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ADM vs. BF.A: Archer-Daniels-Midland vs. Brown-Forman Stock Comparison

How do Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) 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

Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A) both fall under the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group, but ADM is classified in Food Products while BF.A is classified in Beverages.

Company profile comparison for Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
Profile ItemADMBF.A
NameArcher-Daniels-Midland CompanyBrown-Forman Corporation Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupFood, Beverage & TobaccoFood, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS IndustryFood ProductsBeverages
GICS Sub-IndustryAgricultural Products & ServicesDistillers & Vintners
Market Capitalization33.30 billion USD14.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980May 3, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADM
BF.A
GSPC
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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) 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 Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) 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 Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricADMBF.A
Total Return (1Y)27.10%21.31%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)2.54%-17.39%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.70%-12.15%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADM
BF.A
GSPC
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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) 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 Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricADMBF.A
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.72%38.10%
Beta (5Y)0.650.26
Max Drawdown (5Y)-54.14%-67.09%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.44M138.95K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ADM 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 Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricADMBF.A
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.820.45
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.250.68

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 18.12% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 10.64% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BF.A.

ADM

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

10.64%

Max
32.02%
Q3
16.61%
ADM
10.64%
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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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their ROE against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 18.42% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 2.95%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ADM

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.95%

Max
24.83%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
ADM
2.95%
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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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their net margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 27.55% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 4.21%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ADM

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

4.21%

Max
34.91%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
ADM
4.21%
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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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricADMBF.A
ROE (TTM)10.64%18.12%
ROA (TTM)2.85%8.63%
Net Margin (TTM)2.95%18.42%
Operating Margin (TTM)4.21%27.55%
Gross Margin (TTM)7.44%60.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -1.18% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at -6.15% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at -38.90% 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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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricADMBF.A
Revenue Growth (YoY)-6.15%-1.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.54%-2.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)-38.90%-16.85%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-33.87%-2.09%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 1.45 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.

ADM

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.45

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
ADM
1.45
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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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their current ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 0.42 and Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 0.62 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ADM

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.42

Max
2.19
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
ADM
0.42
Q1
0.33
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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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) 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 Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricADMBF.A
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.453.26
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.420.62
Net Debt / EBITDA2.631.80

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 2.94% and Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 2.89% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ADM

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.94%

Max
9.38%
Q3
3.77%
ADM
2.94%
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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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 40.43% 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.

ADM

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

40.43%

Max
199.19%
Q3
81.03%
Median
41.52%
ADM
40.43%
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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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricADMBF.A
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.94%2.89%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)40.43%59.32%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 13.67 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.

ADM

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

13.67

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
Median
18.76
ADM
13.67
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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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 0.40 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.

ADM

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.40

Max
4.64
Q3
2.27
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
ADM
0.40
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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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) vs. Brown-Forman (BF.A): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 1.40 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.

ADM

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.40

Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
Median
1.58
ADM
1.40
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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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) 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 Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and Brown-Forman (BF.A)
MetricADMBF.A
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.6720.30
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.403.69
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.403.64
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-3.39%4.75%