| Factor | Score | Distribution | Value | Avg | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valuation | 47 | 18.3x | 17.3x | Around median | |
Growth | 65 | 5.6% | 7.1% | Around median | |
Quality | 73 | 11.3% | 4.5% | Top tier | |
Safety | 52 | 3.1x | 2.6x | Around median | |
Capital Return | 71 | 1.24% | 0.06% | Top tier | |
Momentum | 78 | 17.2% | -1.6% | Top tier | |
Sentiment | 43 | 10 | 3 | Around median |
The floor: what the company is worth if growth stopped today
51% of today's price is what a buyer pays for growth that has not happened yet.
10-year US Treasury yield 4.96% as of 2026-10-22. Estimates computed from company data and analyst targets, not investment advice.
Ten ratios that matter, each compared against its sector median and average — so you can see whether a number is rich or cheap relative to peers in the same sector.
Ball Corporation manufactures metal packaging, with its business focused on aluminum beverage cans across North and Central America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and South America, alongside a smaller personal and household care products business. Revenue is generated by supplying cans under long-term customer relationships and contracts, with aluminum cost pass-through models, and the company benefits from the shift in packaged beverages from other materials to aluminum due to ease of use, recyclability, the variety of sizes, and multipacks. In fiscal Q2 2026, global beverage can shipment volumes increased 4.3% year over year, marking a sixth consecutive quarter of growth.
According to earnings news published on August 13 and 19, 2026, fiscal Q2 2026 revenue was approximately $4.00 billion, while net income was $221 million, equivalent to a net profit margin of approximately 5.5%. The provided financial statements recorded diluted earnings per share of $0.83, while adjusted earnings per share were $1.03 and exceeded expectations, and comparable diluted earnings per share increased 14.4% year over year. There is an important note in the provided data: the revenue item extracted from EDGAR shows only $10 million for the same quarter, which is inconsistent with the $4.00 billion figure reported in the earnings reports, so the extracted figure on its own is not suitable for building a reliable year-over-year revenue comparison.
The regional performance mix was uneven in fiscal Q2 2026: North and Central America volumes grew by low single digits, but the segment's comparable operating earnings declined 2.4%; EMEA volumes grew by mid-single digits, with segment earnings increasing 6.6%; and South America volumes jumped by mid-teens, while its comparable operating earnings increased 64%. At the company level, comparable operating earnings increased 7.7%, but the August 13, 2026 report showed the operating margin declining from 10.3% to 8.7% under pressure from cost inflation.
The average analyst price target is $75 within a narrow range of $72 to $78, with a Buy consensus; the average is approximately 9.8% above the 52-week range high of $68.29, implying continued earnings growth and improved operating execution. In contrast, the 52-week range extends from $44.83 to $68.29, making a move above its high dependent on absorbing the expected $30 million of Millersburg costs in the second half of fiscal 2026 and restoring margins after their decline to 8.7%.
Figures in the text are as of 2026-08-29; the live price is shown at the top of the page.
Global beverage can shipment volumes increased 4.3% year over year, with growth across all regions. South America recorded mid-teens growth and a 64% jump in comparable operating earnings, while EMEA achieved mid-single-digit volume growth and 6.6% earnings growth. North America also benefited from demand for energy drinks and non-alcoholic beverages, and the personal and household care business grew by high single digits.
Management is targeting more than 10% growth in comparable diluted earnings per share and free cash flow exceeding $900 million. It expects overall volume growth of approximately 3%, with North America growing at the low end of the 1% to 3% range, EMEA above the 3% to 5% range, and South America at the low to middle end of the 4% to 6% range. It also expects interest expense of $310 million and an effective tax rate slightly above 23%.
Millersburg began producing commercial cans in July 2026, but it was still ramping up at the time of the August 4, 2026 call. The company expects total startup costs of approximately $35 million in fiscal 2026, including $5 million in the first half and approximately $30 million in the second half. Management expects to capture most of the plant's operating value during fiscal 2027, with no additional startup costs expected in that fiscal year. The plant has one line and produces standard cans, so management does not expect it to change the product mix by itself.
Automated analysis for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Benepack adds two facilities in Hungary and Belgium to Ball's network and helps ease capacity constraints in EMEA. In fiscal Q2 2026, the region's volumes grew by mid-single digits and its comparable operating earnings increased 6.6%. The two facilities were not contributing to overall earnings as of August 4, 2026, but management expects their integration and operation within the network to be completed during fiscal 2026. With Benepack, Ball expects EMEA volume growth to exceed the upper end of its long-term range of 3% to 5% in fiscal 2026.
Ball expects free cash flow exceeding $900 million in fiscal 2026 and plans to return $800 million to shareholders. The plan includes share repurchases of at least $600 million and approximately $200 million in dividends, after executing only approximately $100 million of repurchases during the first half. Management explained that execution is concentrated in the second half due to the seasonal timing of cash flow and that it avoided increasing leverage to fund earlier purchases. The company is targeting net debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization near 2.7 times by the end of fiscal 2026.
The main operating risks are capacity constraints in North America and EMEA, as higher utilization creates pressure on scheduling, labor, shipping, and maintenance. North and Central America segment earnings declined 2.4% in fiscal Q2 2026, while the reported operating margin fell from 10.3% to 8.7%. The company will also incur approximately $30 million in Millersburg costs in the second half of fiscal 2026, while the Benepack assets were not contributing to earnings as of August 4, 2026. Higher aluminum prices could also pressure end-consumer demand despite mechanisms for passing metal costs through to customers.