
Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B)
Brown-Forman is a long-standing American spirits company best known for owning the iconic Jack Daniel’s whiskey brand.
Is Brown-Forman Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Brown-Forman is a long-standing American spirits company best known for owning the iconic Jack Daniel’s whiskey brand.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Premiumisation trends drive higher profit margins over time.
Long-term decline in alcohol consumption trends.
What does Brown-Forman Corporation do?
Brown-Forman makes its money by distilling, bottling, and selling premium alcoholic beverages, with Jack Daniel’s being the star of the show. They operate in the 'consumer defensive' space, meaning people tend to keep buying their drinks even when the economy feels a bit wobbly. The question worth following is whether they can grow sales while navigating changing drinking habits and rising costs for raw ingredients.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on quality and momentum, and weakest on growth.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 3.2% a year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 18% of sales into profit
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 18%)
- Owns highly recognisable, premium global brands
- Historically stable business model
- Attractive dividend history for income-focused investors
- Growth screens low (10/100)
- Changing health trends leading to lower alcohol consumption
- Rising costs for raw materials like grain and glass
- Potential for increased taxes or stricter regulations on alcohol
What do Brown-Forman Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does Brown-Forman Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Brown-Forman Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - Brown-Forman Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 3.2% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Brown-Forman Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Brown-Forman Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-08-27 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-04 | $0.32 | $0.12 | Missed -63% |
| 2026-03-04 | $0.47 | $0.58 | Beat +25% |
| 2025-12-04 | $0.48 | $0.47 | Missed -1% |
| 2025-08-28 | $0.37 | $0.36 | Missed -2% |
| 2025-06-05 | $0.34 | $0.31 | Missed -10% |
| 2025-03-05 | $0.46 | $0.57 | Beat +23% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Brown-Forman Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 2 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
More in Consumer Defensive
What are the scenarios for Brown-Forman Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Brown-Forman Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Owns highly recognisable, premium global brands
- Historically stable business model
- Attractive dividend history for income-focused investors
- Recent earnings growth has been significantly negative
- Limited revenue growth in the current environment
- High reliance on a single core product category
- Changing health trends leading to lower alcohol consumption
- Rising costs for raw materials like grain and glass
- Potential for increased taxes or stricter regulations on alcohol
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained, multi-year decline in global whiskey sales
- A major, permanent shift in consumer habits away from premium spirits
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.