Guinness is an outlier in Diageo's business, which consists mostly of spirits rather than beer, but its performance recently has outshone that of key liquor labels, such as Johnnie Walker whisky.

LVMH shares drop as profitability for 2024 decreases and company sells back stake in Stella McCartney's fashion label amid luxury demand slump.

Diageo Plc said it doesn’t plan to sell the Guinness beer brand or its stake in Moet Hennessy, even as pressure grows on the company to find ways to revive growth.

Shares in Diageo stood at 2,501.5p, up 4.16% on the day. The positions of the Moët Hennessy stake and of Guinness in the Diageo portfolio have periodically been the subject of market speculation. In December 2023, Axios reported Diageo was seeking to sell a clutch of assets in beer but retain Guinness, its flagship brand in that sector.

Media reports suggested Diageo was considering asset sales to boost growth, cashing in on high demand for Guinness. View on euronews

A report by Bloomberg last week said the FTSE 100 giant was exploring options for both Guinness and its investment in LVMH's Moet Hennessy drinks unit.