BALL

Earnings growth is essential for organizations of all sizes because sustained profitability is key to survival. To calculate earnings, examine a company’s revenues over a certain period and subtract the production costs. A company’s earnings have a significant influence on its share price, with earnings expectations playing a key role in determining market performance. Against this backdrop, NVIDIA Corporation NVDA, Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. NBIX and Ball Corporation BALL are delivering strong and impressive earnings growth, making them compelling investment opportunities for the second half of this year. We have frequently seen stock prices decline despite earnings growth or rally after an earnings decline. This is largely the result of a company’s earnings failing to meet market expectations. Earnings estimates reflect analysts’ views on factors such as sales growth, product demand, the competitive industry environment, profit margins, and cost control. Consequently, earnings estimates are a valuable tool for making investment decisions. They also help analysts evaluate cash flow to determine a firm's fair value. Thus, investors should be on the lookout for stocks ready to make a big move. Such stocks should have a history of earnings growth and rising quarterly and annual earnings estimates. To shortlist stocks that have striking earnings growth and positive estimate revisions, we have added the following parameters: Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2 (Only Zacks' 'Buys' and 'Strong Buys' are allowed. With the Zacks Rank proving itself to be one of the best rating systems out there, this is a great way to start things off.) 5-Year Historical EPS Growth (%) greater than X-Industry (stocks with a strong EPS growth history). % Change EPS F(0)/F(-1) greater than or equal to 5 (companies that saw year-over-year earnings growth of 5% or more in the last reported fiscal). % Change Q1 Estimates over the last 4 weeks greater than zero (stocks that have seen their current quarter earnings estimates revised higher in the last 4 weeks). % Change F1 Estimates over the last 1 week greater than zero (stocks that have seen their annual earnings estimates revised higher in the last 1 week). % Change F1 Estimates over the last 4 weeks greater than zero (stocks that have seen their annual earnings estimates revised higher in the last 4 weeks). The above criteria narrowed...

Valued at a market cap of $16.3 billion, Ball Corporation (BALL) is a leading global supplier of sustainable aluminum packaging for the beverage, personal care, and household products industries. Headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, the company manufactures recyclable aluminum cans, bottles, and aerosol containers for many of the world's largest consumer brands, while also providing packaging technologies and services. The company is expected to announce its fiscal 2026 Q2 earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Ahead of this event, analysts expect this packaging company to report a profit of $0.99 per share, up 10% from $0.90 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has met or topped Wall Street’s bottom-line estimates in each of the last four quarters. Elon Musk Dubs Him ‘Scam Altman’ Not Sam — Then Altman Clapped Back: ‘Homeboy You’re The One Selling Space Datacenters’ Oracle Stock Crashes to a 52-Week Low. Here’s Why It Might Be Time to Buy. Short Seller Hunterbrook Attacked Bloom Energy’s Supply-Chain Claims. BE Stock Is Bruised, But Not Broken. Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! For the current fiscal year, ending in December, analysts expect BALL to report a profit of $3.99 per share, up 11.8% from $3.57 per share in fiscal 2025. Furthermore, its EPS is expected to grow 13.8% year over year to $4.54 in fiscal 2027. BALL has rallied 3.9% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming both the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 20.3% return and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF’s (XLY) 4.3% uptick over the same time period. Ball's stagnant sales over the last two years have underscored the need for stronger growth catalysts. The stock has also been weighed down by elevated input costs that have pressured margins and persistently weak free cash flow generation, limiting the company's financial flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or enhance shareholder returns through higher dividends and share repurchases. As a result, it has lagged the broader market over the past year. Wall Street analysts are moderately optimistic about BALL’s stock, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among 15 analysts covering the stock, ten recommend "Strong Buy," two indicate a "Moderate Bu...

If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Ball (BALL). This company, which is in the Zacks Containers - Metal and Glass industry, shows potential for another earnings beat. This metal packaging company has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 5.85%. For the most recent quarter, Ball was expected to post earnings of $0.85 per share, but it reported $0.94 per share instead, representing a surprise of 10.59%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.9 per share, while it actually produced $0.91 per share, a surprise of 1.11%. Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Ball lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Ball has an Earnings ESP of +1.32% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on August 4, 2026. With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings m...

WESTMINSTER, Colo., July 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE: BALL) will announce its second quarter 2026 earnings on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 before trading begins on the New York Stock Exchange. At 6:30 a.m. Mountain Time on that day (8:30 a.m. Eastern Time), Ball will hold its regular quarterly conference call on the company's results and performance. Please use the following URL to join via webcast: Ball Corporation Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Call To participate in the live call Q&A session, North American callers should use the following number, 877-497-9071. International callers should use the following number, +1 201-689-8727. For those unable to listen to the live call, a taped replay and transcript of the event will be available within 48 hours on Ball's website at www.ball.com/investors under "Financial Results." About Ball Corporation Ball Corporation (NYSE: BALL) is the global leader in sustainable aluminum packaging solutions, serving a robust portfolio of customers in the beverage, personal care and household products industries. With 16,000 employees in more than 65 manufacturing plants and facilities worldwide, Ball reported 2025 net sales of $13.16 billion. For more information, visit Ball.com and connect with us on LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ball-to-announce-second-quarter-earnings-on-august-4-2026-302818601.html

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Ball (BALL). Shares have lost about 10.5% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Ball due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Ball Corporation before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late. Ball Corporation posted first-quarter 2026 comparable earnings of 94 cents per share, up 22.1% year over year and above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 85 cents by 10.6%. Higher volumes in North and Central America and EMEA, and favorable price/mix across the beverage can footprint helped offset higher costs. On a reported basis, the company’s earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations were 77 cents compared with the prior-year quarter’s 64 cents. Revenues rose 16.3% from the year-ago quarter to $3.60 billion, topping the consensus mark of $3.27 billion by 10.1%. Global aluminum packaging shipments inched up 0.8% year over year. Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) increased 18.6% to $2.96 billion. The gross profit totaled $646 million, up 7% from the year-ago quarter. The gross margin was 17.9%, a contraction from the prior-year quarter’s 19.5%. Selling, general and administrative expense was $150 million, a 0.7% increase year over year. Comparable segment operating earnings were $387 million, 10% higher than the prior-year quarter’s $352 million. Segment operating margin was 10.7% compared with 11.4% in the year-ago quarter. The Beverage Packaging North and Central America segment’s revenues increased 21.4% year over year on higher volume and price/mix, mainly due to higher aluminum prices. Operating earnings amounted to $205 million, up 2.5% year over year. Higher volume and favorable price/mix helped offset the impact of higher costs. Sales in the Beverage Packaging EMEA segment were $1.11 billion, up 16% year over year. The upside was attributed to stronger shipments and currency translation, and contributions from the acquired Benepack business. Operating earnings were $134 million, marking 20.7% year-over-year growth. The Beverage Packaging South America segment’s revenues rose 7.5% year over year to $585 million, driven by higher prices, primarily attributable...

Looking back on industrial packaging stocks’ Q1 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including Ball (NYSE:BALL) and its peers. Industrial packaging companies have built competitive advantages from economies of scale that lead to advantaged purchasing and capital investments that are difficult and expensive to replicate. Recently, eco-friendly packaging and conservation are driving customers preferences and innovation. For example, plastic is not as desirable a material as it once was. Despite being integral to consumer goods ranging from beer to toothpaste to laundry detergent, these companies are still at the whim of the macro, especially consumer health and consumer willingness to spend. The 7 industrial packaging stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.6%. In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results. Started with a $200 loan in 1880, Ball (NYSE:BLL) manufactures aluminum packaging for beverages, personal care, and household products as well as aerospace systems and other technologies. Ball reported revenues of $3.60 billion, up 16.3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 8.1%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ revenue and adjusted operating income estimates. "Ball delivered strong first-quarter results, growing comparable EPS more than 20 percent versus the first quarter of 2025. Higher volumes and operating earnings were driven by our solid financial position, streamlined operating model and disciplined growth strategy. While we remain vigilant amid the current geopolitical and macroeconomic environment, we are well-positioned to execute and achieve our 2026 objectives. Continued operational excellence, coupled with investments in innovation and sustainability, supports manufacturing efficiency, customer success and long-term value creation for shareholders," said Ron Lewis, chief executive officer. Ball pulled off the biggest analyst estimate beat and fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Investor expectations, however, were likely higher than Wall Street’s published projections, leaving some wishing for even better results (analysts’ consensus estimates are those published by big banks and...

Ball’s first quarter results came in above Wall Street expectations for both revenue and adjusted profit, but the market responded negatively. Management attributed the results to stronger-than-expected North American beverage volumes, disciplined capacity management, and early benefits from the Benepack acquisition in EMEA. CEO Ron Lewis emphasized that “operational execution, cost discipline and capital allocation” were core to the company’s margin gains this quarter. Management noted that aluminum cost pass-throughs and resilient demand for beverage cans drove solid operating leverage across the business. Is now the time to buy BALL? Find out in our full research report (it’s free). Revenue: $3.60 billion vs analyst estimates of $3.33 billion (16.3% year-on-year growth, 8.1% beat) Adjusted EPS: $0.94 vs analyst estimates of $0.84 (11.3% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $509 million vs analyst estimates of $482.6 million (14.1% margin, 5.5% beat) Operating Margin: 9%, in line with the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $15.37 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. George Staphos (Bank of America) asked about the impact of Middle East tensions on input costs and supply assurance; CEO Ron Lewis clarified that Ball’s short supply chains and immediate cost pass-throughs limit exposure, with no direct business in the region. Ghansham Panjabi (Baird) inquired about drivers of operating leverage; CFO Daniel Rabbitt explained that profit-per-can focus and disciplined cost management enabled 10% year-over-year operating earnings growth despite mixed volume trends. Bryan Burgmeier (Citi) questioned the effect of recent tariffs and growth in India; Lewis noted that changes were minor for Ball and that India continues to see strong high-teens volume growth, with new capacity investments planned. John Dunigan (Jefferies) probed EMEA’s better-than-expected profit; Rabbitt attributed it to improved operational focus and early benefits from integrating India and Myanmar plants, with foreign exchange gains playing a smaller role. Michael Roxland (Truist Securities) asked about the potential for further margin gai...

Ball Corporation recently reported first-quarter 2026 results, with sales rising to US$3,603 million from US$3,097 million and net income increasing to US$205 million from US$179 million, lifting basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations to US$0.77 from US$0.64. Alongside affirming a quarterly dividend of US$0.20 per share and filing a US$916.2 million ESOP-related shelf registration, Ball highlighted margin improvement and earnings growth as it advances sustainability-focused aluminum packaging capacity expansions in EMEA. With this stronger profitability backdrop, we will now examine how the earnings beat and 2026 outlook affect Ball’s investment narrative. Invest in the nuclear renaissance through our list of 91 elite nuclear energy infrastructure plays powering the global AI revolution. To own Ball, you need to believe aluminum cans remain a preferred, recyclable packaging choice and that Ball can convert that demand into consistent, improving earnings. The latest quarterly beat and margin uptick support the near term catalyst of better profitability from EMEA expansion, but do not eliminate key risks around customer concentration, aluminum input cost swings and potential margin pressure if mix shifts further toward lower margin categories. Among recent announcements, the US$916.2 million ESOP related shelf registration stands out beside the ongoing buyback and dividend program. While framed around employee ownership, it sits alongside management’s goal of returning at least US$800 million to shareholders in 2026 and may influence how investors think about share count, capital allocation and the balance between growth projects and returns in light of the stronger Q1 earnings backdrop. Yet, against these positives, investors should still be aware of Ball’s exposure to input cost volatility and evolving packaging regulation... Read the full narrative on Ball (it's free!) Ball's narrative projects $15.1 billion revenue and $1.2 billion earnings by 2029. This requires 4.7% yearly revenue growth and a roughly $300 million earnings increase from $912.0 million today. Uncover how Ball's forecasts yield a $70.86 fair value, a 16% upside to its current price. Some of the lowest ranked analysts were only assuming about 1.3 percent annual revenue growth and US$950 million earnings by 2028, so compared with today’s stronger margin picture they...

Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET President and Chief Executive Officer — Ron Lewis Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Daniel Rabbitt Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] Ron Lewis: Thank you, Brandon. Today, I'm joined on our call by Dan Rabbitt, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. I will provide some brief introductory remarks and discuss first quarter 2026 financial performance and our outlook for the remainder of 2026. Dan will touch on key metrics, and then we will finish up with closing comments and Q&A. As we begin, I want to start with the big picture because it continues to matter how we think about Ball and our long-term value creation. We believe Ball is positioned to win and the fundamental supporting that belief remained firmly in place. Packaged liquid volume is continuing to grow globally, and aluminum cans are taking share as consumers, customers and retailers increasingly prioritize convenience, performance and sustainability. That dynamic creates a durable long runway of demand for our products. Within that growing market, Ball is executing at a high level. Across our regions, we continue to leverage long-term customer partnerships, a well contracted portfolio and an unmatched global footprint. Our utilization levels are strong, reflecting both disciplined capacity management and consistent commercial execution. We are pairing that execution with financial strength. We delivered solid results to start 2026, supported by a healthy balance sheet and a capital allocation framework grounded in EVA. Our focus remains on deploying capital where it earns returns above our hurdle rate and on continuing momentum as we move through the year. Operationally, our teams are performing well. Standardization, cost discipline and the Ball business system are driving improved profit per can and reinforcing our ability to generate operating leverage as volumes grow. While we are proud of the progress we continue to see opportunity ahead. When you bring together attractive industry fundamentals, disciplined execution, financial strength and an operating system built for continuous improvement, Ball remains exceptionally well positioned, not just for this year, but for the long term. Our strong start to the year underscores the resilience of our business, particularly in a c...

Ball reported Q1 comparable diluted EPS of $0.94, up 22% year-over-year, with comparable operating earnings up 10%, and reiterated 2026 targets including >$900M free cash flow, at least $600M in share repurchases (total shareholder returns of $800M) and a goal of 10%+ EPS growth for the year. EMEA led performance with comparable operating earnings up about 20% and low-single-digit volume growth boosted by the Benepack acquisition, while North America showed low-single-digit growth and South America rebounded in April after Q1 declines. Management said the business is effectively sold out for 2026 (over 90% sold for 2027) with plant utilization in the mid-to-high 90s; the Millersburg, OR facility is on track to ramp in 2027 with roughly $35M of startup costs, and a potential East Coast plant is planned later in the decade. Interested in Ball Corporation? Here are five stocks we like better. Corrugated Cash Flow: Hiding in Packaging Stocks Ball (NYSE:BALL) executives said the beverage packaging maker opened 2026 with what CEO Ron Lewis called “a good start,” citing modest global volume growth alongside stronger earnings and an outlook that maintains the company’s targets for the year. On the company’s first-quarter 2026 earnings call, Lewis and CFO Dan Rabbitt emphasized demand trends favoring aluminum packaging, while pointing to operational execution, cost discipline, and capital allocation as key drivers of results. Comparable diluted earnings per share rose to $0.94, up 22% year over year, while comparable operating earnings increased 10%. → 3 Emerging Markets ETFs to Maximize Exposure to High-Potential Countries Berry Global, The Backbone Of Consumer Packaging You Should Own Lewis said global volumes were up “nearly 1%” versus the prior year, driven by slightly stronger-than-expected volumes in North America and in-line performance in South America, partially offset by EMEA. Rabbitt similarly described global shipped beverage volumes as up about 1% year over year, with low-single-digit growth in North America and EMEA and lower volumes in South America. Lewis highlighted operating leverage in the quarter, stating comparable operating earnings growth “exceed[ed] our 2x operating leverage objective for the quarter.” He said comparable diluted EPS growth was driven by “strong operational execution, cost discipline, and capital allocation,” and added that the...

Performance was driven by high asset utilization and disciplined capacity management, allowing the company to exceed its 2x operating leverage objective. Management attributes the 22% EPS growth to the 'Ball Business System,' which focuses on standardization and cost discipline to improve profit per can. The global substrate shift toward aluminum continues to provide a durable demand runway as customers prioritize sustainability and performance. North American performance was characterized by low single-digit volume growth, reflecting slightly stronger demand in categories such as energy drinks and non-alcoholic beverages. South American volume fluctuations in Q1 were attributed to customer inventory timing and weather patterns, though the region maintained flat operating earnings through cost discipline. The company maintains a resilient business model where aluminum cost volatility is passed through to customers on an immediate basis, mitigating commodity risk. Management reaffirmed its 2026 growth algorithm of 10-plus percent comparable diluted EPS growth and over $900 million in free cash flow. The company expects to return approximately $800 million to shareholders in 2026, including at least $600 million in share repurchases. Guidance for North America includes a $35 million headwind from start-up costs related to the Millersburg facility and domesticating end production. EMEA volume growth is projected to exceed the long-term 3% to 5% range, bolstered by the integration of the Benepack acquisition. Capital allocation remains strictly governed by the Economic Value Added (EVA) framework, prioritizing projects with returns above the hurdle rate. Financial reporting was updated to exclude corporate financing items like factoring fees from segment comparable operating earnings to improve transparency. The beverage can plants in India and Myanmar were moved into the EMEA segment to align reporting with actual management and P&L responsibility. The acquisition of Benepack added capacity in Belgium and Hungary, while the sale of the UAC business in Saudi Arabia created a minor year-over-year volume headwind. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have not impacted supply assurance but have contributed to broader commodity cost inflation, which is largely passed through. Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us...

Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET Chief Executive Officer — Ron Lewis Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Daniel Rabbitt Ron Lewis: Thank you, Brandon. Today, I'm joined on our call by Dan Rabbitt, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. I will provide some brief introductory remarks and discuss full year and fourth quarter 2025 financial performance and our outlook for 2026. Dan will touch on key metrics, and then we'll finish up with closing comments and a question-and-answer session. With this being my first call as the CEO of Ball Corporation, I'd like to take a minute to share my background and our vision for our company. I grew up on a farm in Central Montana, working alongside my mom and dad, and that's where I learned the value of hard work, teamwork and treating everyone with dignity and respect, values that define Ball today. I spent 20 years in the Coca-Cola system, leading supply chains and buying cans from Ball. And over those years, I was asked several times to join Ball, and 6.5 years ago, I did. And since then, I've led our EMEA business, served as our COO and most recently led our global supply chain and operations. I'm honored to step into this role because I believe in Ball. And I believe Ball is well positioned to win, not only do I believe this, but the numbers back it up. It starts with the fundamentals of the beverage packaging market. Packaged liquid volume continues to grow globally and aluminum cans are taking share as consumers, customers and retailers favor a package that is convenient, functional and increasingly aligned with sustainability goals. This backdrop creates a long runway of demand for our products. Within that growing market, Ball is outperforming. Across our regions, we are consistently outpacing the can market in shipped volumes supported by strong customer partnerships, innovation and formats and a commercial and operational footprint that is unmatched. Our long-term volume range remains intact. And in 2025, we exceeded it. We paired that commercial momentum with financial strength. In 2025, we delivered record adjusted free cash flow and record comparable diluted EPS. We also returned more than $1.5 billion to shareholders through buybacks and dividends. Our disciplined capital allocation remains rooted in EVA, deploying capital only where it earns ret...