The logo of Anheuser-Busch InBev is pictured outside the brewer's headquarters in Leuven, Belgium February 28, 2019.
The logo of Anheuser-Busch InBev is pictured outside the brewer's headquarters in Leuven, Belgium February 28, 2019. Reuters / Francois Lenoir

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, forecast on Thursday that its profit would increase in 2022, in line with its medium-term growth range, after ending 2021 with stronger results than expected.

The maker of Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois said its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) would rise by between 4% and 8% this year, with revenue expanding by a higher percentage.

The Belgium-based brewer, with a particularly large presence in the Americas, said this would be based on a combination of both higher volumes and prices, noting that the forecast reflected its current view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unlike rivals Heineken and Carlsberg, which warned spiralling price hikes could curb beer consumption, AB InBev's outlook did not mention global inflation or increased input costs.

The Belgium-based brewer, reported a 5% like-for-like increase in fourth-quarter EBITDA to $4.88 billion after it sold more beer and at higher prices, higher than the 4% average forecast in a company-compiled poll.

For 2021 as a whole, EBITDA was up 11.8%, at the top end of the company's previous outlook of 10-12%.