11 Top Performing European Stocks So Far In 2025

4. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31

YTD Share Price Performance as of April 11: 25.22%

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) ranks 4th on our list of the best performing stocks in Europe. BUD was founded in 1366 and is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium. It is a global beverage company known for its iconic beer brands like Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois. The company also offers spirits-based drinks and non-alcoholic beverages.

On April 4, Berenberg Bank started coverage of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) with a Buy rating and a price target of €72. According to Berenberg, the company’s shift to lower-margin ready-to-drink beverages and hard seltzers adds volatility and risk. Still, its strong 7% ROIC and a perfect Piotroski Score of 9 reflect strong financial health, driven by a focus on organic growth and avoiding large acquisitions over the past decade.

In 2024, AB InBev achieved a record revenue of $59.8 billion, with 75% of its markets exhibiting growth. Despite weaker volumes in China and Argentina, the company gained or held market share in two-thirds of its markets and grew volumes elsewhere by nearly 1%. EBITDA came in at roughly $21 billion, free cash flow increased by $2.5 billion from last year, and the company reduced its net debt-to-EBITDA below 3x for the first time since 2015. AB InBev is strengthening brand investments and has raised its annual dividend by 22%.

According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, 31 hedge funds were bullish on Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD), compared to 26 funds in the preceding quarter. Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management was the biggest stakeholder of the company, with 10 million shares valued at nearly $505 million.