The market is starting to flood back into defensive and Dividend Aristocrat stocks before the economic pendulum swings the other way.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFA, BFB) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.2310 per share on its Class A and Class B Common Stock. The dividend is payable on April 1, 2026, to stockholders of record on March 9, 2026. Brown-Forman, a member of the prestigious S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index, has paid regular quarterly cash dividends for 82 years and has increased the cash dividend for 42 consecut.

Investors with an interest in Beverages - Alcohol stocks have likely encountered both Ambev (ABEV) and Brown-Forman B (BF.B). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now?

The stocks of these small companies with economic moats look attractive today.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFA, BFB) will release its third quarter and year-to-date fiscal year 2026 financial results on March 4, 2026, by 8:00 a.m. (EST), followed by a conference call to discuss the results at 10:00 a.m. (EST). A live audio broadcast of the conference call will be available via Brown-Forman's website, brown-forman.com, through a link to "Investors/Events & Presentations." A digital audio recording of the conference call will be ava.

Brown-Forman (BF.B) trades at $27.37 with a 3.38% yield, offering a rare opportunity amid near-term margin compression and market pessimism. BF.B's unique whiskey aging process creates a structural cash flow advantage and negative working capital, underpinning long-term capital efficiency. Margin compression in FY25 reflects deliberate investment in owned distribution, expected to drive future margin expansion and brand control.

Alcohol stocks face inflation and tariff pressure, but premiumization and innovation keep players like BUD, STZ, BF.B and SAM firmly in focus.

BF.B is gaining momentum as premium and super-premium brands, innovation and emerging-market growth lift pricing power and support margins.

Looking back at my days as an investment analyst in Toronto, I remember vividly that Brown-Forman was generally viewed on the street as a high-quality compounder for the long run. After reaching an all-time high of around $80.00 in November 2020, BF's share price has declined by almost 70% and is now trading at levels last seen in early 2013. Although organic net sales are expected to decline again in the low single digits in fiscal 2026, BF continues to generate significant free cash flows supported by a strong balance sheet.

Rising revenues in 2026 should help out the middle consumer and boost stocks catering to them, says Goldman Sachs.