Last Updated on 07/14/2021 by GS Staff
Can You Purchase Bacardi Stock?
Bacardi is not publicly traded. In fact, Bacardi is the largest private spirits company in the world. The general public cannot purchase shares of the company through a broker since the business is private.
Who Owns Bacardi?
Bacardi is owned by members of the Bacardi family with the chairman being Facundo Bacardi who has held the position since 2005. The company has been 100% owned by the Bacardi family for over 155 years. In an interview with Cigar Aficionado in 2014, Facundo stated there were approximately 900 family members, including spouses, that are shareholders.
The 2003 & 2004 IPO Rumors
Rumors of a Bacardi initial public offering (IPO) tend to pop up from time to time. These rumors were potentially no greater than in 2003 when the Bacardi family approved a proposal to create a separate class of stock. This stock was believed to be the gateway to bring the company public. In 2004, the company acquired Grey Goose. This move continued the speculation of Bacardi going public because the deal was seen as making the company more competitive with other public alcohol companies.
Bacardi never went public but the rumors linger. It’s tough to say whether Bacardi will ever go public. However, many investors certainly would like to see it happen considering its strong portfolio of brands.
Brands of Bacardi
When people think of Bacardi, the first beverage that often comes to mind is its rum. However, the company has over 200 brands and labels with several popular and often recognizable products. Here are the primary brands of Bacardi:
| Brand | Description |
|---|---|
| Bacardi | The maker of dark, white, spiced, and flavored rum |
| Grey Goose | A French-made premium vodka brand |
| Patron | A premium Mexican tequila brand that was purchased by Bacardi in 2018 |
| Dewar’s | A brand of blended Scotch whisky first made by John Dewar Sr. in 1846 |
| Bombay Sapphire | A popular English gin brand that was sold to Bacardi in 1998 along with Dewar’s |
| Martini | An Italian sparkling wine and vermouth maker |
Bacardi Public Competitors
Since Bacardi is out as a potential investment, here are a few publicly traded competitors that you may wish to research for potential investment purposes:
- Diageo (NYSE:DEO) – This enormous alcoholic beverage maker was started in 1997 when Guinness Brewery merged with Grand Metropolitan. It is the parent company behind familiar names such as Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker, Ketel One, and Bailey’s.
- Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) – This beer, wine, and spirits company owns several popular alcohol brands such as Corona, Svedka vodka, and Robert Mondavi wine.
- Brown-Forman (NYSE:BF-B) – The company was started by George Garvin Brown in America in 1870. Some popular beverages made by the company are Jack Daniel’s, Korbel, and Finlandia. Brown-Forman has both Class A and Class B stocks. Class A has voting rights whereas Class B are non-voting.
- Rémy Cointreau (EPA:RCO.PA) – This premium maker of liquor is based out of Cognac, France. It is behind quality brands like Rémy Martin cognac and Mount Gay.
- Pernod Ricard (EPA:RI) – Pernod Ricard is headquartered in Paris, France, and was founded in 1975 when competitors Pernod and Ricard merged. Some of the company’s well-known liquors include Absolut Vodka, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Chivas Regal, and Beefeater Gin.
- Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (OTC:LVMUY) – The company is a conglomerate with approximately 60 subsidiaries in several categories with a focus on luxury goods. Its familiar non-alcohol brands are Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Sephora, and Benefit Cosmetics. You likely know many of its wine and spirit brands such as Dom Pérignon, Moët & Chandon, Belvedere Vodka, and Hennessy. Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO, has become one of the richest people in the world from LVMH and other investments.
Final Thoughts
While you cannot purchase Bacardi stock, there are some strong competitors worth a look to do additional research. We will likely continue to hear rumors of the company going public as we move forward. We recommend ignoring this noise until Bacardi officially announces an IPO or related transaction. However, there is no guarantee that that day will ever come.