BF.A vs. MO: Brown-Forman vs. Altria Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Altria (MO)
Profile Item	BF.A	MO
Name	Brown-Forman Corporation Class A Common Stock	Altria Group, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Staples	Consumer Staples
GICS Industry Group	Food, Beverage & Tobacco	Food, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS Industry	Beverages	Tobacco
GICS Sub-Industry	Distillers & Vintners	Tobacco
Market Capitalization	14.44 billion USD	126.62 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. Altria (MO), 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 Altria (MO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Altria (MO). 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 Altria (MO)
Metric	BF.A	MO
Total Return (1Y)	21.31%	38.55%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-17.39%	32.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-12.15%	19.81%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BF.A

GSPC

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Altria (MO), 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 Altria (MO). 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 Altria (MO)
Metric	BF.A	MO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	38.10%	25.52%
Beta (5Y)	0.26	0.44
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-67.09%	-25.83%
Avg. Volume (3M)	138.95K	8.44M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BF.A and MO 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 Altria (MO)
Metric	BF.A	MO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.45	1.34
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.68	1.97

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Brown-Forman (BF.A) earns 18.12% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Altria (MO) has no ROE this period.

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%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

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

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Altria (MO): MO does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; BF.A is benchmarked against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Altria (MO) at 39.33% 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%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

39.33%

MO: 39.33%
Max: 24.83%
Q3: 11.22%
Median: 5.94%
Q1: 2.05%
Min: -11.49%

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their net margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Altria (MO) at 61.48% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 27.55% also operates in the top quartile.

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%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

61.48%

MO: 61.48%
Max: 34.91%
Q3: 17.57%
Median: 11.06%
Q1: 4.15%
Min: -15.06%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Altria (MO)
Metric	BF.A	MO
ROE (TTM)	18.12%	--
ROA (TTM)	8.63%	22.73%
Net Margin (TTM)	18.42%	39.33%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.55%	61.48%
Gross Margin (TTM)	60.66%	72.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -1.18% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Altria (MO) at -1.49% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -16.85% and Altria (MO) at -37.00% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Altria (MO)
Metric	BF.A	MO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-1.18%	-1.49%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-2.42%	-0.89%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-16.85%	-37.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-2.09%	8.90%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 3.26 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Altria (MO) at 0.58 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

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.58

Max: 4.01
Q3: 2.35
Median: 1.53
Q1: 1.02
MO: 0.58
Min: 0.33

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Brown-Forman (BF.A) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62 against its industry range, while Altria (MO) reports no figure this period.

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

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

Max: 2.19
Q3: 1.11
Median: 0.68
Q1: 0.33
Min: 0.00
MO: --

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Altria (MO): MO does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; BF.A is benchmarked against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Altria (MO)
Metric	BF.A	MO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	3.26	0.58
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.62	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.80	1.66

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Altria (MO) at 5.53% 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, MO 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%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

5.53%

Max: 9.38%
MO: 5.53%
Q3: 3.77%
Median: 1.76%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 59.32% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Altria (MO) at 88.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

88.45%

Max: 199.19%
MO: 88.45%
Q3: 81.03%
Median: 41.52%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Altria (MO)
Metric	BF.A	MO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.89%	5.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	59.32%	88.45%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 20.30 and Altria (MO) at 15.69 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

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

15.69

Max: 52.52
Q3: 30.78
Median: 18.76
MO: 15.69
Q1: 12.77
Min: 4.72

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Altria (MO): 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 Altria (MO) at 6.14 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

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

6.14

MO: 6.14
Max: 4.64
Q3: 2.27
Median: 1.17
Q1: 0.52
Min: 0.00

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Altria (MO) reports a negative P/B ratio of -56.93, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Brown-Forman (BF.A) reports 3.64, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

-56.93

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.07
Median: 1.58
Q1: 0.82
Min: 0.00
MO: -56.93

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Altria (MO): 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 Altria (MO)
Metric	BF.A	MO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.30	15.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.69	6.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.64	-56.93
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.75%	5.57%