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ABEV vs. BF.A: Ambev vs. Brown-Forman Stock Comparison

How do Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A) both belong to the Beverages industry, though ABEV is classified under Brewers while BF.A falls under Distillers & Vintners.

Brown-Forman (BF.A) trades as ordinary local shares, while Ambev (ABEV) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
Profile ItemABEVBF.A
NameAmbev S.A. ADRBrown-Forman Corporation Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionBrazilUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupFood, Beverage & TobaccoFood, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS IndustryBeveragesBeverages
GICS Sub-IndustryBrewersDistillers & Vintners
Market Capitalization43.01 billion USD14.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 5, 1997May 3, 1973
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ABEV
BF.A
GSPC
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricABEVBF.A
Total Return (1Y)15.68%21.31%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)5.87%-17.39%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.96%-12.15%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ABEV
BF.A
GSPC
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Ambev (ABEV) is heavily traded at around 26.44M shares per day, whereas Brown-Forman (BF.A) sees a more moderate 138.95K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricABEVBF.A
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)35.89%38.10%
Beta (5Y)0.560.26
Max Drawdown (5Y)-38.91%-67.09%
Avg. Volume (3M)26.44M138.95K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ABEV and BF.A are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricABEVBF.A
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.320.45
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.470.68

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Ambev (ABEV) at 17.65% and Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 18.12% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

ABEV

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

17.65%

Max
32.02%
ABEV
17.65%
Q3
16.61%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
Min
-10.50%

BF.A

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

18.12%

Max
32.02%
BF.A
18.12%
Q3
16.61%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
Min
-10.50%
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their ROE against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Ambev (ABEV) at 17.69% and Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 18.42% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ABEV

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

17.69%

Max
24.83%
ABEV
17.69%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
Min
-11.49%

BF.A

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

18.42%

Max
24.83%
BF.A
18.42%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
Min
-11.49%
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their net margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ambev (ABEV) at 25.56% and Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 27.55% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

ABEV

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

25.56%

Max
34.91%
ABEV
25.56%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%

BF.A

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

27.55%

Max
34.91%
BF.A
27.55%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricABEVBF.A
ROE (TTM)17.65%18.12%
ROA (TTM)10.27%8.63%
Net Margin (TTM)17.69%18.42%
Operating Margin (TTM)25.56%27.55%
Gross Margin (TTM)51.78%60.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -1.18% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Ambev (ABEV) at -1.35% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ambev (ABEV) at 2.20% and Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -16.85% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricABEVBF.A
Revenue Growth (YoY)-1.35%-1.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.45%-2.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)2.20%-16.85%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)0.00%-2.09%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ambev (ABEV) at 1.06 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 3.26 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

ABEV

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.06

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
ABEV
1.06
Q1
1.02
Min
0.33

BF.A

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

3.26

Max
4.01
BF.A
3.26
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
Q1
1.02
Min
0.33
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their current ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Ambev (ABEV) at 0.03 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 0.62 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ABEV

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.03

Max
2.19
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
Q1
0.33
ABEV
0.03
Min
0.00

BF.A

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.62

Max
2.19
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
BF.A
0.62
Q1
0.33
Min
0.00
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricABEVBF.A
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.063.26
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.030.62
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.721.80

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 2.89% pays an industry-typical yield; Ambev (ABEV) at 9.64% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

ABEV

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

9.64%

ABEV
9.64%
Max
9.38%
Q3
3.77%
Median
1.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

BF.A

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.89%

Max
9.38%
Q3
3.77%
BF.A
2.89%
Median
1.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Ambev (ABEV) at 74.21% and Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 59.32% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

ABEV

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

74.21%

Max
199.19%
Q3
81.03%
ABEV
74.21%
Median
41.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

BF.A

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

59.32%

Max
199.19%
Q3
81.03%
BF.A
59.32%
Median
41.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricABEVBF.A
Dividend Yield (TTM)9.64%2.89%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)74.21%59.32%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ambev (ABEV) at 14.68 and Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 20.30 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ABEV

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

14.68

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
Median
18.76
ABEV
14.68
Q1
12.77
Min
4.72

BF.A

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

20.30

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
BF.A
20.30
Median
18.76
Q1
12.77
Min
4.72
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Ambev (ABEV) at 0.48 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 3.69 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

ABEV

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.48

Max
4.64
Q3
2.27
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
ABEV
0.48
Min
0.00

BF.A

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

3.69

Max
4.64
BF.A
3.69
Q3
2.27
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Ambev (ABEV) at 2.38 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 3.64 carries an above-peer premium to book — BF.A is pricier on assets.

ABEV

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.38

Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
ABEV
2.38
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00

BF.A

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

3.64

Max
6.35
BF.A
3.64
Q3
3.07
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00
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Ambev (ABEV) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricABEVBF.A
P/E Ratio (TTM)14.6820.30
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.483.69
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.383.64
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)48.96%4.75%