We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Is BF.B Stock a Hold as Valuation and Earnings Signals Diverge Today?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
BF.B benefits from premium brands, whiskey growth and innovation across key categories.
BF.B generated $1 billion in operating cash flow and $893 million in free cash flow in fiscal 2026.
BF.B expects modest sales growth, but lower operating income and weak developed-market demand.
Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B - Free Report) presents investors with a mixed setup. The company has premium brands, improving cash flow and growth pockets in emerging markets and Travel Retail. With fiscal 2027 expected to bring flat organic net sales and lower organic operating income, the case looks balanced.
BF.B’s Valuation Leaves Limited Room for Error
At $27.80 as of June 24, 2026, BF.B carried a six-12 month price target of $29. The stock trades at 18.2X trailing earnings and 16.3X the current fiscal year earnings estimate, with a price-to-sales ratio of 3.3 and a PEG ratio of 2.6.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings is $1.71 per share, up from fiscal 2026 earnings of $1.53. Fiscal 2027 sales are estimated at $3.94 billion compared with $3.93 billion in fiscal 2026. That modest sales lift contrasts with the expected 3-5% decline in organic operating income.
Estimate trends are not clearly negative. The current fiscal year EPS estimate has moved 0.9% higher over the past four weeks, but the Earnings ESP of -0.3% and last EPS surprise of -63.6% keep the signal mixed.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Premium Brands Still Support the Long-Term Case
Brown-Forman’s appeal remains rooted in premiumization, whiskey strength and innovation. Its portfolio includes Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Diplomático and Gin Mare, with Jack Daniel’s anchoring its global whiskey presence.
Innovation is giving the business some lift. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry reached almost 300,000 nine-liter depletions in the United States by fiscal year-end and almost 150,000 nine-liter depletions across six European launch markets. Whiskey products’ net sales increased 3% on a reported basis and 1% organically in fiscal 2026.
New Mix also stands out. Its net sales increased 41% on a reported basis and 33% organically, helped by share gains in Mexico and its launch in the United States. Diageo plc (DEO - Free Report) offers spirits-market context through its global premium drinks portfolio. Constellation Brands, Inc. (STZ - Free Report) offers a cross-category comparison because it operates across beer, wine and spirits.
Developed-Market Weakness Caps the Upside
The counterweight is demand pressure in developed markets. In fiscal 2026, U.S. net sales declined 7% on a reported basis and were flat organically, hurt by lower Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey volumes and unfavorable portfolio mix.
Developed International net sales were flat on a reported basis but fell 3% organically. The decline reflected the absence of American-made beverage alcohol from retail shelves in most Canadian provinces, along with declines in Germany and the United Kingdom. Canada fell nearly 60% in fiscal 2026.
Category softness adds caution. Tequila portfolio net sales declined 4% on a reported basis and 6% organically in fiscal 2026, while non-branded and bulk net sales fell 68% because of lower used-barrel sales.
Bottom Line on BF.B Stock
BF.B looks like a Hold because brand strength and cash generation are being offset by weak earnings momentum and a cautious fiscal 2027 outlook. Cash flow from operations rose to $1 billion in fiscal 2026, and free cash flow increased to $893 million.
Its Zacks Style Scores are mixed, with a Value Score of C, Growth Score of C, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of C. The Momentum Score is the better part of the setup, while the broader C scores point to a neutral profile.
For now, BF.B’s strengths appear real, but the earnings signals do not fully support a stronger stance. Investors may want to see steadier developed-market demand and clearer margin recovery before turning more constructive.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Is BF.B Stock a Hold as Valuation and Earnings Signals Diverge Today?
Key Takeaways
Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B - Free Report) presents investors with a mixed setup. The company has premium brands, improving cash flow and growth pockets in emerging markets and Travel Retail. With fiscal 2027 expected to bring flat organic net sales and lower organic operating income, the case looks balanced.
BF.B’s Valuation Leaves Limited Room for Error
At $27.80 as of June 24, 2026, BF.B carried a six-12 month price target of $29. The stock trades at 18.2X trailing earnings and 16.3X the current fiscal year earnings estimate, with a price-to-sales ratio of 3.3 and a PEG ratio of 2.6.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings is $1.71 per share, up from fiscal 2026 earnings of $1.53. Fiscal 2027 sales are estimated at $3.94 billion compared with $3.93 billion in fiscal 2026. That modest sales lift contrasts with the expected 3-5% decline in organic operating income.
Estimate trends are not clearly negative. The current fiscal year EPS estimate has moved 0.9% higher over the past four weeks, but the Earnings ESP of -0.3% and last EPS surprise of -63.6% keep the signal mixed.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Premium Brands Still Support the Long-Term Case
Brown-Forman’s appeal remains rooted in premiumization, whiskey strength and innovation. Its portfolio includes Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Diplomático and Gin Mare, with Jack Daniel’s anchoring its global whiskey presence.
Innovation is giving the business some lift. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry reached almost 300,000 nine-liter depletions in the United States by fiscal year-end and almost 150,000 nine-liter depletions across six European launch markets. Whiskey products’ net sales increased 3% on a reported basis and 1% organically in fiscal 2026.
New Mix also stands out. Its net sales increased 41% on a reported basis and 33% organically, helped by share gains in Mexico and its launch in the United States. Diageo plc (DEO - Free Report) offers spirits-market context through its global premium drinks portfolio. Constellation Brands, Inc. (STZ - Free Report) offers a cross-category comparison because it operates across beer, wine and spirits.
Developed-Market Weakness Caps the Upside
The counterweight is demand pressure in developed markets. In fiscal 2026, U.S. net sales declined 7% on a reported basis and were flat organically, hurt by lower Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey volumes and unfavorable portfolio mix.
Developed International net sales were flat on a reported basis but fell 3% organically. The decline reflected the absence of American-made beverage alcohol from retail shelves in most Canadian provinces, along with declines in Germany and the United Kingdom. Canada fell nearly 60% in fiscal 2026.
Category softness adds caution. Tequila portfolio net sales declined 4% on a reported basis and 6% organically in fiscal 2026, while non-branded and bulk net sales fell 68% because of lower used-barrel sales.
Bottom Line on BF.B Stock
BF.B looks like a Hold because brand strength and cash generation are being offset by weak earnings momentum and a cautious fiscal 2027 outlook. Cash flow from operations rose to $1 billion in fiscal 2026, and free cash flow increased to $893 million.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Its Zacks Style Scores are mixed, with a Value Score of C, Growth Score of C, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of C. The Momentum Score is the better part of the setup, while the broader C scores point to a neutral profile.
For now, BF.B’s strengths appear real, but the earnings signals do not fully support a stronger stance. Investors may want to see steadier developed-market demand and clearer margin recovery before turning more constructive.