable dividend payers.

What beer company did Bill Gates invest in?

Through his foundation, Bill Gates has invested in both Heineken and AB/InBev. His investment in AB/InBev came in 2023 when the stock fell after the controversy with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney.

Best Beer Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest in Them

An in-depth look at the leading beer stocks in the U.S stock market this year.

By Jeremy Bowman – Updated Aug 14, 2026 at 10:41 AM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Beer stocks offer stable long-term growth due to consistent demand.
AB InBev's large scale provides some resilience against brand fluctuations.
Constellation Brands sustains profit with strong beer brand performance.

Beer stocks are companies that brew, distribute, and sell beer, a beverage that has been around since the earliest days of civilization. Today, it’s a staple of the global beverage market, but the space is largely controlled by a few global giants. Demand tends to stay steady in both strong and weak economies, making beer a resilient corner of the consumer staples sector.

While there aren't many high-growth players available to public investors, beer stocks can appeal to those seeking stable, long-term growth tied to consistent consumer demand.

Top beer stocks to consider

Beer companies have consolidated over the years to a handful of global giants and some smaller players. Among the top beer stocks to look at are Anheuser-Busch/InBev, Constellation Brands, Molson Coors, Kirin, and Boston Beer.

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Current price	Market capMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.
Anheuser-Busch InBev/NV (NYSE:BUD)	$79.73	$139.5 billion
Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ)	$139.18	$23.8 billion
Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP)	$42.77	$7.6 billion
Kirin, (OTC:KNBWY)	$19.59	$15.6 billion
Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM)	$185.77	$1.9 billion

Data as of Aug 15, 2026. Showing 5 of 5 total entries.

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1. AB InBev

NYSE: BUD

Anheuser-Busch InBev/NV

Today's Change

(-0.62%) $-0.50

Current Price

$79.73

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$139B

Day's Range

$78.93 - $79.77

52wk Range

$57.79 - $86.60

Volume

1.3M

Avg Vol

Gross Margin

56.50%

Dividend Yield

1.69%

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AB InBev is by far the world's largest beer company. It controls hundreds of beer brands, such as Budweiser, Stella Artois, Beck's, and Leffe, and an assortment of acquired craft brewers in the U.S. The company is a product of the 2008 merger between U.S. brewer Anheuser-Busch and Belgian-Brazilian brewer InBev, plus the 2016 acquisition of South African brewing giant SABMiller.

Things started out well for the mega-beer experiment, but rapid changes in consumer preferences and sluggish major beer label growth have hurt AB InBev shareholders in recent years. Since the creation of the new entity in 2009, shares are only up about 109%, compared to a 745% gain for the S&P 500.

However, since the market hit the reset button on AB InBev (shares are basically flat since the start of 2020), the company trades more like the value stock it is -- reflecting slow but steady sales, consistent profitability, and a modest dividend, yielding 1.7% as of August 2026. However, with the mega-beer merger not going exactly as planned, there are better beer investments than AB InBev.

The company was also damaged in April 2023 after it partnered with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney, putting their likeness on some of its cans. Protestors responded by dumping cans of Bud Light. AB InBev stock fell in the aftermath of the controversy, but it has recovered those losses since then and has traded mostly flat.

AB InBev's size and diversification give it some protection from a single brand falling out of favor, but Bud Light is no longer the most popular beer in the U.S., falling behind both Modelo and Michelob Ultra, showing how far it's fallen.

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2. Constellation Brands

NYSE: STZ

Constellation Brands

Today's Change

(2.08%) $2.83

Current Price

$139.18

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$24B

Day's Range

$135.30 - $139.26

52wk Range

$126.45 - $169.16

Volume

1.4M

Avg Vol

2.2M

Gross Margin

50.98%

Dividend Yield

2.95%

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While Constellation Brands isn't exactly a household name, some of the beers it produces are quite well-known. Among them are Corona, Modelo, and Pacifico. It also has several wine and spirits brands and a roughly 26% passive stake in marijuana business Canopy Growth (CGC +0.99%), making it one of the largest diversified beverage companies around.

In October 2022, it wrote down the value of its stake in Canopy Growth by $1.06 billion, a sign that the deal had not lived up to expectations, and in 2024, it made an unusual move to reduce and convert its stake to a type of share that will not be negatively impacted by Canopy's losses. Since then, Canopy stock has continued to fall further.

Until recently, Constellation was able to sustain double-digit-percentage sales growth from its beer brands for years, which make up more than 80% of total revenue and almost all of the company's profits. Growth is expected to continue at a single-digit-percentage pace as the business has matured, but brands like Modelo and Corona continue to gain market share.

Results for fiscal 2026, which ended in March, have been disappointing, with organic sales falling 4% in part due to the immigration crackdown; management said declining demand among Hispanics was greater than for its overall market. It's also feeling pressure from broader headwinds on consumer spending, and weakness in the beer market as younger adults turn away from alcohol.

However, Constellation has a more than 30% operating profit margin, showing the strength of its brands. Given its top free cash flow-generating ability, there's plenty to like about this diversified and highly profitable beer business.

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3. Molson Coors

NYSE: TAP

Molson Coors Beverage

Today's Change

(1.54%) $0.65

Current Price

$42.77

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$7.6B

Day's Range

$41.93 - $42.84

52wk Range

$38.04 - $54.82

Volume

1.4M

Avg Vol

3.2M

Gross Margin

33.76%

Dividend Yield

4.44%

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Another potential value stock in the beer industry is Molson Coors. The parent holding company for Coors, Miller, Blue Moon, and dozens of other beer labels has struggled with stagnant sales for the past three years as North American consumers have increasingly favored craft beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Although it's the fifth-largest beer maker in the world, Molson Coors' stock has underperformed for several years, essentially trading sideways over the last five years. The stock is now down more than 60% from all-time highs reached in 2016.

The company's attention has shifted to higher-end beers and trendy beverages, such as sparkling hard seltzer (the premium side of the business), like the Topo Chico hard seltzer partnership it formed with Coca-Cola, to better align the brand portfolio with current consumer tastes. It's introduced non-alcoholic options like Blue Moon NA as well, as part of its "Beyond Beer" strategy.

In October 2025, Rahul Goyal took over as CEO and cut 400 jobs, or 9% of its salaried workforce in the Americas, in hopes of driving a turnaround.

Despite its recent challenges, the stock is priced like a value stock and could be a great addition for investors seeking income from their portfolios since it offered a dividend yield of 4.6% in June 2026.

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4. Kirin Holdings

OTC: KNBWY

Kirin,

Today's Change

(2.74%) $0.52

Current Price

$19.59

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$16B

Day's Range

$19.52 - $19.65

52wk Range

$14.01 - $19.99

Volume

12K

Avg Vol

25K

Gross Margin

48.44%

Dividend Yield

1.18%

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Kirin is Japan's second-largest beer label, just behind Asahi Group Holdings (ASBRF +0.00%), and it's one of the largest consumer staples companies in the country. After struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kirin is back to delivering solid growth, with revenue up 4% 2025 to $15.2 billion. Operating profit increased 19% to $1.57 billion.

Kirin also has health science and pharmaceuticals businesses, leveraging its expertise in beverage production to build a healthy food and drink business. The pharmaceuticals business isn't directly related to the beer business, but it follows a conglomerate model popular in Japan.

Results in the health science category were boosted by its acquisition in 2023 of Blackmores, an Australian vitamin company.

In alcoholic beverages, revenue fell 0.6%, with the Kirin category the only branded category that posted growth.

Kirin shares have been stable in recent years, and it has the potential to deliver meaningful growth, considering the recent business results. Its dividend yield of 2.7% also gives investors an incentive to be patient.

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5. Boston Beer Company

NYSE: SAM

Boston Beer

Today's Change

(0.50%) $0.93

Current Price

$185.77

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.9B

Day's Range

$181.50 - $187.00

52wk Range

$158.68 - $264.46

Volume

122.9K

Avg Vol

300.1K

Gross Margin

48.88%

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Boston Beer -- best known for its Samuel Adams craft beer label, Truly Hard Seltzer, Angry Orchard hard cider, Dogfish Head craft beer, and several other small regional brewers -- has long been a top advocate for the independent craft beer movement. Although it isn't the small business it once was, Boston Beer is still relatively small compared to the macrobrew giants.

Since a surge during the pandemic, changing consumer trends have caused challenges, such as lower-than-anticipated demand for spiked seltzer products; the company was even forced to dump its seltzer when it made too much. Additionally, Boston Beer took a $27.1 million impairment on its acquisition of Dogfish Head, showing that the deal was a disappointment.

Founder Jim Koch returned as CEO in mid-2025 on an interim basis after former CEO Michael Spillane stepped down for personal reasons.

Boston Beer has no debt, a rarity among the massive global beer conglomerates. Shares are down more than 85% from all-time highs due to the slowdown across the business. Boston Beer is still profitable, but the business will need to return to growth for the stock to recoup some of those losses.

How to invest in beer stocks

If you want to invest in beer stocks, the process is simple. Just follow the steps below:

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at [our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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The bottom line

The beer industry might not be the most exciting investment theme around, but there are some standouts in the space worth your attention, especially for investors seeking to generate some dividend income along the way.

Beer is a top beverage for consumers all over the world and generates ample profits for the major producers and their shareholders. If you decide to add some beer stocks to your portfolio, bear in mind that some of these stocks can exhibit volatile price action. Remember to stay diversified and focus on the long-term potential of these alcoholic beverage makers.

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FAQ: Beer stocks

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About the Author

Jeremy Bowman has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst, covering technology, consumer goods, and macroeconomic trends since 2011. Before The Motley Fool, Jeremy was a newspaper reporter, restaurant manager, and English teacher abroad. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Colorado College and a master’s degree in business administration from American University. One of his Motley Fool headlines was briefly featured on Late Night with Stephen Colbert.

TMFHobo

@TMFBowman

Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Boston Beer and Constellation Brands. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Best Beer Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

An in-depth look at the leading beer stocks in the U.S stock market this year.

Key Points

Top beer stocks to consider

1. AB InBev

Key Data Points

2. Constellation Brands

Key Data Points

3. Molson Coors

Key Data Points

4. Kirin Holdings

Key Data Points

5. Boston Beer Company

Key Data Points

How to invest in beer stocks

The bottom line

Related investing topics

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7 Best Food Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Best Consumer Staples Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Best Vegan Stocks to Buy in 2026: Are They Right For Your Portfolio?

FAQ: Beer stocks

Is it good to invest in beer?

Is it good to invest in beer?

Which beer stock is best?

Which beer stock is best?

Do beer companies have stocks?

Do beer companies have stocks?

What are the top three beer companies?

What are the top three beer companies?

Which beverage stock is best?

Which beverage stock is best?

Can beer stocks be part of a diversified portfolio?

Can beer stocks be part of a diversified portfolio?

What beer company did Bill Gates invest in?

What beer company did Bill Gates invest in?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

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Premium Investing Services

Top beer stocks to consider

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

The bottom line

Top Agriculture Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

7 Best Food Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Best Consumer Staples Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Best Vegan Stocks to Buy in 2026: Are They Right For Your Portfolio?

FAQ: Beer stocks

Is it good to invest in beer?

Is it good to invest in beer?

Which beer stock is best?

Which beer stock is best?

Do beer companies have stocks?

Do beer companies have stocks?

What are the top three beer companies?

What are the top three beer companies?

Which beverage stock is best?

Which beverage stock is best?

Can beer stocks be part of a diversified portfolio?

Can beer stocks be part of a diversified portfolio?

What beer company did Bill Gates invest in?

What beer company did Bill Gates invest in?

How to invest in beer stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in beer stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

Key Data Points