Ball (NYSE:BALL) Posts Earnings Results

Ball (NYSE:BALL) issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The company reported $1.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.03, Zacks reports. Ball had a return on equity of 18.81% and a net margin of 3.52%. The company had revenue of $4.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.78 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.02 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 23.9% on a year-over-year basis.

Here are the key takeaways from Ball’s conference call:

• Ball reaffirmed its 2026 outlook after global aluminum-can volumes rose 4.7% in Q3 and comparable diluted EPS increased 6.8%; year-to-date EPS was up 14%. Management remains confident in delivering more than 10% comparable EPS growth for the full year.
• Regional momentum was strongest in South America, where comparable operating earnings increased 19.5%, while EMEA earnings rose 3.7% and reached a record quarterly level. Global volume growth is running above Ball’s 2%-3% long-term target, and management expects 2027 volumes to remain in line with that range due to strong contract coverage.
• North American operating earnings declined 2.3% as Millersburg startup costs and other cost pressures offset favorable volume and price mix. Ball expects about $25 million of Millersburg startup costs for 2026, while a roughly $20 million Q3 metal-timing benefit is expected to reverse in Q4, resulting in only modest fourth-quarter EPS growth despite strong volumes.
• Ball plans to return at least $800 million to shareholders in 2026, including at least $600 million of share repurchases, while targeting approximately $900 million of free cash flow and year-end net leverage of 2.7 times EBITDA.
• The company is investing in new multi-line facilities in Germany and India, expected to ramp in late 2028 and 2029, respectively, supported by long-term customer commitments and expected EVA-accretive returns. Capacity constraints and operational friction remain in North America and EMEA, although management expects the acquired and newly built plants to become more productive over time.

Ball Stock Up 1.7%

Shares of NYSE BALL traded up $1.12 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $68.50. 512,789 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,372,717. Ball has a twelve month low of $46.06 and a twelve month high of $69.57. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $61.27 and a 200 day simple moving average of $61.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.42, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.94.

Ball Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 1st will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 1st. Ball’s dividend payout ratio is 22.66%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Mandy Glew sold 5,626 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.80, for a total transaction of $358,938.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 7,209 shares in the company, valued at approximately $459,934.20. This represents a 43.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.58% of the company’s stock.

Key Ball News

Here are the key news stories impacting Ball this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Ball reported Q3 adjusted earnings of $1.10 per share, above the $1.07 consensus, and revenue of $4.19 billion, up 23.9% year over year. Higher shipments and favorable price/mix contributed to the growth. Q3 earnings beat on higher volumes and favorable price/mix
• Positive Sentiment: Mizuho raised its price target to $75 and maintained an Outperform rating; Truist reiterated Buy with a $76 target. Mizuho price target Truist rating
• Neutral Sentiment: UBS raised its target from $63 to $68 but kept a Neutral rating. The reported analyst consensus target was $71.46, suggesting continued disagreement about the shares’ upside. Consensus price target
• Negative Sentiment: JPMorgan downgraded Ball from Overweight to Neutral and set a $65 target. Q3 coverage also flagged cost pressures and shrinking operating margins, despite the revenue and earnings beat. JPMorgan rating cut Q3 results and pre-market reaction

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on BALL. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Ball from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $65.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Wednesday. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Ball from $70.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Ball from $77.00 to $73.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 13th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Ball from $72.00 to $70.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 19th. Finally, Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $76.00 price objective (down from $78.00) on shares of Ball in a research report on Wednesday. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $71.46.

About Ball

Ball Corporation is a global supplier of sustainable aluminum packaging. The company primarily manufactures aluminum beverage cans, bottles and cups used by beer, soft-drink, energy-drink and other beverage companies. Its products are designed to support brand presentation, product protection and recycling throughout the packaging lifecycle.

Ball serves customers across North and South America, Europe and other international markets through a network of manufacturing facilities. The company also develops and markets aluminum packaging products for additional consumer and household applications, including its reusable and recyclable Ball Aluminum Cup.

Founded in 1880 as a manufacturer of glass containers, Ball evolved into a major producer of metal packaging and became particularly known for its aluminum beverage cans.