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BF.A vs. MKC.V: Brown-Forman vs. McCormick Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and McCormick (MKC.V)
Profile ItemBF.AMKC.V
NameBrown-Forman Corporation Class A Common StockMcCormick & Company, Incorporated Voting Common Stock
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 USD13.12 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMay 3, 1973October 7, 2003
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BF.A
MKC.V
GSPC
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V), 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 McCormick (MKC.V). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and McCormick (MKC.V). 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 McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricBF.AMKC.V
Total Return (1Y)21.31%-23.37%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-17.39%-6.90%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-12.15%-7.71%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BF.A
MKC.V
GSPC
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V), 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 McCormick (MKC.V). 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 McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricBF.AMKC.V
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.10%33.74%
Beta (5Y)0.260.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)-67.09%-52.34%
Avg. Volume (3M)138.95K10.12K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BF.A and MKC.V 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 McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricBF.AMKC.V
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.45-0.82
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.68-1.11

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 18.12% and McCormick (MKC.V) at 22.62% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

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%

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

22.62%

Max
32.02%
MKC.V
22.62%
Q3
16.61%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
Min
-10.50%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their ROE against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 18.42% and McCormick (MKC.V) at 19.39% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

19.39%

Max
24.83%
MKC.V
19.39%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
Min
-11.49%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): 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 McCormick (MKC.V) at 17.76% 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%

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

17.76%

Max
34.91%
MKC.V
17.76%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricBF.AMKC.V
ROE (TTM)18.12%22.62%
ROA (TTM)8.63%5.25%
Net Margin (TTM)18.42%19.39%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.55%17.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)60.66%38.91%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -1.18% and McCormick (MKC.V) at 1.73% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -16.85% and McCormick (MKC.V) at 0.34% 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. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricBF.AMKC.V
Revenue Growth (YoY)-1.18%1.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.42%2.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)-16.85%0.34%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.09%5.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 3.26 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while McCormick (MKC.V) at 0.66 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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.66

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
Q1
1.02
MKC.V
0.66
Min
0.33
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): 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 McCormick (MKC.V) at 0.66 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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.66

Max
2.19
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
MKC.V
0.66
Q1
0.33
Min
0.00
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): 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 McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricBF.AMKC.V
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.260.66
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.620.66
Net Debt / EBITDA1.803.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 2.89% and McCormick (MKC.V) at 3.77% 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%

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

3.77%

Max
9.38%
Q3
3.77%
MKC.V
3.77%
Median
1.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): 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 McCormick (MKC.V) at 34.18% 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%

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

34.18%

Max
199.19%
Q3
81.03%
Median
41.52%
MKC.V
34.18%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricBF.AMKC.V
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.89%3.77%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)59.32%34.18%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

McCormick (MKC.V) at 8.82 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 20.30 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for MKC.V, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

8.82

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
Median
18.76
Q1
12.77
MKC.V
8.82
Min
4.72
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

McCormick (MKC.V) at 1.71 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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.71

Max
4.64
Q3
2.27
MKC.V
1.71
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

McCormick (MKC.V) at 1.87 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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.87

Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
MKC.V
1.87
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00
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Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): 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 McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricBF.AMKC.V
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.308.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.691.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.641.87
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.75%5.65%