Is the Falling Stock Market Driving You to Drink? How About Booze Stocks?

by Fred Fuld III

The liquor and alcoholic beverage industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that has been growing steadily over the years. While the industry is not immune to the impact of global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, there are several factors that suggest a promising future for the industry.

First, changing consumer preferences towards premium and craft spirits have led to an increase in demand for high-quality, unique and flavorful alcoholic beverages. This has led to a rise in small-scale distilleries and microbreweries, which offer unique and innovative products. The trend of craft beer and small-batch spirits is expected to continue in the future, with consumers looking for unique and high-quality products.

Second, the increasing trend towards health and wellness has also led to the emergence of low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages. This segment of the industry is growing rapidly, driven by consumers who are looking for alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages. This trend is expected to continue as more consumers become health-conscious and seek out healthier beverage options. Plus, there are reportedly even health benefits to drinking alcohol in moderation.

Third, the growth of the e-commerce industry has provided new opportunities for the liquor and alcoholic beverage industry. Online sales have increased significantly over the years, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. As a result, companies that are able to establish a strong online presence and offer convenient and efficient delivery services are likely to benefit from this trend.

Finally, the increasing disposable income and changing lifestyles of consumers in emerging economies such as India and China are expected to drive growth in the liquor and alcoholic beverage industry in these regions. As the middle class grows and consumers become more discerning, demand for premium and high-quality alcoholic beverages is expected to rise.

Overall, while the liquor and alcoholic beverage industry is not immune to challenges, there are several factors that suggest a promising future for the industry. Companies that are able to adapt to changing consumer preferences and trends, and leverage new technologies and business models are likely to benefit from the growth opportunities in the industry.

For investors looking to invest in the booze sector, Constellation Brands (STZ) is one option. It was founded in 1945, and is a California based company with such brands as Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Ravenswood, Black Velvet, and Canadian Whiskey. The stock trades at 18.8 times forward earnings and pays a dividend of 1.46%. Earnings per share are expected to grow next year by 10.8%.

Diageo (DEO), founded in 1997, is based in the UK. Its brands include Blossom Hill, Sterling Vineyards, Beaulieu Vineyard, Navarro Correas, Acacia Vineyard, Rosenblum Cellars, Piat d’Or, Chalone Vineyard, and Santa Rita. The stock has a trailing price to earnings ratio of 22.8 and offers a decent yield of 2.13%. Quarterly revenue growth was 37% year-over-year.

If you like Jack Daniel’s, then maybe Brown-Forman (BF-B) is the way to go. The trailing P/E is 34 and the forward P/E is 31. The yield is 1.3%.

Like anything, drinking should be done in moderation, and allocating your portfolio to liquor stocks should be done in moderation also.

Disclosure: Author didn’t won any of the above at the time the article was written.

Top Tax Selling Stocks: Bargains for a Possible Bounce in January

by Fred Fuld III

You may be wondering what a tax selling stock is. It is a stock that is currently selling for a low price but was trading at much higher levels earlier in the year.

As the year-end approaches, many investors employ the technique called tax harvesting , which is the selling of loser stocks to offset any gains that may have been established during the year.

With all the heavy selling, the price of the stocks that have had big drops tends to tank far more than what would normally take place during the rest of the year.

So traders and investors are on the lookout for stocks that are heavily hit, hoping for a little (or big) bounce in January, once the tax selling is over.

So if you are looking for these types of stocks, here is a selection of some that have dropped by over 75% year-to-date. They all have low market capitalizations so they should be considered speculative, as the market caps are all less than $800 million. However, all of these have a price to earnings ratio of less than 12 and all have a price sales ratio less than one.

Company Symbol Market Cap P/E Price
Francesca’s Holdings Corp. FRAN 45.86M 11.81 1.04
Ferroglobe PLC GSM 334.56M 4.15 1.81
Iconix Brand Group, Inc. ICON 9.41M 0.29 0.12
MiMedx Group, Inc. MDXG 190.98M 5.53 1.55
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. OMED 31.76M 6.08 0.81
United Natural Foods, Inc. UNFI 788.58M 4.09 11.09
Ultra Petroleum Corp. UPL 189.41M 1.36 0.92

If the above stocks are too speculative for you, here are some stocks that are down over 50% year-to-date and have market caps in excess of $2 billion. They all have P/E ratios less than 14, and a price sales ratio of less than one.

Company Symbol Market Cap P/E Price
CommScope Holding Company, Inc. COMM 3.39B 13.91 16.89
Mohawk Industries, Inc. MHK 8.96B 9.65 117.02
Owens Corning OC 4.83B 10.78 43.44
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. SPB 2.43B 4.66 45.81
Thor Industries, Inc. THO 2.79B 6.25 54.04

Maybe someone’s tax losses can be your tax stock gains.

Drink Booze, Live Longer, Make Money with Wine & Alcohol Stocks

Here it is. The news you’ve been waiting for. Wondering if having that glass of wine or liquor after work or with dinner is healthy for you? Fortunately for you, scientists at UC Irvine have found that drinking alcohol is better than exercise for living a long life into the 90s.

Over 1,600 participants were involved in the study, with ages ranging from 90 to 99. Researchers found that those who drank two glasses of alcohol or wine a day reduced the chance of an early death by 18%.

So what’s an investor to do in order to have a healthy and long-lived portfolio? Many investors look to stocks of companies involve in the production and sale of alcoholic beverages.

Constellation Brands Inc (STZ), founded in 1945, is a California based company with such brands as Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Ravenswood, Black Velvet, and Canadian Whiskey. The stock trades at 22.9 times forward earnings and pays a dividend of slightly less than one percent.

Diageo (DEO), founded in 1997, is based in the UK. It’s brands include Blossom Hill, Sterling Vineyards, Beaulieu Vineyard, Navarro Correas, Acacia Vineyard, Rosenblum Cellars, Piat d’Or, Chalone Vineyard, and Santa Rita. The stock has a forward price to earnings ratio of 18.9 and offers a generous yield of 2.6%.

For a list of other wine and liquor stocks, go  HERE.

By the way, if you are in your nineties and want to participate in the study,  contact 949.768.3635 or study90@uci.edu for more information.

Would You Put Whiskey in Your Gas Tank?

It may be hard to believe but cars can now run on whiskey, in addition to gasoline and diesel, according to a BBC article. Actually, it is whiskey residue from the whiskey making process called biobutanol. And the best feature is that the automobile engine doesn’t have to be modified.

But it is not just cars consuming liquor; humans seem to do a bit of consuming themselves. Last year, the sale of alcohol was $25.2 billion in the US, a 4.5% increase over the previous year, and the seventh yearly increase in a row.

Relax and Lose Weight

With money flowing into the coffers of liquor producers, some investors are taking a close look at companies in the alcohol industry. Studies have shown that liquor may help you lose weight, will help relax you (obviously), and might even cure blindness. Investors who believe that booze stocks can benefit from these alcohol health benefits, have several choices to choose from.

Jack Daniel’s

Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B) is a liquor distributor which is famous for its Jack Daniel’s and Southern Comfort brands. The stock has a price-to-earnings ratio of 28, a forward P/E of 26, and provides a fair yield of 1.48%.

 Johnnie Walker

Diageo (DEO) is a London based alcoholic beverage distributor that markets numerous brands of whiskey, including Johnnie Walker Scotch whiskey, Crown Royal Canadian whiskey, JeB Scotch whisky, Buchanan’s Scotch whiskey, Windsor Premier Scotch whiskey, and Bushmills Irish whiskey. It also sells vodka, rum, and wine. The stock trades at 24 times trailing earnings, and 20 times forward earnings. It sports a higher-than-industry-average yield of 2.5%.

How to Invest in Donald Trump

Did you know that you can invest in a stock that developed and distributes Trump Super Premium Vodka? The company is Drinks Americas (DKAM), a Connecticut based company that trades Over the Counter on the Pink Sheets, and last traded for one hundredth of a cent. The vodka received four out of five stars by Spirit Journal. Unfortunately for potential tasters, the beverage is no longer sold in the US.

For a free list of stocks in the liquor and wine industry, click on the following link:

Wine & Liquor Stocks

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above stocks at the time the article was written.