BF.A vs. STZ: Brown-Forman vs. Constellation Brands Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Constellation Brands (STZ)
Profile Item	BF.A	STZ
Name	Brown-Forman Corporation Class A Common Stock	Constellation Brands Inc. Class A
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	Distillers & Vintners
Market Capitalization	14.44 billion USD	24.02 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	May 3, 1973	March 17, 1992
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BF.A

STZ

GSPC

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Constellation Brands (STZ), 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 Constellation Brands (STZ). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Constellation Brands (STZ). 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 Constellation Brands (STZ)
Metric	BF.A	STZ
Total Return (1Y)	21.31%	17.39%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-17.39%	-13.22%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-12.15%	-6.25%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BF.A

STZ

GSPC

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Constellation Brands (STZ), 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 Constellation Brands (STZ). 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 Constellation Brands (STZ)
Metric	BF.A	STZ
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	38.10%	32.11%
Beta (5Y)	0.26	0.37
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-67.09%	-56.05%
Avg. Volume (3M)	138.95K	2.28M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BF.A and STZ 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 Constellation Brands (STZ)
Metric	BF.A	STZ
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.45	0.41
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.68	0.61

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 18.12% and Constellation Brands (STZ) at 24.02% 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%

STZ

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

24.02%

Max: 32.02%
STZ: 24.02%
Q3: 16.61%
Median: 10.05%
Q1: 4.10%
Min: -10.50%

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Constellation Brands (STZ): 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 Constellation Brands (STZ) at 20.90% 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%

STZ

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

20.90%

Max: 24.83%
STZ: 20.90%
Q3: 11.22%
Median: 5.94%
Q1: 2.05%
Min: -11.49%

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Constellation Brands (STZ): 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 Constellation Brands (STZ) at 33.58% 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%

STZ

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

33.58%

Max: 34.91%
STZ: 33.58%
Q3: 17.57%
Median: 11.06%
Q1: 4.15%
Min: -15.06%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Constellation Brands (STZ)
Metric	BF.A	STZ
ROE (TTM)	18.12%	24.02%
ROA (TTM)	8.63%	8.68%
Net Margin (TTM)	18.42%	20.90%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.55%	33.58%
Gross Margin (TTM)	60.66%	52.77%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Brown-Forman (BF.A) at -1.18% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Constellation Brands (STZ) at -10.48% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Constellation Brands (STZ): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Brown-Forman (BF.A) reports EPS growth of -16.85%, ranked against its industry; Constellation Brands (STZ) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Constellation Brands (STZ): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Constellation Brands (STZ)
Metric	BF.A	STZ
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-1.18%	-10.48%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-2.42%	-1.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-16.85%	--
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 Constellation Brands (STZ) at 1.00 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

STZ

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.00

Max: 4.01
Q3: 2.35
Median: 1.53
Q1: 1.02
STZ: 1.00
Min: 0.33

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Constellation Brands (STZ): 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 Constellation Brands (STZ) at 1.16 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

STZ

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.16

Max: 2.19
STZ: 1.16
Q3: 1.11
Median: 0.68
Q1: 0.33
Min: 0.00

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Constellation Brands (STZ): 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 Constellation Brands (STZ)
Metric	BF.A	STZ
Current Ratio (MRQ)	3.26	1.00
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.62	1.16
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.80	2.98

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Brown-Forman (BF.A) at 2.89% and Constellation Brands (STZ) at 2.84% 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%

STZ

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.84%

Max: 9.38%
Q3: 3.77%
STZ: 2.84%
Median: 1.76%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Constellation Brands (STZ): 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 Constellation Brands (STZ) at 36.71% 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%

STZ

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

36.71%

Max: 199.19%
Q3: 81.03%
Median: 41.52%
STZ: 36.71%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Brown-Forman (BF.A) and Constellation Brands (STZ)
Metric	BF.A	STZ
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.89%	2.84%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	59.32%	36.71%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Constellation Brands (STZ) at 12.71 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 STZ, 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

STZ

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

12.71

Max: 52.52
Q3: 30.78
Median: 18.76
Q1: 12.77
STZ: 12.71
Min: 4.72

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Constellation Brands (STZ): 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 Constellation Brands (STZ) at 2.61 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

STZ

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.61

Max: 4.64
STZ: 2.61
Q3: 2.27
Median: 1.17
Q1: 0.52
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Constellation Brands (STZ) at 2.81 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

STZ

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.81

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.07
STZ: 2.81
Median: 1.58
Q1: 0.82
Min: 0.00

Brown-Forman (BF.A) vs. Constellation Brands (STZ): 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 Constellation Brands (STZ)
Metric	BF.A	STZ
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.30	12.71
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.69	2.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.64	2.81
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.75%	4.66%