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Crown Holdings (CCK)
NYSE:CCK

Crown Holdings (CCK) AI Stock Analysis

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CCK

Crown Holdings

(NYSE:CCK)

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Outperform 71 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$123.00
▲(18.12% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/05/26
CCK scores well on improving financial performance led by strong and rising free cash flow and a meaningful 2025 earnings rebound, while leverage remains the main limiter. Technicals are moderately supportive with an uptrend versus longer-term moving averages and positive MACD. Valuation is fair with a modest dividend yield, and the latest earnings call reinforces the outlook with constructive 2026 EPS/FCF guidance alongside manageable (but real) cost and regional-demand risks.
Positive Factors
Free cash flow strength
Sustained, materially higher free cash flow improves financial flexibility, funds growth projects and buybacks, and provides a durable buffer through cycles. Consistent FCF supports debt reduction and shareholder returns without relying on one‑time gains, strengthening long‑term capital allocation.
Improved leverage / capital structure
Achieving a ~2.5x net leverage target signals meaningful de‑risking of the balance sheet and greater financial flexibility. A demonstrated ability to hit leverage targets reduces refinancing risk, enables disciplined buybacks/dividends, and strengthens capacity to invest through industry cycles.
European beverage volume growth
Double‑digit European volume growth reflects strong market share gains and higher utilization of manufacturing footprint. Durable volume momentum in a key region enhances pricing leverage, scale economies, and customer stickiness from proximity to major beverage customers, supporting margin resilience.
Negative Factors
Elevated historical leverage
Although leverage improved, the company still carries meaningful absolute debt that limits strategic flexibility. High historical debt levels can constrain capital allocation during downturns, increase interest sensitivity, and elevate refinancing risk if cash generation or demand softens.
Commodity and tariff risk
Significant exposure to aluminum and trade policy makes margins vulnerable to inputs and tariff shifts. Even with pass‑through mechanisms, sustained commodity or tariff shocks can compress reported margins, complicate contract pricing and planning, and weaken long‑term earnings visibility.
Capex, start‑up costs & regional softness
A step‑up in growth capex and related start‑up costs will reduce near‑term FCF and raises execution risk. Combined with localized softness (e.g., Brazil/Asia), higher investment intensity can strain cash conversion and delay returns on new capacity, pressuring resilience over the next 2–6 months.

Crown Holdings (CCK) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Crown Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCrown Holdings, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells packaging products and equipment for consumer goods and industrial products in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. It offers products for consumer goods, including steel and aluminum cans for food and beverage industries. The company also provides products for industrial products, such as steel and plastic strap consumables and equipment, paper-based protective packaging, and plastic film consumables and equipment to metals, food and beverage, construction, agricultural, corrugated, and general industries. In addition, it offers other consumer products, glass bottles for beverage products, steel crowns, aluminum caps, steel strap, plastic strap, industrial film, and other related products, as well as equipment and tools, such as manual, semi-automatic, and automatic equipment and tools used in end of line manufacturing applications to apply industrial solutions consumables. Crown Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1892 and is headquartered in Yardley, Pennsylvania.
How the Company Makes MoneyCrown Holdings generates revenue primarily through the sale of metal packaging products across multiple sectors. Its key revenue streams include the production of aluminum and steel cans for beverages, food containers, and other specialty packaging solutions. The company benefits from long-term contracts with major clients, which provide stable income and volume assurance. Additionally, Crown Holdings invests in advanced manufacturing technologies to improve production efficiency and reduce costs, enhancing its profitability. Strategic partnerships with leading brands and a focus on sustainability also contribute to its competitive advantage and market positioning, further driving revenue growth.

Crown Holdings Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue By Geography
Revenue By Geography
Chart Insights
Data provided by:The Fly

Crown Holdings Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 04, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 27, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call communicated strong operational and financial performance: record adjusted EBITDA and record free cash flow, solid volume gains (notably +10% in Europe and +3% global beverage in Q4), disciplined capital returns, and achievement of target net leverage (2.5x). Offsetting these positives are localized softness (Brazil and Asia), start-up costs and inflation pressure in 2026, tariff/aluminum cost uncertainty, and a modest sequential dip in segment income. Overall, the company portrays confident growth plans, prudent capital allocation, and manageable near-term headwinds.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Adjusted EPS Growth
Adjusted earnings per share were $1.74 in the quarter, up 9% from $1.59 in the prior-year quarter, demonstrating underlying earnings momentum after adjusting for a prior-year one-time gain.
Record Adjusted EBITDA
Full-year adjusted EBITDA reached almost $2.1 billion in 2025 (vs. $1.9 billion in 2024), reflecting strong commercial and operational performance across the beverage and tinplate businesses (management cites an ~8% improvement in EBITDA).
Record Free Cash Flow
The company generated record free cash flow of $1.146 billion in 2025 compared to $814 million in 2024, a $332 million improvement (≈+40.8%), driven by EBITDA improvement and lower pension contributions.
Net Sales and Volume Trends
Net sales in the quarter were up 8% year-over-year, driven by a 3% increase in global beverage can volumes, $189 million of raw-material cost pass-through, and $58 million of favorable foreign exchange.
Strong European Beverage Performance
European beverage volumes increased 10% in the fourth quarter and for the full year, producing record segment income and materially contributing to full-year results; management expects continued growth in Europe.
Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns
The company returned $625 million to shareholders in 2025 ( $505M share repurchases and $120M dividends) versus $336 million in 2024; Q4 repurchases were $191 million. Guidance assumes ~$650 million of buybacks baked into 2026 plan.
Balance Sheet / Leverage Target Achieved
Net leverage reached the company's target of approximately 2.5x in September 2025, improved from 2.7x in 2024, supporting disciplined capital deployment while maintaining investment flexibility.
Positive Forward Guidance and Capacity Investments
Company guided Q1 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.70–$1.80 and full-year adjusted EPS of $7.90–$8.30. Planned 2026 capital spending of ~$550 million (Brazil, Greece, Spain) to support growth; expected 2026 free cash flow ≈$900 million and maintained leverage target ~2.5x.
Segment Strengths and Cash-Generative Businesses
Transit Packaging continues to generate meaningful cash flow with double-digit to low-teens margins despite lower industrial activity; North American tinplate benefited from 5% food can volume growth, and 'Income and Other' was up 80% year-over-year.
Negative Updates
GAAP EPS Decline (One-Time Effect)
Reported GAAP earnings per share were $1.31 in the quarter versus $3.02 in the prior-year quarter; the prior-year quarter included a $2.32 per-share gain from the sale of Eviosis that materially inflated last year's GAAP EPS.
Segment Income Slightly Lower in Quarter
Segment income in the quarter was $420 million compared to $428 million in the prior-year quarter (≈-1.9%), with lower volumes in Transit Packaging partially offsetting European beverage strength.
Asia Volume Weakness from Border Conflict
Asian sales unit volumes were down 3% in the fourth quarter due entirely to the Thailand–Cambodia border conflict and related disruptions; management expects to lap this impact later in 2026 (around Q3).
Brazil Softness and Near-Term Uncertainty
Brazil volumes declined ~3% in the quarter and for the full year; consumer purchasing power is described as subdued and there are signs of consumption shifts (e.g., larger shareable bottles), introducing near-term risk to Americas results.
Start-up Costs and Inflation Headwinds
Start-up costs for capacity additions (Brazil, Greece, Spain) and ongoing inflation are expected to offset some North American volume gains in 2026 and weigh on near-term segment income; management did not quantify a fine-dollar amount.
Elevated Aluminum Prices and Tariff Uncertainty
Rising aluminum costs and tariff uncertainties (including trade actions affecting Canada/US supply) present a risk to margins and pricing dynamics; management noted percent margins can appear compressed when aluminum stays elevated (denominator effect).
Transit Packaging Impacted by Lower Industrial Activity
Transit Packaging saw lower income consistent with softer industrial activity; higher-margin equipment and tooling offerings remain affected by tariff adjustments despite the business still generating strong cash flow and margins.
Higher 2026 Capital Spending Reduces Near-Term Free Cash Flow
Planned 2026 capex of ~$550 million (up from the lower levels of the prior two years) is expected to reduce free cash flow from the record 2025 level to approximately $900 million in 2026, reflecting a meaningful but deliberate step-up in investment.
Company Guidance
The company guided Q1 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.70–$1.80 and full‑year adjusted EPS of $7.90–$8.30, with full‑year net interest expense of about $350–$360 million (timing of buybacks dependent), an FX assumption with the euro at $1.17, a full‑year tax rate of ~25%, depreciation of ~$330 million, noncontrolling interest expense of ~$140 million (dividends and noncontrolling interest also noted at ~$110 million), and 2026 full‑year free cash flow estimated at ~ $900 million after ~$550 million of capital spending for growth projects; management expects to maintain net leverage at ~2.5x and, per the CFO, the guide assumes roughly $650 million of share repurchases (in addition to dividends).

Crown Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Overall fundamentals are improving: 2025 profitability rebounded and cash generation is strong with rising operating and free cash flow supporting reinvestment and debt reduction. The primary constraint remains elevated leverage and historical cyclicality/volatility in earnings and cash conversion.
Income Statement
72
Positive
Revenue has been relatively stable with a return to growth in 2025 (up from 2024), following declines in 2023–2024. Profitability improved meaningfully in 2025, with net income rebounding sharply versus 2024 and margins holding at a solid level for the industry. A key weakness is earnings volatility over the cycle (including a net loss in 2021) and some compression in gross profitability in 2025 versus 2024, even as operating profit improved.
Balance Sheet
58
Neutral
Leverage remains the main constraint: debt is high relative to equity historically, though the debt load has been trending down from 2023 to 2025 and equity has increased, improving the overall capital structure. Asset levels are stable, but the company still carries meaningful balance-sheet risk due to the size of total debt, which can limit flexibility if operating conditions weaken.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
Cash generation is a clear strength, with operating cash flow increasing in 2025 and free cash flow rising strongly across 2023–2025, supporting debt reduction and reinvestment capacity. Free cash flow is robust relative to recent net income and shows improving consistency after a weak 2022 (negative free cash flow). The main risk is historical variability—cash conversion has not been steady every year.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue12.37B11.80B12.01B12.94B11.39B
Gross Profit2.27B2.54B2.46B2.30B2.37B
EBITDA2.02B1.90B1.82B1.75B279.00M
Net Income734.00M424.00M450.00M727.00M-560.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets14.27B13.85B15.03B14.30B13.86B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments879.00M1.02B1.40B639.00M592.00M
Total Debt6.17B6.42B7.70B7.21B6.46B
Total Liabilities10.79B10.62B12.17B12.01B11.53B
Stockholders Equity3.00B2.76B2.41B1.85B1.91B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.10B789.00M660.00M-36.00M89.00M
Operating Cash Flow1.51B1.19B1.45B803.00M905.00M
Investing Cash Flow-320.00M-12.00M-804.00M-642.00M1.51B
Financing Cash Flow-1.34B-1.53B116.00M-25.00M-2.94B

Crown Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price104.13
Price Trends
50DMA
108.04
Negative
100DMA
103.02
Positive
200DMA
101.10
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.67
Positive
RSI
36.00
Neutral
STOCH
16.60
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CCK, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 104.13 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 111.52, below the 50-day MA of 108.04, and above the 200-day MA of 101.10, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.67 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 36.00 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 16.60 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for CCK.

Crown Holdings Risk Analysis

Crown Holdings disclosed 35 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Crown Holdings reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Crown Holdings Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$11.79B16.1625.41%1.01%2.94%893.70%
69
Neutral
$19.10B24.1516.73%2.42%7.23%-3.88%
66
Neutral
$16.41B15.9316.89%1.53%2.87%
63
Neutral
$4.32B14.7813.03%1.97%11.10%6.54%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
59
Neutral
$18.63B27.286.12%6.20%28.41%-35.50%
58
Neutral
$2.90B10.0613.67%2.91%-3.93%-27.37%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CCK
Crown Holdings
104.13
17.96
20.85%
BALL
Ball
61.69
11.46
22.81%
GPK
Graphic Packaging
9.82
-15.83
-61.71%
PKG
Packaging
214.04
26.74
14.28%
SLGN
Silgan Holdings
41.00
-7.00
-14.58%
AMCR
Amcor
40.33
-5.12
-11.27%

Crown Holdings Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
Crown Holdings Adds Veteran Executive Michael Doss to Board
Positive
Mar 4, 2026

On February 26, 2026, Crown Holdings, Inc. announced that veteran packaging executive Michael P. Doss was elected to its Board of Directors, effective March 3, 2026, bringing the Board’s size to ten members. Doss, the former President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Graphic Packaging Corporation from 2016 to 2025 and current Director of Regal Rexnord Corporation, is expected to join Crown’s Audit Committee and will receive standard non-employee director compensation.

Crown Chairman and CEO Timothy J. Donahue highlighted that Doss adds substantial senior leadership experience in the packaging industry, as well as deep knowledge of manufacturing, commercial operations, international business and public company governance. The appointment signals Crown’s effort to strengthen board-level expertise in its core industry and operational disciplines, with no special arrangements or related-party transactions involved in Doss’s selection, underscoring standard governance practices for stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (CCK) stock is a Hold with a $126.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Crown Holdings stock, see the CCK 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: Mar 05, 2026