Sector: Consumer Staples|Industry: Beverages - Wineries & Distilleries|Market Cap: $17.13B|Employees: 5.7K
Brown-Forman Corporation is a global beverage alcohol company that manufactures, distills, bottles, imports, exports, markets, and sells a wide variety of beverage alcohol products under recognized brands. The company's core business revolves around its portfolio of over 40 spirit, ready-to-drink cocktail, and wine brands, with a primary focus on premium and above price points. Brown-Forman has a significant geographic presence, selling its products in over 170 countries, with the United States being its most important market.
Net sales increased by 1% to $3.214 billion for the nine months ended January 31, 2024, compared to $3.182 billion in the prior year. This increase was driven by favorable price/mix and the positive effect of acquisitions and divestitures, which offset lower volumes and an estimated net decrease in distributor inventories.
Gross margin increased 2.5 percentage points to 60.9% for the nine months ended January 31, 2024, compared to 58.4% in the same period last year. This increase was driven by favorable price/mix, lower supply chain disruption related costs, and lower tariff-related costs, partially offset by higher input costs, the negative effect of foreign exchange, and the impact of the Finlandia TSA.
Operating income increased by 25% to $1.039 billion for the nine months ended January 31, 2024, compared to $829 million in the prior year. This increase was driven by the positive effect of acquisitions and divestitures, higher gross margin, and the absence of the prior year period Finlandia non-cash impairment, partially offset by operating expense growth and the negative effect of foreign exchange.