Latest news with #SamuelAdams
Wall Street Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Podcast: Stocks Keep Breaking Records
The Nasdaq composite and S&P 500 rose to fresh highs as progress in trade talks bolstered markets. Plus: Intel shares fell after it reported a wider quarterly loss and announced 15% of staff will be laid off. And Samuel Adams brewer Boston Beer said it expects tariffs to have a more moderate effect on its costs. 🎧 Listen: Danny Lewis hosts the WSJ Minute Briefing podcast.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
US markets today: S&P 500 & Nasdaq hold near records as AI stocks shine, Intel tumbles, global markets eye trade talks
Wall Street edged higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite hovering near all-time highs, as investors braced for a packed week of corporate earnings, macroeconomic data and high-stakes trade deadlines. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% in early trade after closing at a record 6,363.35 in the previous session, marking its fourth weekly gain in five. The Nasdaq Composite was also up 0.1% at 21,057.96, another fresh high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 82 points, or 0.2%, to 44,775, AP reported. The gains came even as market sentiment was tempered by disappointing quarterly earnings from Intel and a pullback in global equities. Intel sinks, Deckers and Boston Beer rally on earnings Chipmaker Intel dropped over 7% after reporting a quarterly loss and announcing plans to cut nearly 25% of its core workforce in a major cost-cutting drive. The firm has struggled to keep pace with rivals like Nvidia and AMD amid surging demand for AI chips. By contrast, Deckers Brands, owner of Ugg and Hoka, soared over 13% as it beat Wall Street expectations with a 17% rise in Q1 revenue to $965 million. Boston Beer Co., the maker of Samuel Adams and Truly hard seltzer, jumped 7.8% after posting a 15% rise in net profit for Q2. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Markets eye Trump trade deals, Fed policy, US jobs data Investor focus is shifting to President Donald Trump's August 1 deadline for a wave of global trade agreements. Hopes are high that the administration will strike deals to avert stiff new tariffs and ease inflationary risks. A breakthrough could also support US economic growth and prevent a market pullback. The Federal Reserve's policy meeting next week is also under the spotlight. While Trump continues to pressure for rate cuts, analysts expect the Fed to hold rates steady for a fifth consecutive time. Three key labour market reports are also due, including the monthly jobs data, which will offer fresh cues on the economy. Asian, European markets mixed; energy and currency markets steady Across Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 fell 0.9% to 41,456.23, snapping a two-day winning streak, as Japan's inflation in July eased to 2.9% from 3.1% a month earlier. Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1.1%, while the Shanghai Composite lost 0.3%. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.2%, and Australia's ASX 200 shed 0.5%. European markets opened weak, with the DAX down 0.8%, London's FTSE 100 falling 0.4%, and the CAC 40 losing 0.1%. Brent crude edged up 27 cents to $68.63 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to $66.30. The US dollar strengthened to 147.65 yen from 147.00, and the euro slipped to $1.1723 from $1.1750. AI, tariffs and tech in focus as volatility looms Stocks have rallied for weeks on hopes that Trump's trade negotiations—particularly with Japan, the EU, and China—will culminate in manageable tariff levels. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to meet Chinese officials in Stockholm ahead of the August 12 deadline. 'Markets will watch closely for signs of a tariff ceasefire or adjustments,' ING Economics noted, adding that expectations of AI-led earnings and rate stability are keeping investor optimism alive for now. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Wall Street hovers near records in premarket trading as attention turns to next week's busy schedule
Wall Street was on track to open with gains on Friday, adding to record highs ahead of next week's busy slate of earnings, job market reports, a Federal Reserve policy meeting and the tariff deadline. Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average both were up 0.1% before the bell. Nasdaq futures were flat. The S&P and Nasdaq both closed at record highs on Thursday and markets are currently on track to finish the week with gains for the fourth time in the past five weeks. Intel shares tumbled more than 7% overnight after the chipmaker announced plans to reduce its 'core' workforce by nearly one-quarter and cut other expenses in a bid to revive the fortunes of the struggling chipmaker. Intel, which helped launch Silicon Valley as the U.S. technology hub, has fallen behind rivals like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices while demand for artificial intelligence chips soars. Deckers Brands was up more than 13% overnight after the shoe company easily beat Wall Street's sales and profit targets. Deckers said first-quarter sales rose 17% from the same quarter last year, to $965 million, on the strength of its Ugg and Hoka brands. Boston Beer Co., the maker of Samuel Adams beer and Truly hard seltzer, climbed 7.8% after its second-quarter profit came in well ahead of analysts' forecasts. Boston Beer saw its net income rise more than 15% over last year, boosting its earnings per share in the period to $5.45. Analysts were expecting profit of $3.86 per share. Stocks have broadly been rallying for weeks on hopes that President Donald Trump will reach trade deals with other countries that will lower his stiff proposed tariffs, along with the risk that they could cause a recession and drive up inflation. The deadline for those negotiations comes next Friday, Aug. 1. Next week brings the peak of earnings season, with more than 100 companies in the benchmark S&P 500 reporting their latest results. The Fed, under pressure from President Trump to lower its benchmark borrowing rate, will announce its latest decision on interest rates Wednesday. Despite pressure coming from the White House, most analysts think the Fed will stand pat, leaving its benchmark rate alone for the fifth straight time. The economic data calendar is also full, with three separate reports on the labor market, including the always closely-watched monthly jobs report. Elsewhere, in Europe at midday, Germany's DAX shed 0.8%, while Britain's FTSE 100 slid 0.4%. In Paris, the CAC 40 slipped 0.1%. In Asian trading, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.9% to 41,456.23 after two days of gains following President Donald Trump's announcement of a trade deal that would place a 15% tax on imports from Japan. That's lower than the 25% rate that Trump had earlier said would kick in on Aug. 1. Data released on Friday showed the inflation rate in Japan's capital Tokyo rose 2.9% year-on-year in July, down from 3.1% in June. Japanese government efforts to moderate inflation are working, though underlying Tokyo price pressures remain elevated, ING Economics said in a commentary. It expects the Bank of Japan to hold interest rates steady at its July 30-31 meeting, but said the central bank would likely raise its forecast for inflation. In Chinese markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1.1% to 25,388.35 and the Shanghai Composite index slid 0.3% to 3,593.66. Next week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said he will meet with Chinese officials in Stockholm, Sweden, to work toward a trade deal with Beijing ahead of an Aug. 12 deadline. Trump has said a China trip 'is not too distant' as trade tensions ease. 'One big question for markets is whether the tariff ceasefire is extended. We expect that an agreement will be attainable, but, in the interim, markets will watch closely to see if there are adjustments to current tariff rates in either direction,' ING Economics said. In South Korea, the Kospi picked up 0.2% to 3,196.05, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.5% to 8,666.90. Taiwan's Taiex edged less than 0.1% lower, and in India, the Sensex fell 0.9%. On Thursday, the S&P 500 added 0.1% to its all-time high set the day before, closing at 6,363.35. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7% to 44,693.91, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2% to a record 21,057.96. In energy trading, U.S. benchmark crude oil added 27 cents to $66.30 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, also rose 27 cents to $68.63 per barrel. The U.S. dollar rose to 147.65 Japanese yen from 147.00 yen. The euro fell to $1.1723 from $1.1750.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boston Beer is back to growth !
After a tumultuous 5 years which saw bubble highs and new lows, premium brewer Boston Beer Co. (NYSE:SAM) now looks like it's got its groove back. Boston Beer has carved out a economic moat based on its brands, strong distribution and leadership in on-trend alcoholic categories like malted beverages, hard seltzer and ciders and premium beers. Here are the top five Boston Beer Company brands, organized by category: Beer: Samuel Adams The flagship craft beer line, featuring Boston Lager, seasonal releases, and specialty brews. Malt Beverage: Twisted Tea A popular hard iced tea malt beverage available in a variety of flavors and alcohol strengths. Hard Seltzer: Truly A leading hard seltzer brand with a wide range of fruit flavors. Hard Cider: Angry Orchard A well-known hard cider brand offering both classic and seasonal varieties. Vodka-Based Ready-to-Drink (RTD): Sun Cruiser A ready-to-drink hard iced tea and lemonade made with real brewed tea and premium vodka. These brands showcase Boston Beer's most prominent offerings across beer, malt beverages, hard seltzers, hard cider, and ready-to-drink cocktails. Boston has recently launched a new product under the brand Sun Cruiser; it is a vodka spiked iced tea made with real brewed tea and premium vodka. It contains no malt or malted grains, but instead combines iced tea or lemonade with vodka, resulting in a gluten-free, 4.5% ABV alcoholic drink with a smooth, refreshing taste and a hint of sweetness. The launch is showing good results. Boston Beer Company's notable acquisitions include Dogfish Head Brewery in 2019 and the Oregon Ale and Beer Company in 1997. The Dogfish Head deal, valued at around $300 million, was intended to combine two innovative craft brewers and strengthen Boston Beer's position in the craft segment, but it has been financially disappointing due to repeated impairment charges and underperformance relative to expectations. The Oregon Ale and Beer Company acquisition in 1997 helped Boston Beer expand its production capacity and market reach, supporting its national growth at the time. Beyond these, Boston Beer has focused more on organic growth and partnerships, such as its current collaboration with PepsiCo for HARD MTN DEW, rather than a series of high-profile acquisitions. Overall, while the Oregon Ale and Beer Company acquisition supported operational expansion, the Dogfish Head acquisition has not delivered the anticipated financial success. I became interested in Boston Beer for two reasons. It recently showed up on a screen close to 52-week lows and 5 year lows. As you can see the stock went into a huge bubble during the pandemic which burst in recent years. As busts typically do, the price may have fallen more than justified hence creating a value opportunity. The company is showing recovery in both revenue per share and operating income per share. This dynamic is evident in the charts given below and constants with the price action. My rule of thumb is that I want to see actual improvement in revenue per share and operating income per share on a TTM basis as well in at least two of the last four most recent quarters. The results given below meets my rule of thumb criteria. This gives me some confidence that the business is turning around. The following 10 year annual chart also shows that revenue has held up pretty well and operating income is now recovering. SAM Data by GuruFocus The company's current price ratio's are much lower than its 10 year median price ratio's across the board indicating significant undervaluation compared to recent history. Price Ratio's - Current 10 yr median Price Ratio's PE Ratio without NRI 18.73 PE Ratio (10y Median) 38.39 PS Ratio 1.1 PS Ratio (10y Median) 2.52 PB Ratio 2.43 PB Ratio (10y Median) 5.01 Price-to-Operating-Cash-Flow 8.93 Price-to-Operating-Cash-Flow (10y Median) 19.32 EV-to-Forward-EBITDA 8.62 EV-to-EBITDA (10y Median) 18.77 SAM Data by GuruFocus Boston Beer has also being buying back stock at a feverish pace which indicates the company realizes that the stock is undervalued. Competitive Analysis These companies compete with Boston Beer across various categories, including traditional beer, hard seltzer, hard tea, cider, and innovative ready-to-drink products. Boston Beer's EV/EBITDA compares favorably to its peers but note that it is much smaller than the global brewers like Anheuser=Busch and Heineken. Ticker Company Market Cap ($M) Operating Margin % Operating Margin % (10y Median) 10-Year Revenue Growth Rate (Per Share) 10-Year Operating Income Growth Rate (Per Share) EV-to- EBITDA EV-to-Forw ard-EBITDA SAM Boston Beer Co Inc 2,173.25 8.32 11.69 12.40 -0.70 7.98 8.62 HEINY Heineken NV 49,591.77 11.69 13.29 4.40 1.80 12.45 9.02 DEO Diageo PLC 57,758.90 28.90 29.42 6.40 7.30 11.98 8.47 STZ Constellation Brands Inc 30,355.96 31.69 30.20 6.10 8.60 92.27 11.02 TAP Molson Coors Beverage Co 10,119.19 15.04 13.69 10.30 13.90 6.65 6.52 BUD Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV 131,556.14 25.62 27.64 1.40 -1.20 13.50 9.03 Another issue to note is Boston Beer's relatively lower operating margin as compared to its bigger peers. This is likely due to its higher marketing spend as a percentage of revenue. Gross Margins are also lower due to lower volume. The following table provides U.S. Market Share and estimate volume of beer sold. Company U.S. Market Share (2023) Estimated U.S. Beer Volume (Barrels, 2023) Notes AB InBev (Budweiser) 34% ~65.3 million Industry leader, 2x larger than Molson Coors Molson Coors (TAP) 22% ~42.2 million Clear #2 in U.S. market Constellation (STZ) 15% ~28.8 million Strong, rapidly growing portfolio (Corona, Modelo) Heineken Not top 10 (no official share listed) N/A, but likely <1% of U.S. volume Major global player, but U.S. share is minor Boston Beer () 4% ~7.7 million Largest craft brewer, but much smaller than big three. Boston Beer Company is controlled by its founder, Jim Koch, through ownership of all the company's Class B Common Stock, which carries full voting rights. While the company's Class A shares are publicly traded under the ticker "SAM," these shares do not have voting rights, so public shareholders and institutional investorsincluding major holders like Vanguard, BlackRock, and Fidelitydo not control the company's governance. In addition to Jim Koch, Sam Calagione, co-founder of Dogfish Head (acquired by Boston Beer in 2019), is a significant non-institutional shareholder. However, ultimate control remains with Koch due to his exclusive ownership of voting shares. Guru investors holding this stock include Ken Fisher (Trades, Portfolio), Steven Cohen (Trades, Portfolio), Mason Hawkins (Trades, Portfolio). However they hold relatively minor positions. Boston Beer Company is a leading U.S. craft beverage producer best known for its flagship Samuel Adams beer, as well as Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, and Angry Orchard cider, among others. The company has a reputation for innovation, quickly expanding into new beverage categories such as hard seltzer, ready-to-drink cocktails, and most recently, cannabis-infused beverages in Canada. Its diversified brand portfolio allows it to adapt to changing consumer preferences, with products ranging from traditional beer to non-alcoholic and cannabis beverages. Despite its strong brand recognition and history of revenue growth, Boston Beer has faced significant share price volatility and underperformance in recent years. Over the past five years, the stock has declined sharply, with a 62% drop, including a 30% decrease in the last year alone. This poor stock performance stands in contrast to steady revenue growth and improving profitability, suggesting that market sentiment may be more negative than the company's fundamentals warrant. The company's price-to-earnings ratio is relatively high, reflecting expectations for future growth, but also highlighting the risk if growth does not accelerate. Boston Beer's recent financial results have been mixed. While it reported strong quarterly earnings and revenue growth driven by product innovation and increased shipments, some core brands, such as Twisted Tea, have struggled with volume growth. The company's strategic investments in advertising and new product lines, including cannabis beverages, indicate a focus on long-term growth and diversification, but these initiatives come with execution risk. Analyst sentiment on the stock is generally neutral, with most rating it a Hold and price targets suggesting potential for recovery if the company can deliver consistent results. Boston Beer is currently debt free, marking a significant improvement from five years ago when the company had a debt to equity ratio of 13%. With no outstanding debt, SAM does not require operating cash flow to cover debt obligations, and interest coverage is not a concern since there are no interest payments to manage. This strong financial position reflects effective debt reduction and prudent financial management. It gives the company flexibility to pursue growth projects. Boston Beer Co Inc has experienced long-term declines in both gross margin and operating margin, with gross margin falling at an average annual rate of 2.1% and operating margin declining by 10.8% per year over the past five years. Despite these margin pressures, the company demonstrates several financial strengths: it maintains comfortable interest coverage with enough cash to cover all debt, a low likelihood of earnings manipulation according to its Beneish M-Score, and valuation ratios (PB, PE, and PS) that are close to multi-year lows, suggesting the stock may be attractively priced. Revenue per share has shown consistent growth, and the company's financial strength is underscored by a strong Altman Z-score and a robust balance sheet. Overall, Boston Beer is low risk, with solid fundamentals and characteristics that support a long-term holding perspective. In summary, Boston Beer's qualitative outlook reflects a well-managed, innovative company with strong brands and a healthy balance sheet, but also one facing market skepticism due to recent stock underperformance and mixed results across its portfolio. Success will depend on its ability to drive growth in emerging categories and revitalize its core brands in a competitive and evolving beverage market. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Signs with SAM. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Chicago Tribune
07-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Making a mark in culture and craft beer, Chicago-based Moor's Brewing wins Samuel Adams competition
'I think it was important for us to be Black,' said Jamhal Johnson, co-founder of Chicago's local Moor's Brewing Co. 'We put a Black man on the beer can.' For Johnson and longtime friends Damon Patton and Anthony Bell, that's been one part of a well-considered growth and branding strategy for Moor's Brewery Co., the Chicago Black-owned brewery the trio co-founded in 2021. Last month, they won the Samuel Adams 2025 Brewing the American Dream competition and will receive a year of financial assistance and mentorship from the brand, a key player in the craft brewing space. They plan to use it to aid in their mission of popularizing and mainstreaming Black-owned craft beer. Black-owned breweries account for less than 1% of all breweries in the United States, according to the National Black Brewers Association. Both Samuel Adams and Moor's have invested in changing that; the network of brewers that Samuel Adams mentors is nearly 80% Black, brown or female-owned. Two years ago, another Black-owned Chicago business, Funkytown Brewery, won the competition. 'I think the scene is vibrant here in Chicago,' said Patton. 'It's here to stay. It's only gonna get bigger, quite frankly, as more Black owners enter the space.' Moor's Brewery Co. launched Juneteenth 2021. Their first beer, a session ale, which has its flavor based in the citra hop, was a quick success. 'It has an obvious citrus taste to it,' said Patton. 'We wanted to do something light, drinkable for the summer to celebrate Juneteenth.' Moor's was a passion project and none of them had experience in the brewing industry, but from the beginning, they had high hopes. Within six months, Moor's had an estimated 100 retail accounts. By Juneteenth 2022, they had entered the New York market. Now they have 600 accounts, including Whole Foods, Michelin-starred restaurants and their original client, A&S in Hyde Park and Matteson Wine and Spirits. They have expanded to a lineup of six core products — an imperial porter, IPA, session ale, Kölsch, helles lager and a pilsner — as well as several limited-edition beers and a nonalcoholic chai infused with mango and hemp-derived THC. 'For a craft beer, it's really about the love of developing a new product,' said Bell. 'From our vantage point, it's just as much of an art as making a painting.' In order to grow and experiment, they opened a taproom at Diversey House in the Logan Square neighborhood in 2025, where some of those limited-edition brews can be found. 'We're definitely looking towards the growth of Diversey House,' said Bell. 'And towards developing some wonderful experiences for people to enjoy, here in Chicago.' From the start, they've been marketing to a clientele that has traditionally been underserved. 'Just looking at the landscape of the traditional craft brewing space, it was mostly geared towards beer enthusiasts,' said Johnson. The team felt that the general public, in particular Black Americans, needed a brand they identified with. The Black man on the beer can comes from a painting by Hendrik Heerschop called 'The African King Caspar.' The founders connected to the portrait on an aesthetic level; it was both timeless and familiar. They added a crown, giving it a more modern flair. For this year's Juneteenth, the co-founders celebrated their fourth anniversary at Diversey House, where they host events and offer special brews tied to Black history. 'We did a series that was for Patsy Young,' said Johnson. 'She was a former slave who earned her living brewing beer … Highlighting history adds to the story and makes the beer more of a conversation piece rather than just a beer.' They're making their own mark in culture and history, too. Bell remembers listening to hip-hop songs that reference the beers the rappers were drinking, like Beck's or Heineken. According to the owners, Moor's has been featured in songs by local musicians and on TV. Most notably, their beer can be seen being drunk by the cast of Lena Waithe's 'The Chi' in a recent episode. National attention has been growing at a steady and natural pace. With Samuel Adams' support, they hope to expand at the same careful rate. Moor's won the Brewing the American Dream competition with their Kölsch beer. It's a Munich-style light beer that Patton describes as a 'fastball down the middle.' 'They brought a beer that was not as mainstream as an IPA and folks loved it,' said Jennifer Glanville Love, brewer and director of partnership of Boston Beer Co. and Samuel Adams. Glanville Love said Moor's winning brew was a lighter take that was delicious and well-constructed. But in addition, it was their story and their business plan that garnered them the most votes at the contest. 'The place they're in, the passion they have, the way they've grown so methodically, it all resonated,' Glanville Love said. 'The timing is perfect.' Samuel Adams and Moor's will be collaborating on a beer to be announced later. Next Juneteenth, things could look very different for Moor's, as they look to expand their footprint in Chicago and the rest of the country. For their fifth anniversary, they plan to hold their biggest-ever Juneteenth celebration in 2026. 'Juneteenth means freedom,' said Bell. 'Think of that notion of freedom and what would you do with that freedom — we encourage being free and expressive in any realm, it could be dancing, painting, singing… or, yes, beer.'
