Indian joint venture has big potential

Article Excerpt

MOLSON COORS BREWING CO. $43 (New York symbol TAP; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 187.3 million; Market cap: $8.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.4; Dividend yield: 3.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.molsoncoors.com) continues to build up its operations in emerging markets. That’s helping it offset slow beer sales in North America and Europe. In the past few years, Molson Coors has formed joint ventures with local brewers in China, Russia, Spain and Vietnam. The company recently announced that it would buy a controlling stake in Indian brewer Cobra Beer, and help Cobra expand its capacity. In all, this investment will cost Molson Coors $35 million. That’s equal to 15% of the $231.6 million, or $1.23 a share, that it earned in the three months ended June 30, 2011. Molson Coors already has a joint venture to distribute Cobra’s brands outside of South Asia, so this experience cuts the risk of this investment. As well, this new deal will help Molson Coors profit…