Brown-Forman beats forecasts with Q4 results, expects flat FY27 sales

4th Jun 2026 13:38

(Sharecast News) - Shares in Brown-Forman were on the rise on Thursday after the Jack Daniel's maker beat forecasts with its fourth-quarter sales, helped by solid sales of its premium brands, though the company delivered an uncertain outlook for the current year.

The company, which is also known for its Old Forester, Woodford Reserve and Chambord brands, said net sales over the three months to 30 April totalled $912m, up 2% over the year before and comfortably ahead of the consensus estimate of $880m.

Operating income, however, dropped 53% year-on-year to $96m, with diluted earnings per share down 62% at $0.12.

For the fiscal year as a whole, net sales were down 1% at $3.9bn but flat on an organic basis. Full-year operating income fell 10% to $1.0bn and EPS dropped 17% to $1.53.

"We finished the fiscal year ahead of our expectations, driven by strong execution in our innovation portfolio, the early benefits of our U.S. route-to-market transformation, and strategic cost-restructuring initiatives," said president and CEO Lawson Whiting.

Looking ahead, the company said the operating environment for fiscal 2027 is expected to remain tough as it guided to flat organic net sales and a 3-5% decline in organic operating income.

"We anticipate the ​operating environment for fiscal 2027 ​to ⁠remain challenging, as macroeconomic pressures and geopolitical instability continue to negatively impact consumer ⁠behavior ​and beverage alcohol consumption, ​particularly within developed markets", the company said.

By 1524 BST, the stock was up 1.6% at $25.95.