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BF.A vs. GIS: Brown-Forman vs. General Mills Stock Comparison

How do Brown-Forman (BF.A) and General Mills (GIS) 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 General Mills (GIS) both fall under the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group, but BF.A is classified in Beverages while GIS is classified in Food Products.

Company profile comparison for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and General Mills (GIS)
Profile ItemBF.AGIS
NameBrown-Forman Corporation Class A Common StockGeneral Mills Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupFood, Beverage & TobaccoFood, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS IndustryBeveragesFood Products
GICS Sub-IndustryDistillers & VintnersPackaged Foods & Meats
Market Capitalization14.44 billion USD18.99 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMay 3, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BF.A
GIS
GSPC
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS), 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 General Mills (GIS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and General Mills (GIS). 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 General Mills (GIS)
MetricBF.AGIS
Total Return (1Y)21.31%-20.22%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-17.39%-14.80%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-12.15%-7.41%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

General Mills (GIS) reports a negative beta of -0.01, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. Brown-Forman (BF.A) has a non-negative beta of 0.26.

Risk profile metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and General Mills (GIS)
MetricBF.AGIS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.10%30.85%
Beta (5Y)0.26-0.01
Max Drawdown (5Y)-67.09%-59.63%
Avg. Volume (3M)138.95K9.41M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BF.A and GIS 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 General Mills (GIS)
MetricBF.AGIS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.45-0.79
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.68-1.14

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

General Mills (GIS) reports a negative ROE of -10.50%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Brown-Forman (BF.A) reports 18.12%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

-10.50%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

General Mills (GIS) reports a negative net margin of -4.89%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Brown-Forman (BF.A) reports 18.42%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

-4.89%

Max
24.83%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
GIS
-4.89%
Min
-11.49%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS): 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 General Mills (GIS) at 15.24%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

15.24%

Max
34.91%
Q3
17.57%
GIS
15.24%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and General Mills (GIS)
MetricBF.AGIS
ROE (TTM)18.12%-10.50%
ROA (TTM)8.63%5.65%
Net Margin (TTM)18.42%-4.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.55%15.24%
Gross Margin (TTM)60.66%33.73%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -1.18% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while General Mills (GIS) at -5.45% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -16.85% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while General Mills (GIS) at -103.90% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and General Mills (GIS)
MetricBF.AGIS
Revenue Growth (YoY)-1.18%-5.45%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.42%-2.85%
EPS Growth (YoY)-16.85%-103.90%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.09%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 3.26 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while General Mills (GIS) at 0.70 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

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

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.70

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
Q1
1.02
GIS
0.70
Min
0.33
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS): 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 General Mills (GIS) at 1.82 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

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.82

Max
2.19
GIS
1.82
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
Q1
0.33
Min
0.00
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS): 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 General Mills (GIS)
MetricBF.AGIS
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.260.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.621.82
Net Debt / EBITDA1.803.86

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

General Mills (GIS) at 6.69% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 2.89% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, GIS the richer one.

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%

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

6.69%

Max
9.38%
GIS
6.69%
Q3
3.77%
Median
1.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 59.32% and General Mills (GIS) at 59.41% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

59.41%

Max
199.19%
Q3
81.03%
GIS
59.41%
Median
41.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and General Mills (GIS)
MetricBF.AGIS
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.89%6.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)59.32%59.41%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Brown-Forman (BF.A) trades at 20.30 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while General Mills (GIS) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

--

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
Median
18.76
Q1
12.77
Min
4.72
GIS
--
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS): GIS does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; BF.A is benchmarked against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

General Mills (GIS) at 1.04 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 3.69 sits in the pricier quartile — BF.A costs more per dollar of sales.

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

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.04

Max
4.64
Q3
2.27
Median
1.17
GIS
1.04
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

General Mills (GIS) at 2.55 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.

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

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.55

Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
GIS
2.55
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. General Mills (GIS): 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 General Mills (GIS)
MetricBF.AGIS
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.30--
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.691.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.642.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.75%6.86%