Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish on Brown-Forman Stock?

Company Overview - Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B) is valued at a market cap of $14 billion and is a family-controlled leader in the global spirits and wine industry, with a portfolio that includes brands like Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, and Old Forester [1] Stock Performance - BF-B's shares have underperformed compared to the broader market over the past 52 weeks, with a marginal increase in stock price while the S&P 500 Index has risen by 12.9% [2] - Year-to-date, BF-B's stock has increased by 17.7%, contrasting with a slight decline in the S&P 500 during the same period [2] - Compared to the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP), which returned 10.8% over the past 52 weeks and 14.8% year-to-date, BF-B's underperformance is more pronounced [3] Recent Developments - On January 14, BF-B's shares rose by 2.7% following the announcement of a national re-release of Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked Bourbon, indicating potential sales growth from this popular product [5] Earnings Outlook - For the current fiscal year ending in April 2026, analysts project BF-B's earnings per share (EPS) to decline by 9.2% year-over-year to $1.67 [6] - The company's earnings surprise history is mixed, having exceeded Wall Street estimates in only one of the last four quarters [6] Analyst Ratings - Among 17 analysts covering BF-B, the consensus rating is a "Hold," which includes three "Strong Buy," nine "Hold," one "Moderate Sell," and four "Strong Sell" ratings [6] - On January 20, BNP Paribas Exane downgraded BF-B to "Underperform" from "Neutral" and reduced its price target from $31 to $24, reflecting a more cautious outlook [7] - The stock currently trades above its mean price target of $30.06, with the highest target of $37.50 suggesting a potential upside of 22.3% from current levels [7]