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BF.A vs. DEO: Brown-Forman vs. Diageo Stock Comparison

How do Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO) 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

Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO) are both classified in the Distillers & Vintners sub-industry within the broader Beverages industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

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

Company profile comparison for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO)
Profile ItemBF.ADEO
NameBrown-Forman Corporation Class A Common StockDiageo plc Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupFood, Beverage & TobaccoFood, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS IndustryBeveragesBeverages
GICS Sub-IndustryDistillers & VintnersDistillers & Vintners
Market Capitalization14.44 billion USD55.56 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMay 3, 1973March 14, 1991
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BF.A
DEO
GSPC
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO), 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 Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO)
MetricBF.ADEO
Total Return (1Y)21.31%13.51%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-17.39%-11.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-12.15%-10.73%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BF.A
DEO
GSPC
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO), 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 Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO)
MetricBF.ADEO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.10%33.21%
Beta (5Y)0.260.52
Max Drawdown (5Y)-67.09%-63.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)138.95K1.07M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BF.A and DEO 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 Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO)
MetricBF.ADEO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.450.28
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.680.38

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 18.12% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Diageo (DEO) at 14.99% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BF.A.

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%

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

14.99%

Max
32.02%
Q3
16.61%
DEO
14.99%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
Min
-10.50%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO): 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 Diageo (DEO) at 8.84%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

8.84%

Max
24.83%
Q3
11.22%
DEO
8.84%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
Min
-11.49%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO): A comparison of their net margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 27.55% and Diageo (DEO) at 27.04% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

27.04%

Max
34.91%
DEO
27.04%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO)
MetricBF.ADEO
ROE (TTM)18.12%14.99%
ROA (TTM)8.63%7.48%
Net Margin (TTM)18.42%8.84%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.55%27.04%
Gross Margin (TTM)60.66%59.82%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -1.18% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Diageo (DEO) at -2.97% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -16.85% and Diageo (DEO) at -26.30% 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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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO)
MetricBF.ADEO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-1.18%-2.97%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.42%-1.50%
EPS Growth (YoY)-16.85%-26.30%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.09%-27.84%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Diageo (DEO) at 1.60 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.

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

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.60

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
DEO
1.60
Median
1.53
Q1
1.02
Min
0.33
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 0.62 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Diageo (DEO) at 1.71 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.71

Max
2.19
DEO
1.71
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
Q1
0.33
Min
0.00
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO)
MetricBF.ADEO
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.261.60
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.621.71
Net Debt / EBITDA1.803.18

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 2.89% and Diageo (DEO) at 0.50% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.50%

Max
9.38%
Q3
3.77%
Median
1.76%
DEO
0.50%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Diageo (DEO) reports payout ratio above 100% at 106.52%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Brown-Forman (BF.A) reports 59.32%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

106.52%

Max
199.19%
DEO
106.52%
Q3
81.03%
Median
41.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO)
MetricBF.ADEO
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.89%0.50%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)59.32%106.52%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 20.30 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Diageo (DEO) at 31.97 sits in the richer quartile — DEO needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

31.97

Max
52.52
DEO
31.97
Q3
30.78
Median
18.76
Q1
12.77
Min
4.72
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 3.69 and Diageo (DEO) at 2.83 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.83

Max
4.64
DEO
2.83
Q3
2.27
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 3.64 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Diageo (DEO) at 91.95 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

91.95

DEO
91.95
Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Diageo (DEO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Diageo (DEO)
MetricBF.ADEO
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.3031.97
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.692.83
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.6491.95
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.75%4.62%