Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's biggest brewing firm, on Tuesday beat expectations for the third quarter, despite an ongoing drag from controversy surrounding its online Bud Light campaign. Revenue rose 5% over the period to $15.57 billion, ahead of a company-compiled forecast of 4.7%. However, Bud Light — which lost its spot as the top-selling U.S. beer over the summer amid a conservative-led boycott, protesting its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney — weighed on U.S. performance, the company said. It marks the second quarter in which the Bud Light controversy, which includes criticism of the company for failing to support Mulvaney amid the backlash, has hit U.S. sales. Analysts at RBC Europe said the company's performance stood out within a "turbulent quarter" for earnings, noting beats on organic revenue growth and EDITDA growth expectations, despite a North America sales miss.

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Persons: Bud, Bud Light, influencer Dylan Mulvaney — Organizations: Anheuser, Busch InBev, Revenue, RBC Europe, North, Brewers, Carlsberg, Heineken Locations: East, Africa, Asia, Europe, Brussels, U.S, North America, Southeast Asia