BF.A vs. KO: Brown-Forman vs. Coca-Cola Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Coca-Cola (KO) 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 Coca-Cola (KO) both belong to the Beverages industry, though BF.A is classified under Distillers & Vintners while KO falls under Soft Drinks & Non-alcoholic Beverages.

Company profile comparison for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Profile Item	BF.A	KO
Name	Brown-Forman Corporation Class A Common Stock	The Coca-Cola Company
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Staples	Consumer Staples
GICS Industry Group	Food, Beverage & Tobacco	Food, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS Industry	Beverages	Beverages
GICS Sub-Industry	Distillers & Vintners	Soft Drinks & Non-alcoholic Beverages
Market Capitalization	14.44 billion USD	411.56 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	May 3, 1973	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BF.A

GSPC

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO), 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 Coca-Cola (KO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Coca-Cola (KO). 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 Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	BF.A	KO
Total Return (1Y)	21.31%	39.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-17.39%	22.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-12.15%	14.43%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BF.A

GSPC

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO), 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 Coca-Cola (KO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Coca-Cola (KO) is heavily traded at around 16.05M 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 Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	BF.A	KO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	38.10%	18.90%
Beta (5Y)	0.26	0.27
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-67.09%	-17.27%
Avg. Volume (3M)	138.95K	16.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BF.A and KO 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 Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	BF.A	KO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.45	1.85
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.68	3.17

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Coca-Cola (KO) at 40.59% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 18.12% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

40.59%

KO: 40.59%
Max: 32.02%
Q3: 16.61%
Median: 10.05%
Q1: 4.10%
Min: -10.50%

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their ROE against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 28.65% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 18.42% also retains a top-quartile 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%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

28.65%

KO: 28.65%
Max: 24.83%
Q3: 11.22%
Median: 5.94%
Q1: 2.05%
Min: -11.49%

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): 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 Coca-Cola (KO) at 33.36% 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%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

33.36%

Max: 34.91%
KO: 33.36%
Q3: 17.57%
Median: 11.06%
Q1: 4.15%
Min: -15.06%

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	BF.A	KO
ROE (TTM)	18.12%	40.59%
ROA (TTM)	8.63%	9.59%
Net Margin (TTM)	18.42%	28.65%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.55%	33.36%
Gross Margin (TTM)	60.66%	62.32%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -1.18% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.87% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Coca-Cola (KO) at 23.58% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -16.85% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for KO.

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	BF.A	KO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-1.18%	1.87%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-2.42%	3.69%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-16.85%	23.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-2.09%	11.55%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.38 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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.38

Max: 4.01
Q3: 2.35
Median: 1.53
KO: 1.38
Q1: 1.02
Min: 0.33

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 0.62 and Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.07 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.07

Max: 2.19
Q3: 1.11
KO: 1.07
Median: 0.68
Q1: 0.33
Min: 0.00

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): 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 Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	BF.A	KO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	3.26	1.38
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.62	1.07
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.80	1.48

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 2.89% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 2.19% 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%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.19%

Max: 9.38%
Q3: 3.77%
KO: 2.19%
Median: 1.76%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): 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 Coca-Cola (KO) at 61.95% 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%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

61.95%

Max: 199.19%
Q3: 81.03%
KO: 61.95%
Median: 41.52%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	BF.A	KO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.89%	2.19%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	59.32%	61.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 20.30 and Coca-Cola (KO) at 28.22 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

28.22

Max: 52.52
Q3: 30.78
KO: 28.22
Median: 18.76
Q1: 12.77
Min: 4.72

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 3.69 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Coca-Cola (KO) at 8.06 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

8.06

KO: 8.06
Max: 4.64
Q3: 2.27
Median: 1.17
Q1: 0.52
Min: 0.00

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): 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 Coca-Cola (KO) at 11.01 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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

11.01

KO: 11.01
Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.07
Median: 1.58
Q1: 0.82
Min: 0.00

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): 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 Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	BF.A	KO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.30	28.22
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.69	8.06
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.64	11.01
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.75%	1.06%