Group 1 - Madison Mid Cap Fund reported a return of 5.2% in Q2 2025, underperforming the Russell Midcap Index which increased by 8.5% [1] - The fund highlighted Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) as a notable stock, which experienced a one-month return of -11.47% and a 52-week decline of 41.58% [2] - Brown-Forman's stock closed at $27.48 on September 19, 2025, with a market capitalization of $12.888 billion [2] Group 2 - The fund sold its small position in Brown-Forman due to a lack of post-Covid recovery in liquor sales, attributed to changing consumption trends among younger demographics and external factors like tariffs [3] - Brown-Forman is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 37 hedge fund portfolios holding the stock at the end of Q2 2025, unchanged from the previous quarter [4] - The analysis suggests that certain AI stocks may offer better investment potential compared to Brown-Forman, indicating a shift in investor interest [4]

Group 1 - Coca-Cola is identified as a leading Dividend King, having increased its dividend for 63 consecutive years, with a current dividend yield of 2.9%, which is higher than the average yield of consumer staples stocks [4][9] - The company has a strong market presence with 30 brands worth at least $1 billion and products sold in over 200 countries, yet it sees significant growth potential in developing and emerging markets where it holds only a 7% market share [6][7] - Coca-Cola reported $12.5 billion in revenue for the second quarter, a 1% increase year-over-year, with earnings per share rising 58% to $0.88, despite facing an 11-point currency headwind [7] Group 2 - The stock has appreciated by 12% in 2025 and 37% over the last five years, with a consistent dividend growth of more than 24% during the same period, making it an attractive investment despite lower stock returns compared to tech stocks [8][9] - Coca-Cola's gross margin improved to 62.4%, up 133 basis points from the previous year, indicating effective cost management in the face of rising commodity prices [12] - The company is positioned well to manage tariff impacts on commodity costs, which are more controllable compared to other companies facing higher import costs [11][12] Group 3 - Coca-Cola is viewed as a reliable investment choice in a tariff-centric environment, with a strong historical performance in dividend payouts and a solid market position [11][13] - The company is expected to continue its growth trajectory, leveraging its dominant market position and the potential for expansion in emerging markets [7][13]

Industry Trend - Hybrid pairings, combining alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, are gaining popularity in fine-dining restaurants across the country [1]

Group 1 - Alliance Global Partners has cut its price target for Tilray Brands (TLRY) stock by 25%, from $1 to $0.75 per share, citing softness in international cannabis and alcohol sales [1][3] - Despite the price target cut, Tilray's stock price increased by 15.8% as of 2:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday, indicating an unexpected investor reaction [1][3] - Tilray generates 25% of its revenue and 40% of its gross profit from alcoholic beverages, which is significant for its overall financial performance [3] Group 2 - Tilray has not reported a profit since 2018 and has never generated positive free cash flow (FCF) [4][5] - Analysts do not expect Tilray to become profitable before 2029, although there are forecasts for positive FCF in 2026 [5] - Given the company's historical performance, there is skepticism regarding its ability to achieve positive FCF in the near future, leading to a recommendation to sell the stock [5]

The EU is readying a fresh list of American products—including aircraft and alcoholic beverages—to hit with retaliatory tariffs if a trade deal isn’t reached by Trump’s Aug. 1 deadline https://t.co/DKjQeirATw ...

Core Viewpoint - Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:STZ) shares are experiencing a 2.2% increase to $168.52, recovering from premarket losses despite missing fiscal first-quarter earnings and revenue expectations due to lower demand for alcoholic beverages and increased costs from aluminum tariffs [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - STZ is on track for its fourth consecutive daily gain, although it has recently faced monthly and quarterly losses, with a decline of 22.9% in 2025 and a five-year low of $159.35 marked on June 20 [2] - The stock has rebounded from its lows, but the 20-day moving average may limit today's gains [2] Group 2: Analyst Ratings - Analysts from Evercore ISI and Bernstein have reaffirmed their "outperform" ratings on STZ, indicating continued confidence in the stock despite recent challenges [1] Group 3: Options Activity - Options traders are exhibiting a notably bullish sentiment, as evidenced by a 50-day call/put volume ratio of 2.57, which is higher than 96% of readings from the past year [3] - Today's options activity shows 12,000 calls and 11,000 puts traded, which is five times the intraday average volume, with the most active contract being the weekly 7/3 175-strike call [4]