Brown-Forman Class B

BF.B

Market cap $12B

Brown Forman NYSE: BF.A shareholders re-elected the company's board and approved executive compensation and the auditor appointment at the spirits maker's 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B) Shareholder/Analyst Call Prepared Remarks Transcript

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brown‑Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFA, BFB) stockholders convened today for their annual meeting, where they elected the slate of directors recommended by the Board of Directors, as submitted in the company's 2026 Proxy Statement. The stockholders also approved the compensation of the company's named executive officers on a non-binding advisory basis and ratified the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as Brown-Forman's independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2027.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFA, BFB) today announced Lawson Whiting has decided to retire from his role as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective upon the appointment of a successor. The Brown-Forman Board of Directors has initiated a search pursuant to its succession process that will consider internal and external candidates. The process will be led by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, which is chaired by Tracy Skeans. Whiting.

Brown-Forman CEO and President Lawson Whiting has decided to retire, the company said on Monday, ​but did not provide a timeline for his departure.

Lawson Whiting, who has led the spirits giant since 2019, will remain in the role until a successor is appointed.

While Saturday's games will take place in the U.S., the excitement is mostly elsewhere, after the U.S. was knocked out of the tournament. Investors looking for a World Cup bump might be feeling similarly let down.

Dividend Aristocrats rebounded in June and are now outperforming SPY YTD with a 9.61% return versus SPY's 6.91%. CAT leads 2026 performance at +76.98%, with 46 Aristocrats now ahead of SPY and 39 posting double-digit total returns. Recent dividend increases averaged 4.09%, slightly below the 2025 average, with 2026's average dividend growth rate at 3.97%.

BF.B is driving growth through premiumization, innovation and emerging-market expansion while strengthening its premium spirits portfolio.

Brown-Forman is relying on emerging-market growth, premium spirits and innovation to offset weak developed-market demand and a cautious fiscal 2027 outlook.