At a glance
Brady Corporation is worth $3.84B, about 19 times its fiscal 2026 earnings. Revenue grew 9.8% to $1.66B in fiscal 2026, with 12.4% kept as profit; over 5 years it has grown 7.7% a year. It pays a 1.22% dividend yield, raised every year for at least 9 years, and returned $577.6M to shareholders in dividends and buybacks over FY2022–FY2026. The stock returned +6.6% over the past year with dividends reinvested and +11.5% a year over five years, against +11.5% and +11.7% for the S&P 500. At its worst it fell 26.9% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 22.7% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 2 months and 4 months after the lows.
The business in plain English
Brady Corp., incorporated in Wisconsin in 1914, makes labels, signs, printers and safety products that help workplaces identify and protect their sites, products and people. Products include floor-marking tape, pipe markers, lockout/tagout devices (locks and tags that keep machines switched off during repairs), wire markers, hospital wristbands and name badges. Most are designed in-house, often pairing specialty materials and adhesives with Brady's own printers, scanners and software. Customers range from factories and utilities to hospitals and government agencies.
Revenue for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2026, rose 9.8% to $1.66 billion. Safety and facility identification made up 39% of sales, product identification (labels, tags and scanners for tracking goods) 30%, wire identification 17%, healthcare identification 8.5% and people identification 5%. Two regional segments split sales: Americas & Asia 66.6% and Europe & Australia 33.4%. The United States accounted for 57%. Brady reaches customers through distributors, a direct sales force and websites, under brands such as Seton, Emedco and PDC.
On August 3, 2026, just after that year closed, Brady paid $1.4 billion in cash for Honeywell's PSS business, which makes mobile computers, scanners, printers and software for tracking goods. Brady expects the deal to substantially increase its size and widen its reach in retail, transportation, warehousing and logistics. PSS results are not in the figures above.
Price history
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BRC +6.6% over the year to Oct 28, 2026, total return with dividends reinvested.
How it makes money
By product or service
| Safety and Facility Identification | $647.8M | 39% |
| Product Identification | $497.6M | 30% |
| Wire Identification | $289.1M | 17.4% |
| Healthcare Identification | $140.7M | 8.5% |
| People Identification | $86.3M | 5.2% |
By business segment
| Americas & Asia | $1.11B | 66.6% |
| Europe & Australia | $554.9M | 33.4% |
By geography
| UNITED STATES | $951.8M | 57.3% |
| OtherCountries | $799.0M | 48.1% |
Latest results
- In Q4 FY2026 (ended Jul 31, 2026), revenue was $436.9M, up 10% from a year earlier, and net income was $45.6M (-8.6%).
- For fiscal 2026, revenue was $1.66B (+9.8% year over year; +7.7% a year from FY2021 to FY2026) with a 12.4% net margin.
Financial health check
| Revenue growth a year (FY2021–FY2026) | +7.7% good |
|---|---|
| Operating margin | 15.9% good |
| Free cash flow margin | 11.6% good |
| Return on equity (FY2026) | 15.1% good |
| Return on assets (FY2026) | 11.1% good |
| Net cash (cash minus debt) | $172.2M good |
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Net income | Free cash flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2021 | $1.14B | $129.7M | $178.5M |
| FY2022 | $1.30B | $150.0M | $75.3M |
| FY2023 | $1.33B | $174.9M | $189.9M |
| FY2024 | $1.34B | $197.2M | $175.2M |
| FY2025 | $1.51B | $189.3M | $153.6M |
| FY2026 | $1.66B | $205.4M | $192.7M |
Valuation snapshot
| Market value | $3.84B |
|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 18.7 |
| Dividend yield | 1.22% |
Rank among 1514 US companies
Price behavior
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRC price data to Oct 28, 2026 | +5.7% | +6.6% | +18.3% | +11.5% | +11.6% |
Show as a table
| Year | Price data |
|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +5.7% |
| 2025 | +7.6% |
| 2024 | +27.7% |
| 2023 | +27.5% |
| 2022 | -10.9% |
| 2021 | +3.8% |
| 2020 | -6.0% |
| 2019 | +34.1% |
| 2018 | +17.2% |
| 2017 | +3.3% |
| 2016 | +68.2% |
| 2015 | -13.2% |
| 2014 | -8.9% |
| 2013 | -5.1% |
| 2012 | +8.5% |
| 2011 | -1.0% |
| 2010 | +11.4% |
| 2009 | +29.1% |
| 2008 | -30.4% |
| 2007 | -4.3% |
| 2006 | +4.5% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Lost 60.1% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 62.7%, back to its old high 24.9 months after the low |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 26.9% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 26.9%, back to its old high 2.1 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 20.9% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 22.7%, back to its old high 4.1 months after the low |
Insider activity
Form 4 filings from 2025-10-29 to 2026-10-29 (25 read): 1 open-market purchases ($1.0M) and 2 sales ($615K).
| Date | Insider | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 10, 2026 | Vineet A Nargolwala President & CEO, Director | buy | $1.0M |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Thomas F DeBruine Chief Operating Officer | sell | $482K |
| Oct 6, 2026 | Thomas F DeBruine Chief Operating Officer | sell | $133K |
Who owns it
Large shareholders (13G filings)
| FMR LLC | 15% | Mar 31, 2026 |
| Vanguard Portfolio Management | 5.99% | Mar 31, 2026 |
| Vanguard Capital Management | 5.01% | Jun 30, 2026 |
| Neuberger Berman Group LLC | 4.5% | May 31, 2026 |
ETFs with the most weight in BRC
| IPDP Dividend Performers ETF | 2.23% |
| FSCS First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF | 1.01% |
| CAFG Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF | 0.86% |
| DGRS WisdomTree US Smallcap Quality Dividend Growth Fund | 0.68% |
| HAPS Harbor Human Capital Factor US Small Cap ETF | 0.67% |
| XSMO Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF | 0.58% |
| FFSM Fidelity Fundamental Small-Mid Cap ETF | 0.51% |
| QSML WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Quality Growth Fund | 0.5% |
What could go wrong
- Absorbing a $1.4 billion acquisition. The PSS deal, closed August 3, 2026, significantly increases Brady's size and complexity. Combining systems, staff and sales channels could take longer or cost more than planned, and expected savings may not arrive.
- Much heavier debt after the PSS deal. Brady had about $15 million of debt on July 31, 2026, then added $800 million of loans and $800 million of bonds for PSS. More cash goes to interest, which could limit research and acquisitions.
- Public shareholders hold non-voting stock. Two shareholders control substantially all of Brady's voting stock; the shares the public owns carry no vote. Their interests could differ from those of outside investors, and their decisions could affect the non-voting shares.
- Material costs and supply shortages. Brady uses films, adhesives, inks, metal and chips. Some come from one supplier for design or cost reasons. Inflation or a global shortage of critical parts could raise costs and hurt results.
- Large rivals and changing technology. Competitors range from small firms to some of the world's largest adhesive and electrical product companies. Brady must keep developing new printers, scanners and materials at prices customers accept, or risk losing business.
- Currency swings and geopolitical risk. Europe & Australia supplied 33.4% of sales in fiscal 2026, and Brady also operates across Asia and South America. A stronger dollar shrinks overseas sales in dollar terms, and regional conflicts can disrupt operations.
Recent events
- Quarterly results released; Investor presentation or announcement; Other company announcement
- Major agreement signed; Acquisition or sale of assets completed; New debt or financial obligation; Investor presentation or announcement
- Major agreement signed; Major agreement ended; New debt or financial obligation
- Executive or board change
- Quarterly results released; Investor presentation or announcement
- Executive or board change
- Major agreement signed; Other company announcement
- Executive or board change
- Quarterly results released; Investor presentation or announcement
- Shareholder vote results; Other company announcement
For income and retirement investors
Brady has raised its dividend at least nine years running through the year ended July 31, 2026; the streak may be longer. Raises have been small, about 2.1% a year since fiscal 2021, lifting dividends per share from $0.87 to $0.97. The dividend took 22.5% of earnings and 23.9% of free cash flow (cash left after operating costs and investment) and equaled 1.22% of the share price as of October 28, 2026. Over fiscal 2022–2026, Brady spent $349 million repurchasing shares versus $228 million on dividends, though repurchases shrank each year. Debt from the PSS deal will claim more of its cash.
In past downturns the shares fell hard: 62.7% in the 2008 financial crisis, recovering about 25 months after the March 2009 low; 26.9% in the 2020 COVID crash, recovering in about two months; and 22.7% in the 2022 bear market, recovering by January 2023. A single stock carries more risk than a diversified fund.
Questions investors ask
How does Brady make money?
Brady makes money by producing and supplying identification and workplace safety products, such as signs, labels, label printers, barcode scanners, tags and safety software. Revenue was $1.66 billion in the fiscal year ended July 31, 2026. Safety and facility identification brought in 39%, product identification 30%, wire identification 17%, healthcare identification such as patient wristbands 8.5%, and people identification such as badges 5%. Gross margin, the share of sales left after production costs, was 51.7%, and profit after all costs and taxes was $205 million.
Does Brady raise its dividend every year?
Yes. Brady has raised its regular dividend for at least nine consecutive years through the fiscal year ended July 31, 2026, and the true streak may be longer. The raises are modest, about 2.1% a year since fiscal 2021, bringing dividends to about $0.97 per share for fiscal 2026. That payout used 22.5% of earnings and 23.9% of free cash flow. The dividend yield was 1.22% as of October 28, 2026.
Why did Brady acquire Honeywell's PSS business?
To expand into mobile computers, scanners, printers and software for tracking goods. Brady paid $1.4 billion in cash on August 3, 2026. It expects the deal to substantially increase its scale and reach in retail, transportation, warehousing and logistics. Brady funded it partly with $800 million of loans and $800 million of senior notes, a type of bond, up from about $15 million of debt on July 31, 2026. It warns integration could take longer or cost more than planned.
Do Brady shareholders get voting rights?
Public investors generally do not. Brady's annual report for the year ended July 31, 2026, says two shareholders control substantially all of its voting stock, while public investors hold non-voting stock. In practice, that leaves outside owners with little say over who sits on the board or whether major decisions go ahead. The company warns that the interests of voting and non-voting holders could differ, potentially leading to decisions that affect the value of the non-voting shares.
How has Brady stock performed over the long run?
Brady's share price gained about 11.6% a year over the 10 years to October 28, 2026, and 11.5% a year over five years. The path was uneven: the stock fell 16% in the three months to that date, and its deepest decline in about 21 years of price history was 65.6%. Its one-year beta, a measure of how much a stock tends to move with the market, was 0.39, yet it still fell as much as 26.1% within that year.