Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B)

Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B) Consumer Business Overview

Brown-Forman Corporation is a leading manufacturer and marketer of alcoholic beverages, distinguished by its iconic Jack Daniel's brand and a diverse portfolio of premium spirits and wines. With a global presence and a focus on brand building, the company competes in the consumer defensive sector.

What Is the Investment Thesis for BF-B?

Brown-Forman presents a compelling investment case based on its strong brand portfolio, particularly the globally recognized Jack Daniel's franchise. The company's consistent profitability, demonstrated by a 20.6% profit margin and a 59.5% gross margin, underpins its financial stability. A dividend yield of 3.31% offers an attractive income stream for investors. Growth catalysts include the expansion of premium brands and increased penetration in emerging markets. However, investors may want to evaluate potential risks such as evolving consumer preferences and increased competition. The company's beta of 0.42 suggests lower volatility compared to the broader market.

Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis

BF-B Key Highlights

• Market capitalization of $12.01B reflects Brown-Forman's significant presence in the alcoholic beverage industry.
• A P/E ratio of 17.1 indicates a valuation that is in line with the broader consumer defensive sector.
• Gross margin of 59.5% demonstrates the company's ability to maintain profitability through efficient operations and strong brand pricing.
• Dividend yield of 3.31% provides a steady income stream for investors.
• Profit margin of 20.6% showcases Brown-Forman's effective cost management and brand strength.

Who Are BF-B's Competitors?

BF-B is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.

AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance

What Are BF-B's Key Strengths?

• Strong brand portfolio with iconic brands like Jack Daniel's.
• Global distribution network providing access to key markets.
• Consistent profitability and strong financial performance.
• Experienced management team with a proven track record.

What Are BF-B's Weaknesses?

• Dependence on the Jack Daniel's brand for a significant portion of revenue.
• Exposure to changing consumer preferences and trends.
• Vulnerability to regulatory changes and excise taxes.
• Limited presence in certain emerging markets.

What Could Drive BF-B Stock Higher?

• Expansion of Jack Daniel's product line into new flavor profiles and ready-to-drink offerings to attract younger consumers.
• Increased marketing investments in emerging markets to drive brand awareness and sales growth.
• Launch of new premium spirit brands in the next 12-18 months to diversify the product portfolio.
• Continued focus on sustainability initiatives to enhance brand reputation and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

What Are the Key Risks for BF-B?

• Insider selling — insiders were net sellers of roughly $1.2M recently.
• Changes in consumer preferences and trends could negatively impact demand for Brown-Forman's products.
• Increased competition from other alcoholic beverage companies could erode market share.
• Regulatory changes and excise taxes could increase costs and reduce profitability.
• Economic downturns and reduced consumer spending could negatively impact sales.
• Supply chain disruptions and raw material cost increases could impact production and profitability.

What Are the Growth Opportunities for BF-B?

• Expansion of Premium Brands: Brown-Forman has a significant opportunity to expand its premium brands, such as Woodford Reserve and Herradura. The global market for premium spirits is growing, driven by increasing disposable incomes and a desire for higher-quality products. By investing in marketing and distribution, Brown-Forman can increase its market share in this segment. The premium spirits market is projected to reach $200 billion by 2028.
• Emerging Markets Penetration: Emerging markets, such as India and China, offer significant growth potential for Brown-Forman. As these economies develop, consumer demand for alcoholic beverages is expected to increase. Brown-Forman can leverage its global distribution network to enter these markets and establish a presence. The emerging markets alcoholic beverage market is projected to grow at a rate of 8% per year over the next five years.
• Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Cocktails: The ready-to-drink cocktail market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by convenience and innovation. Brown-Forman can capitalize on this trend by developing and marketing new RTD products under its existing brands. This includes line extensions of popular brands like Jack Daniel's. The RTD market is expected to reach $40 billion by 2027.
• Innovation in Product Offerings: Brown-Forman can drive growth through continuous innovation in its product offerings. This includes developing new flavors, packaging formats, and product categories. By staying ahead of consumer trends, Brown-Forman can maintain its competitive edge. Investment in research and development is crucial for sustaining this growth. New product innovation is expected to contribute 5% to annual revenue growth.
• Strategic Acquisitions: Brown-Forman can pursue strategic acquisitions to expand its brand portfolio and geographic reach. By acquiring complementary brands, Brown-Forman can increase its market share and diversify its revenue streams. Potential acquisition targets include craft distilleries and regional wine producers. Strategic acquisitions are expected to add 3% to annual revenue growth.

What Opportunities Does BF-B Have?

• Expansion of premium brands and product offerings.
• Increased penetration in emerging markets.
• Growth in the ready-to-drink cocktail market.
• Strategic acquisitions to expand brand portfolio and geographic reach.

What Threats Does BF-B Face?

• Increased competition from other alcoholic beverage companies.
• Evolving consumer preferences and trends.
• Regulatory changes and excise taxes.
• Economic downturns and reduced consumer spending.

What Are BF-B's Competitive Advantages?

• Brand Recognition: Strong brand recognition and loyalty, particularly for Jack Daniel's.
• Distribution Network: Established global distribution network providing access to key markets.
• Product Portfolio: Diverse portfolio of premium spirits and wines catering to different consumer preferences.
• Proprietary Recipes: Unique and proprietary recipes for its key brands, ensuring product differentiation.

What Does BF-B Do?

Founded in 1870 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Brown-Forman Corporation has evolved into one of the largest American-owned spirits and wine companies. The company's origins lie in the bottling and sale of Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, a brand that remains a cornerstone of its portfolio. Over the decades, Brown-Forman expanded its offerings through strategic acquisitions and organic brand development, establishing a global footprint in the alcoholic beverage industry. Today, Brown-Forman manufactures, distills, bottles, imports, exports, markets, and sells a wide array of alcoholic beverages, including spirits, wines, whiskey spirits, whiskey-based flavored liqueurs, ready-to-drink and ready-to-pour products, ready-to-drink cocktails, vodkas, tequilas, champagnes, brandy, and liqueurs. Its key brands include Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, Herradura, el Jimador, Finlandia, and Korbel. The company serves retail customers and consumers through distributors or state governments, as well as directly to retailers, wholesalers, and provincial governments. Brown-Forman operates in the United States, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and other international markets.

What Products and Services Does BF-B Offer?

• Manufactures and distills alcoholic beverages.
• Bottles and packages spirits and wines.
• Imports and exports alcoholic beverages globally.
• Markets and sells its products to distributors, retailers, and consumers.
• Offers a diverse portfolio of brands, including Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, and Herradura.
• Provides contract bottling services to other companies.
• Sells used barrels and bulk whiskey and wine.

How Does BF-B Make Money?

• Manufactures and sells alcoholic beverages through distributors and direct sales.
• Generates revenue from the sale of spirits, wines, and ready-to-drink cocktails.
• Focuses on building brand equity and marketing its products globally.
• Utilizes a multi-channel distribution strategy to reach consumers.

What Industry Does BF-B Operate In?

Brown-Forman operates in the global alcoholic beverage industry, which is characterized by increasing demand for premium and craft spirits. The industry is competitive, with major players like COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. and HRL: Hormel Foods Corporation vying for market share. Trends include a shift towards ready-to-drink cocktails and a growing interest in tequila and whiskey. Brown-Forman's strong brand portfolio and global distribution network position it well to capitalize on these trends, although it faces challenges from evolving consumer preferences and regulatory changes.

Who Are BF-B's Key Customers?

• Retail consumers who purchase alcoholic beverages for personal consumption.
• Distributors who supply alcoholic beverages to retailers and restaurants.
• Retailers, including liquor stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores.
• Wholesalers who purchase alcoholic beverages in bulk and distribute them to retailers.
• Provincial governments in certain markets that control the distribution of alcoholic beverages.

Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B) Valuation Context

Valued at $12.01B, BF-B is classified as a large-cap stock. Relative to its peer group, BF-B's quantitative score of 50/100 is below the peer average of 70/100.

BF-B Revenue & Earnings Trend

In Q2 2026, BF-B generated $912.0M in top-line revenue, marking a sequential decrease of 13.6%. The company recorded net income of $54.0M, with diluted EPS of $0.12. Quarter-over-quarter revenue has been mixed, typical for a large-cap company operating in Consumer Defensive. Across the four most recent quarters, BF-B averaged $0.38 in diluted EPS.

Company Profile

Brown-Forman Corporation operates in the Beverages - Wineries & Distilleries industry within the Consumer Defensive sector. It is headquartered in Louisville, US. The company is led by CEO Lawson E. Whiting. BF-B has traded publicly since 1980.

ROE 18%Key Financial Metrics

Return on equity for Brown-Forman Corporation stands at 17.6%, a gauge of how efficiently it converts shareholder capital into profit. Return on assets is 9.1%, showing how much profit it generates from its asset base. BF-B trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 17.09, below the Consumer Defensive sector average of ~30x. Its free cash flow yield is 7.3%, a gauge of the cash the business throws off relative to its market value. A current ratio of 3.24 indicates the company holds enough short-term assets to cover its near-term obligations. Its earnings yield is 6.0%, the inverse of the P/E and a quick read on earnings relative to price.

F-Score 7/9Financial Health

Brown-Forman Corporation's Piotroski F-Score is 7/9, a 9-point checklist of profitability, leverage and efficiency — signaling solid underlying fundamentals. Its Altman Z-Score of 4.10 places it in the safe zone, indicating low near-term bankruptcy risk.

FY2026 estForward Outlook

Wall Street analysts project Brown-Forman Corporation revenue of about $3.90B for fiscal 2026, with EPS near $1.74. The estimate reflects 17 contributing analysts.

Net buyingInsider Activity

Over the past six months, Brown-Forman Corporation insiders filed 29 SEC Form 4 transactions — 16 sales and 13 purchases. On net that is roughly 12K shares acquired (about $1.2M) — insiders putting money in tends to read as conviction.

BF-B Financials

BF-B Latest News

BF-B Analyst Consensus

BF-B MoonshotScore

What Investors Ask About Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B) — Consumer Defensive

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.

Official Resources