Brown-Forman Stock Outlook: Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish?

Valued at $12.7 billion by market cap, Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B) is one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, producing, marketing, and selling a diverse portfolio of iconic beverage alcohol brands. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, the company is best known for Jack Daniel’s, the world’s top-selling American whiskey, alongside other well-known brands.

Shares of this spirits giant have been nursing a serious hangover over the past year. BF.B has declined 11% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 19.3%. The stock has managed a modest 4.2% gain so far in 2026, but that still leaves it well behind the SPX’s 12.4% YTD advance.

BF.B has struggled to find its footing even against its consumer staples peers. The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) has climbed 4.5% over the past year and 10.2% on a YTD basis. 

Brown-Forman has underperformed the broader market largely because of persistent sales and earnings weakness. Revenue has declined at an average annual rate of 2.4% over the past three years, while consensus estimates point to essentially flat sales over the next 12 months, signaling subdued demand. The company has also reported declining EPS over the past three years, raising concerns about its long-term earnings trajectory. 

For the current fiscal year, ending in April 2027, analysts expect BF.B’s EPS to decline 11.1% to $1.70 on a diluted basis. The company’s earnings surprise history is mixed. It beat the consensus estimate in one of the last four quarters while missing the forecast on three other occasions. 

Among the 17 analysts covering BF.B stock, the consensus is a “Hold.” That’s based on one “Strong Buy,” 12 “Holds,” one “Moderate Sell,” and three “Strong Sells.”

The configuration is bearish than two months ago, when the stock had two “Strong Buy” suggestions. 

On Aug. 17, Deutsche Bank analyst Steve Powers raised his price target on Brown-Forman to $27 from $26 while maintaining a “Hold” rating, signaling a slightly improved outlook but a continued neutral stance on the stock.

The mean price target of $27.46 represents a 1.1% premium to BF.B’s current price levels. The Street-high price target of $35 suggests an ambitious upside potential of 28.9%.