Beer Is Still The Undisputed Champ Of Alcoholic Beverages

Who doesn't love a cold beer? According to AYTM, 46.4 percent of Americans regularly buy beer, higher than every other alcoholic beverage.

Statista noted the percentage of U.S. consumers who regularly buy the following alcoholic beverages:

• Wine - 36.1 percent.
• Liquor - 30.2 percent.
• Cocktails/mixed drinks - 19.5 percent.
• None - 18.7 percent.
• Hard soda - 10.9 percent.
• Other - 2.4 percent.

So if beer is top ranked, how have the beer stocks performed over the past year. In short, not so great.

Related Link: Bubbly And Spirited: 2016's Alcohol Review Overflowing With Good News

Industry giant Anheuser Busch Inbev NV (ADR) BUD has seen its stock fall more than 6 percent over the past year and as of Friday was trading at $108.56, which is notably lower compared to its 52-week high of $136.08.

Boston Beer Company Inc SAM, best known for its Sam Adams brand of beer, has seen its stock move lower nearly 20 percent over the past year.

The Positives

Constellation Brands, Inc. STZ is a producer and marketer of a wide range of alcoholic beverages, including the Corona brand. For the fiscal year ending February 29, 2017, beer accounted for $3.6226 billion of the company's total revenue of $6.548 billion so it's safe to say that beer is a major driver of the company's business. The company's stock has been volatile as of late since its business is tied to importing beer from Mexico but nevertheless shares are higher by more than 13 percent over the past year.

Molson Coors Brewing Co TAP is also higher by 15 percent over the past year.

The real winner in the group is the small-cap Portland, Oregon-based Craft Brew Alliance Inc BREW whose stock is higher by more than 90 percent over the past year. The company is engaged in brewing and branding craft beers and some of its labels include Kona, Widmer Brothers, Redhook and Omission beer brands.