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Ball Corporation (BALL)
NYSE:BALL

Ball (BALL) AI Stock Analysis

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BALL

Ball

(NYSE:BALL)

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Neutral 66 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:66Neutral
Price Target:
$70.00
▲(5.22% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/05/26
BALL scores positively on improving operating profitability and constructive 2026 guidance with strong cash-return commitments, but the overall score is held back by historically inconsistent cash conversion/FCF and still-meaningful leverage. Technically the trend is strong, though overbought signals temper the near-term setup, and valuation appears fair with a modest yield.
Positive Factors
Record free cash flow
A record adjusted free cash flow of $956M in 2025 demonstrates the company's improved ability to convert operating performance into discretionary cash. Durable cash generation supports debt reduction targets, sustained buybacks and capex discipline, strengthening financial flexibility over the next several quarters.
Market share and volume growth
Consistent outperformance in shipped volumes indicates durable commercial strength and pricing leverage across regions. Sustained volume gains underpin operating leverage, improving long‑term profit per can and supporting repeatable cash flows and margin resilience over the next 2–6 months and beyond.
Improved balance-sheet resilience
Material deleveraging versus 2022 shows management progress on balance‑sheet repair. Lower leverage increases financial flexibility for refinancing, M&A or continued buybacks while reducing vulnerability to cyclical shocks, making the capital structure more sustainable in the medium term.
Negative Factors
Volatile cash conversion
Historic swings between strong and negative free cash flow indicate earnings quality and working‑capital sensitivity risks. Inconsistent cash conversion complicates planning for debt reduction and shareholder returns, raising execution risk if volumes or input costs weaken over the next several quarters.
Millersburg start‑up & tariff headwinds
Start‑up and tariff-related costs are structural execution items that can depress near‑term margins and require operational work to normalize. These costs and timing uncertainty can delay margin recovery and FCF trends, pressuring available liquidity and near‑term targets until ramps complete.
Benepack integration & NA capacity limits
Acquisition ramp and regional capacity shortages limit near‑term upside from M&A and constrain North American volume growth. Integration and capacity timing risk can mute expected synergies and profit contribution for multiple quarters, adding execution risk to projected earnings and cash flow.

Ball (BALL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Ball Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionBall Corporation supplies aluminum packaging products for the beverage, personal care, and household products industries in the United States, Brazil, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Beverage Packaging, North and Central America; Beverage Packaging, Europe, Middle East and Africa; Beverage Packaging, South America; and Aerospace. The company manufactures and sells aluminum beverage containers to fillers of carbonated soft drinks, beer, energy drinks, and other beverages. It also develops spacecraft, sensors and instruments, radio frequency systems, and other technologies for the civil, commercial, and national security aerospace markets, as well as offers defense hardware, antenna and video tactical solutions, civil and operational space hardware, and systems engineering services. In addition, the company designs, manufactures, and tests satellites, remote sensors, and ground station control hardware and software; and provides launch vehicle integration and satellite operational services. Further, it offers target identification, warning, and attitude control systems and components; cryogenic systems and associated sensor cooling devices; star trackers; and fast-steering mirrors to the government agencies or their prime contractors. Additionally, the company manufactures and sells extruded aluminum aerosol containers, recloseable aluminum bottles, aluminum cups, and aluminum slugs. Ball Corporation was founded in 1880 and is headquartered in Westminster, Colorado.
How the Company Makes MoneyBall Corporation generates revenue primarily through the production and sale of aluminum beverage cans and containers. Its core revenue streams include the sale of aluminum cans to beverage manufacturers, which account for a significant portion of its income. Additionally, the company earns revenue from the sale of food cans and other packaging solutions. Ball also benefits from long-term contracts with major beverage brands, which provide a steady flow of income. The company's operations are further supported by its commitment to sustainability, as it focuses on recycling and sustainable practices, attracting partnerships with environmentally conscious brands. Furthermore, Ball's aerospace segment contributes to its earnings through contracts with government and commercial clients for space-related services and products.

Ball Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue From Contracts with Customer
Revenue From Contracts with Customer
Tracks income from customer agreements, providing insight into the stability and predictability of revenue streams.
Chart InsightsRevenue shows a clear multi-year recovery with accelerating quarterly run‑rates into 2025, despite abrupt year‑end troughs (notably Dec 2022 and Dec 2023) that read like one‑off timing or reporting adjustments. The recent acceleration aligns with Ball’s reported 4.2% beverage-can volume growth and management’s guidance to exceed long‑term volume trends, supporting lofty EPS targets; however, mix headwinds, Section 232/tariff exposure and rising interest expense pose real risks to margin conversion of that revenue growth.
Data provided by:The Fly

Ball Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 03, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 30, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presented strong financial and operational achievements — record adjusted free cash flow, record comparable diluted EPS, market outperformance in volumes, significant shareholder returns, and major progress on cost savings and profit-per-can gains — while candidly identifying manageable near-term challenges such as Millersburg start-up and tariff-related costs (~$35 million), integration and ramp timing for recent acquisitions, and capacity constraints in North America. Overall, the positives (records, cash generation, buybacks, strong EMEA performance and disciplined capital allocation) substantially outweigh the temporary headwinds, with management providing clear targets and mitigation plans for 2026 and beyond.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Adjusted Free Cash Flow
Adjusted free cash flow reached $956 million in 2025, a new company record and a 2.4x increase year-over-year.
Record Comparable Diluted EPS
Comparable diluted earnings per share were a record $3.57 in 2025, up 13% versus 2024.
Strong Volume Growth and Market Outperformance
Global shipped volumes were up 6% in Q4 and 4.1% for the full year 2025; Ball outpaced the can market in multiple regions (e.g., North & Central America volumes +4.8% FY, EMEA +5.5% FY, South America +4.2% FY).
Material Shareholder Returns
Returned $1.54 billion to shareholders in 2025 via $1.32 billion of share repurchases and dividends; shares outstanding reduced to 265 million (a 16% reduction over 2 years).
Segment Profitability and Operating Leverage
Fourth-quarter comparable operating earnings up 6.8% and full-year comparable earnings up 5.6%; EMEA segment comparable operating earnings rose 36.7% in Q4 and 19% for FY 2025, with profit-per-can expansion of more than 30% since 2019 in EMEA and North America.
Strategic M&A to Expand Footprint
Closed acquisition of 2 Benepack beverage can facilities in Europe to strengthen regional footprint; Benepack expected to do ~ $1.7 billion of volumes in the near term with attractive EVA potential.
Disciplined Capital Allocation and Financial Targets
Management reiterated 10%+ comparable diluted EPS growth algorithm for 2026, expects free cash flow > $900 million in 2026, will repurchase at least $600 million of shares and return ~$800 million total to shareholders in 2026; capex expected to be in line with depreciation.
Balance Sheet and Leverage Discipline
Net debt to EBITDA ended 2025 at 2.8x and management targets reducing leverage toward ~2.5x over time while still returning capital to shareholders; 2026 year-end net debt/EBITDA guidance ~2.7x.
Negative Updates
2026 Startup and Tariff Headwinds
Management disclosed approximately $35 million of temporary headwinds in 2026 related to Millersburg plant start-up costs and domesticating ends production (tariff-related), with much of this impact expected in the back half of 2026.
North & Central America Capacity Constraints
North America is largely sold out and capacity constrained until Millersburg comes online; guidance calls for North America volume growth toward the low end of the long-term 1%–3% range in 2026, limiting near-term upside.
Benepack Near-Term Profitability Lag
Benepack acquisition will require ramp and operational improvements; comparable operating earnings are expected to be roughly flat in the near term as the plants are integrated and ramped, with benefits more material in 2027 and beyond.
Q4 Mixed Leverage in North America
Despite high single-digit Q4 volume growth in North America, operating leverage fell short of the 2x target in the quarter (management noted tariffs/ends costs as a contributing factor).
Regional Variability: South America Q4 Weakness
South America segment comparable operating earnings increased only 1% in Q4 2025 (though FY +10.5%), indicating more variable near-term performance across regions.
Exposure to Input Cost and Geopolitical Risks
Rising aluminum premiums, natural gas prices in Europe and tariff developments present risks; while contracts and pass-through mechanisms mitigate much of the impact, timing mismatches and hedging limits could produce short-term margin pressure.
Company Guidance
Ball guided to deliver its long‑term algorithm in 2026, targeting 10%+ comparable diluted EPS growth while generating free cash flow greater than $900 million and returning at least $800 million to shareholders (including a minimum $600 million of share repurchases); management expects a full‑year comparable tax rate slightly above 23%, interest expense of about $320 million, capex roughly in line with GAAP depreciation & amortization, and reported adjusted corporate undistributed costs of about $160 million. They forecast year‑end 2026 net debt to comparable EBITDA of ~2.7x (down from 2.8x at year‑end 2025) with a longer‑term goal around 2.5x, will continue repurchasing 4%–6% of shares annually, and plan to absorb roughly $35 million of temporary 2026 costs (Millersburg start‑up and domesticating ends/tariffs). Regionally, they expect North & Central America volumes at the low end of their 1%–3% long‑term range (with Millersburg start‑up costs back‑half weighted), EMEA to grow above the top end of its 3%–5% range and deliver ~2x operating leverage (aided by the Benepack acquisition), and South America to grow at the low end of its 4%–6% range with ~2x operating leverage.

Ball Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Operating performance is improving (2025 operating margin ~11% vs. ~7% in 2024) and leverage is trending better versus 2022–2023, but earnings quality is uneven (notable 2024 net income spike) and cash conversion/FCF has been volatile despite a stronger 2025.
Income Statement
68
Positive
Revenue has been choppy but is recovering, moving from declines in 2023–2024 to ~4% growth in 2025. Profitability looks solid on an operating basis (2025 operating margin ~11% vs. ~7% in 2024), but net income is volatile (2024 margin ~34% vs. ~7% in 2025 and ~5–6% in 2022–2023), which reduces earnings quality/consistency. Gross margin has stayed in a mid-teens range, suggesting a stable—though not expanding—core margin profile.
Balance Sheet
58
Neutral
Leverage remains meaningful: debt is ~1.3x equity in 2025 (improved from ~2.7x in 2022 and ~2.3x in 2023, but still elevated versus a conservative balance sheet). Equity has strengthened relative to the 2022–2023 period, supporting improved balance-sheet resilience. Returns on equity are decent in most years (mid-to-high teens in 2025/2023), but the extremely high 2024 return appears driven by unusually high net income rather than a structurally higher profitability level.
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
Cash generation is inconsistent. 2025 improved materially with positive free cash flow (~$0.8B) and better conversion of profits into free cash flow (about 62% of net income), but 2024 saw very weak operating cash flow (~$0.1B) and negative free cash flow despite high reported net income, highlighting volatility in cash conversion. Prior years also swing between strong cash years (e.g., 2023) and negative free cash flow (e.g., 2022), which adds execution and funding risk in down cycles.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue13.16B11.80B12.02B15.29B13.93B
Gross Profit1.96B1.84B1.72B1.75B2.03B
EBITDA2.06B1.46B1.76B1.88B1.98B
Net Income912.00M4.01B707.00M719.00M878.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets19.52B17.63B19.30B19.91B19.71B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.21B893.00M695.00M548.00M563.00M
Total Debt7.01B6.02B8.57B9.40B8.16B
Total Liabilities14.10B11.70B15.47B16.38B16.03B
Stockholders Equity5.42B5.86B3.77B3.46B3.63B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow788.00M-369.00M818.00M-1.37B34.00M
Operating Cash Flow1.26B115.00M1.86B283.00M1.76B
Investing Cash Flow-656.00M5.00B-1.05B-768.00M-1.64B
Financing Cash Flow-344.00M-4.79B-662.00M485.00M-894.00M

Ball Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price66.53
Price Trends
50DMA
57.08
Positive
100DMA
52.72
Positive
200DMA
53.23
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
3.09
Positive
RSI
74.17
Negative
STOCH
37.54
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For BALL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 66.53 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 62.92, above the 50-day MA of 57.08, and above the 200-day MA of 53.23, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 3.09 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 74.17 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 37.54 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for BALL.

Ball Risk Analysis

Ball disclosed 26 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Ball reported the most risks in the "Macro & Political" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Ball Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$21.51B27.852.42%7.23%-3.88%
71
Outperform
$13.16B17.8825.61%1.01%2.94%893.70%
66
Neutral
$17.77B20.0916.17%1.53%2.87%
64
Neutral
$3.75B19.962.08%3.19%-17.63%-80.32%
64
Neutral
$22.91B32.427.73%6.20%28.41%-35.50%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
60
Neutral
$5.10B17.8613.53%1.97%11.10%6.54%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
BALL
Ball
66.53
16.53
33.05%
CCK
Crown Holdings
114.80
28.92
33.67%
GEF
Greif Class A
74.64
16.91
29.29%
PKG
Packaging
237.21
32.64
15.96%
SLGN
Silgan Holdings
48.42
-5.18
-9.66%
AMCR
Amcor
50.49
2.03
4.20%

Ball Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Ball Appoints Scott Vail as Chief Operations Officer
Positive
Dec 10, 2025

On December 10, 2025, Ball Corporation appointed Scott Vail as Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer. Vail has extensive experience in operations and leadership roles, having previously worked at Reynolds Consumer Products and Anheuser-Busch InBev, and held significant positions at Ball since 2021. His compensation package includes a base salary, bonuses, and stock awards. This appointment is expected to strengthen Ball’s operational capabilities and enhance its market positioning.

The most recent analyst rating on (BALL) stock is a Hold with a $50.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ball stock, see the BALL Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Ball Corporation Secures $3.5 Billion Credit Facilities
Positive
Nov 26, 2025

On November 25, 2025, Ball Corporation announced the completion of new senior secured credit facilities totaling $3.5 billion, which include a U.S. dollar revolving facility, a multicurrency revolving facility, and a U.S. dollar term loan facility maturing in 2030. These facilities, managed by Bank of America, aim to refinance existing credit facilities and support general corporate purposes, enhancing Ball’s financial flexibility to pursue strategic initiatives and sustainable growth.

The most recent analyst rating on (BALL) stock is a Buy with a $61.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ball stock, see the BALL Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Ball Corporation Announces New CEO and Leadership Changes
Neutral
Nov 10, 2025

On November 10, 2025, Ball Corporation announced significant leadership changes with the appointment of Ronald J. Lewis as the new Chief Executive Officer and Stuart A. Taylor II as Chairman of the Board, effective immediately. Daniel W. Fisher stepped down from his roles as CEO and Chairman, with his departure not related to any disagreements with the company. Additionally, Daniel Rabbitt was appointed as Chief Financial Officer, having served as interim CFO since May 2025. These leadership changes are expected to impact Ball’s strategic direction and operational management.

The most recent analyst rating on (BALL) stock is a Hold with a $52.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ball stock, see the BALL Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 05, 2026