Stock fact sheet · data as of
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (SAM): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Consumer Defensive · Beverages - Alcoholic · United States · Speculative / Distressed
Is SAM undervalued?
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (SAM) closed at 178.14 on 16 Oct 2026. The GLS average fair value - the simple average of the 2 valuation models that produced a positive number - is 406.72, which puts the price 56% below it. 2 of the 2 models value the shares above the current price. A gap this wide is rare in our universe of ~7,400 US stocks and is exactly what the Value part of the Wheel Score rewards; it is also where the question "why is it this cheap?" matters most.
The average is built from just 2 models (DCF, 10 Cap) - the rest returned nothing because an input they need (dividends, free cash flow, book value) is zero or negative - so treat it with more caution than usual.
The nightly engine files SAM under Speculative / Distressed - negative earnings or a Piotroski score of 3 or less - which caps its Wheel Score at 45 and keeps it out of the Sunday Scan.
Nine valuation models for SAM
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 409.84 | +130% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | - | - | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share; no value tonight |
| Graham Growth | - | - | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields; no value tonight |
| Lynch | - | - | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25%; no value tonight |
| GLS Growth | - | - | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year; no value tonight |
| 10 Cap | 403.60 | +127% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | - | - | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself; no value tonight |
| DDM | - | - | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend; no value tonight |
| EPV | - | - | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth; no value tonight |
| Zombie (liquidation) | 6.83 | -96% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 204.44 | +15% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. scores only 4 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score, which fails the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. A reading this low means several of the basic tests - positive earnings, positive operating cash flow, falling debt, no new share issuance - are not met. On durability SAM scores 7.4/10 on the GLS Moat - a middle reading; the Scorecard on the Quote page's Financials tab shows which ten-year lines are steady and which are not.
Returns on capital are high - ROIC 12.3%, ROE 12.8%, ROA 9.1% - with debt at 0.04 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 11.2%.
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. pays no dividend, so the DDM model does not apply and a covered-call holder earns only the premium and any price gain. Revenue comes mainly from Operating Segments 100% (quarter Q3 FY2025).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 6/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 4 / 9 | ROIC | 12.3% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 7.4 / 10 | ROE | 12.8% |
| Debt / equity | 0.04 | ROA | 9.1% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 11.2% | Payout ratio | 0% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 6 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 45: Weak
With a Wheel Score of 45 The Boston Beer Company, Inc. sits in the Weak band, capped at 45 because the engine files it as Speculative / Distressed. The parts - Value 25/25, Health 9/20, Moat 11/15, Premium 20/20, Stability 10/20 - show where: Health (9/20) scores lowest.
Implied volatility is 52% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out - inside the 35-60% range the Wheel Score pays full marks for: enough premium to be worth selling, not so much that the risk is unpaid. Chain open interest is 7,652 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 154k shares a day on a market cap of $1.8B, with a beta of 0.82; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 10 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 25 / 25 | 56% margin of safety | |
| Health | 9 / 20 | Piotroski 4/9 | |
| Moat | 11 / 15 | moat 7.4/10 | |
| Premium | 20 / 20 | implied volatility 52% | |
| Stability | 10 / 20 | 154k shares/day, $1.8B cap, beta 0.82 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. reports earnings on 22 Oct 2026 (after the close) - inside the 14-day window the Sunday Scan avoids, because a put sold now would carry the report's gap risk.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Beverages - Alcoholic
The 8 companies below are the closest to The Boston Beer Company, Inc. by market cap within the Beverages - Alcoholic industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCU Compañía Cervecerías Unidas S.A. | 10.70 | 2,785.86 | +100% | 74Good | $2.0B |
| TAP Molson Coors Beverage Company | 38.63 | 60.48 | +36% | 45Weak | $7.2B |
| NFTN NFiniTi inc. | 6.00 | - | - | 27No options | $191M |
| STZ Constellation Brands, Inc. | 127.43 | 253.32 | +50% | 87Prime | $21.8B |
| ABEV Ambev S.A. | 3.26 | 9.31 | +65% | 91Prime | $50.7B |
| DEO Diageo plc | 93.96 | 73.48 | -28% | 56Fair | $52.3B |
| BUD Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV | 81.28 | 102.61 | +21% | 83Prime | $160.7B |
| IPST IP Strategy Holdings, Inc. | 2.34 | - | - | 24No options | $2M |
⚖ Compare SAM with 7 of them All Consumer Defensive stocks →
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about SAM
Is SAM undervalued right now?
By the GLS models, yes: at 178.14 the stock is 56% below the average fair value of 406.72 (data as of 16 Oct 2026). Whether the discount is deserved is the question to research next.
What is the Wheel Score of SAM and what does it mean?
SAM scores 45 out of 100 (Weak). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for SAM?
406.72 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 2 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does The Boston Beer Company, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 22 Oct 2026 (after the close), 6 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does SAM have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 280 listed contracts with 7,652 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 52% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.