CCK

Amcor Plc AMCR has reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.23, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.20. The bottom line grew 23% from the year-ago quarter. The results benefited from the Berry Global acquisition, strong synergy realization, organic volume growth and productivity gains, which helped offset a challenging macro environment and significant input-cost inflation.Including special items, the company reported diluted earnings per share of 83 cents against a loss of 10 cents in the prior-year quarter. Amcor PLC price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Amcor PLC Quote Total revenues increased 26% year over year to $6.40 billion in the reported quarter. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.03 billion.The sales increase was largely driven by the Berry Global acquisition and the pass-through of higher raw-material costs. Organic volume increased around 0.5% from the year-ago period. The cost of sales rose 20.9% year over year to $5 billion. Gross profit rose 49.4% year over year to $1.34 billion. The gross margin was 20.9% compared with the year-ago quarter’s 17.6%.SG&A expenses were $568 million, up 39.2% year over year.Adjusted EBITDA was $1.05 billion, a 32% increase from $789 million in the prior-year quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 16.3% from 15.5% a year earlier.The improvement reflected benefits from the Berry Global acquisition, synergy realization, organic volume growth and productivity. Amcor delivered around $115 million in synergies in the fourth quarter, ahead of expectations. Global Flexible Packaging Solutions: Net revenues increased 18% year over year to $3.53 billion in the reported quarter. Acquisitions contributed 10% to growth, while the pass-through of higher raw-material costs primarily drove the balance of the increase. Volumes increased 1% from the year-ago period. Our model projected net sales of $3.32 billion based on an expectation of year-over-year volume growth of 1% and a favorable acquisition benefit of 7%.The segment’s adjusted operating income came in at $533 million, growing 23% from $435 million in the prior-year quarter. Global Rigid Packaging Solutions: The segment reported revenues of $2.87 billion in the quarter, marking a 38% increase from $2.09 billion in the year-ago period. Acquisitions contributed 32% to growth, while the pass-through of higher raw-material costs primarily accounted for the remaining increase. Volumes rose 0.5%. We projected revenues of $2.69 billion for the segment with positive impacts of the Berry Global acquisition of 32% and volume growth of 1%.The segment’s adjusted EBIT surged 61% to $352 million from $219 million in the prior-year quarter. As of the end of fiscal 2026, Amcor had $1.12 billion in cash and cash equivalents compared with $0.83 billion at the end of fiscal 2025. The company generated $2.15 billion in cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025 compared with $1.34 billion in the prior fiscal year.AMCR generated a free cash flow of $1.30 billion in fiscal 2026 compared with $926 million in fiscal 2025. The company noted that free cash flow was below expectations due to higher-than-expected working-capital impacts related to the Middle East conflict and the timing of integration costs.As of June 30, 2026, Amcor’s net debt totaled $12.90 billion. The company’s leverage stood at 3.5 times, in line with expectations. AMCR expects to recover more than $500 million in cash-flow impacts related to the Middle East conflict and the timing of integration costs over the next 12 months. Amcor reported an adjusted EPS of $4.02 in fiscal 2026, up 13% from $3.56 in fiscal 2025. However, the figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.97.Including special items, AMCR reported EPS of $2.38 compared with $1.60 in fiscal 2025.Total revenues rose 57% year over year to $23.51 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $23.20 billion, largely driven by the Berry Global acquisition. Adjusted EBITDA increased 68% to $3.67 billion from $2.19 billion. AMCR expects adjusted earnings of $1.80-$1.90 per share for the six-month transition period ending Dec. 31, 2026, as it changes its year-end from June to December.For the three months ending Sept. 30, 2026, adjusted earnings are expected between 92 cents and 98 cents per share. Looking toward calendar 2027, the company expects double-digit adjusted earnings growth and is targeting leverage of 3.0 times by the year-end. Amcor also reaffirmed its three-year synergy target of $650 million, after delivering $285 million in fiscal 2026. In the past year, the company’s shares have gained 1.3% compared with the industry’s 6.4% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research AMCR currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Packaging Corporation of America PKG reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.35 per share, falling 5.2% year over year but beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.31. The bottom line also came above Packaging Corp’s guidance of $2.33.Packaging Corp’s revenues increased 14.7% year over year to $2.49 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion by 3.6%. Total corrugated products shipments reached an all-time quarterly record, rising 24.3% both per day and in total from the prior-year quarter. Crown Holdings, Inc. CCK posted second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.49 per share, up 15.8% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 by 15.81%.Crown Holdings revenues increased 16.5% to $3.67 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $3.34 billion by 9.88%. Global beverage can volumes rose 5%, led by 6% growth in Europe and 5% growth in the Americas. This was partially offset by softer demand in Latin America.Sonoco Products Company SON reported adjusted earnings of $1.51 per share in the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47 by 2.72%. The figure rose 10.2% from $1.37 in the year-ago quarter. Pricing actions, favorable foreign-exchange movements and productivity gains helped offset the softer volume/mix during the quarter. Sonoco’s revenues of $1.885 billion declined 1.3% year over year and missed the consensus mark of $1.886 billion by 0.05%. Sonoco’s top line declined from the prior-year period primarily due to the absence of sales from the ThermoSafe business, which was divested in November 2025. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Amcor PLC (AMCR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sonoco Products Company (SON) : Free Stock Analysis Report Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Crown Holdings, Inc. (CCK) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Amcor Plc AMCR is scheduled to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 12, before the opening bell.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMCR’s fiscal fourth-quarter revenues is pegged at $6.06 billion, indicating a 19.3% rise from the year-ago reported figure.The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.20 per share. The consensus estimate indicates growth of 20% from the year-ago quarter's actual. The estimate has been unchanged in the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Amcor’s earnings met the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters, beat in one and missed in one, the average negative surprise being 0.29%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Amcor this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.AMCR’s Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Amcor is -0.64%.Amcor’s Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank of 4.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Amcor’s total volume had been bearing the brunt of weak consumer demand across its key markets due to the inflationary environment. Customers have also been lowering their inventory, which has impacted demand. Nonetheless, Amcor is expected to have gained from the rise in e-commerce activities worldwide.We expect 1% growth in volumes in the fiscal fourth quarter. Overall price/mix benefits are expected to be a positive 0.6% for the quarter and currency impacts are likely to have added another 1%.Amcor has been facing intermittent supply shortages and price volatility of certain resins and raw materials because of market dynamics and higher rates of inflation impacting other costs. The impacts of this are expected to be reflected in the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings results. We expect volume for the Global Flexible Packaging Solutions segment’s fiscal fourth quarter to be 1%. The price/mix and currency impacts are expected to be 1% each. Our sales projection for the Global Flexible Packaging Solutions segment is pegged at $3.32 billion, indicating 11% year-over-year growth. The effect of the merger is expected to have a positive impact of 7%. Our model estimates a 1% jump in volumes for the Global Rigid Packaging Solutions segment, a favorable currency impact of 1%. Price/mix is expected to be flat year over year. The sales projection for the segment is $2.69 billion, indicating a 29% year-over-year jump, including the positive impacts of the Berry Global acquisition, estimated at 32%. Over the past year, shares of Amcor have gained 5.4% compared with the industry’s 9.5% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Packaging Corporation of America PKG reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.35 per share, down 5.2% year over year but beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.31. The bottom line also came above Packaging Corp’s guidance of $2.33.Packaging Corp’s revenues increased 14.7% year over year to $2.49 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion by 3.6%. Total corrugated products shipments reached an all-time quarterly record, rising 24.3% both per day and in total from the prior-year quarter. Crown Holdings, Inc. CCK posted second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.49 per share, up 15.8% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 by 15.81%.Crown Holdings revenues increased 16.5% to $3.67 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $3.34 billion by 9.88%. Global beverage can volumes rose 5%, led by 6% growth in Europe and 5% growth in the Americas. This was partially offset by softer demand in Latin America.Sonoco Products Company SON reported adjusted earnings of $1.51 per share in the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47 by 2.72%. The figure rose 10.2% from $1.37 in the year-ago quarter. Pricing actions, favorable foreign-exchange movements and productivity gains helped offset softer volume/mix during the quarter. Sonoco’s revenues of $1.885 billion declined 1.3% year over year and missed the consensus mark of $1.886 billion by 0.05%. Sonoco’s top line declined from the prior-year period primarily due to the absence of sales from the ThermoSafe business, which was divested in November 2025. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Amcor PLC (AMCR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sonoco Products Company (SON) : Free Stock Analysis Report Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Crown Holdings, Inc. (CCK) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

AptarGroup, Inc. ATR reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.42 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.34 by 5.97%. The bottom line fell 15.5% from $1.68 a year ago (including comparable exchange rates), reflecting weaker margins and a higher tax rate.On a reported basis, earnings per share were $1.36 compared with the year-ago quarter’s $1.67. AptarGroup, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | AptarGroup, Inc. Quote Revenues rose 6.3% year over year to $1.03 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $1 billion by 2.32%. The quarter marked the first time reporting revenues of more than $1 billion. Core sales increased 1%, aided by growth across all three segments and strength in consumer healthcare and beverage dispensing. We predicted core sales growth of 0.5% in the quarter. Cost of sales increased 10.3% year over year to $661 million. Gross profit decreased 0.4% year over year to $366 million. The gross margin was 35.6% in the reported quarter compared with the prior-year quarter’s 38%.Selling, research, development and administrative expenses rose 4.4% year over year to $158 million. Adjusted operating income declined 10.5% year over year to $133 million. The adjusted operating margin was 13% in the reported quarter, down from the year-ago quarter’s 15.4%. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 2.7% year over year to $213 million in the second quarter. Total revenues in the Pharma segment increased 3.5% year over year to $458 million. The reported figure beat our estimate of $446 million. Adjusted EBITDA declined 1.9% year over year to $153.9 million. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA margin contracted to 33.6% from 35.4% in the year-ago quarter. We predicted a quarterly adjusted operating income of $159 million. Demand remained healthy across the central nervous system, asthma and COPD therapies, eye care, biologics, GLP-1 therapies, and vaccines.Total revenues in the Beauty segment rose 9.7% year over year to $367.5 million. The upside was supported by prestige fragrance dispensing, color cosmetics and hair care applications. We estimated revenues of $357 million for the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA fell 5% year over year to $44.7 million. The reported figure beat our operating income prediction of $41.5 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 12.2% compared with the prior-year quarter’s 14.1%.Total revenues in the Closures segment increased 6.5% year over year to $201 million. We estimated revenues of $192 million for the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 6.4% year over year to $29.8 million. The reported figure beat our operating income prediction of $29.2 million. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 14.9% from 16.9% a year ago. AptarGroup reported cash and cash equivalents of $190 million as of June 30, 2026, down from $402 million as of Dec. 31, 2025. The company generated $222 million in cash flow from operations in the first six months of 2026 compared with $209 million in the year-ago period.The company returned $212 million to shareholders during the first half through dividends and buybacks, including $81 million in the second quarter. During the quarter, ATR repurchased 403,000 shares for $50 million. Its board also approved a quarterly dividend of 48 cents per share. ATR expects third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.45-$1.53 per share. The company expects solid growth across all three segments. Pharma should benefit from injectables and consumer healthcare, with emergency medicine destocking expected to abate by the fourth quarter. Beauty growth is anticipated in fragrance and facial skincare, while Closures demand and operational performance are expected to improve. The company’s shares have lost 1.5% in the past year against the industry’s 8.4% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Packaging Corporation of America PKG reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.35 per share, down 5.2% year over year but beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.31. The bottom line also came above Packaging Corp’s guidance of $2.33.Packaging Corp’s revenues increased 14.7% year over year to $2.49 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion by 3.6%. Total corrugated products shipments reached an all-time quarterly record, rising 24.3% both per day and in total from the prior-year quarter. Crown Holdings, Inc. CCK posted second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.49 per share, up 15.8% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 by 15.81%.Crown Holdings revenues increased 16.5% to $3.67 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $3.34 billion by 9.88%. Global beverage can volumes rose 5%, led by 6% growth in Europe and 5% growth in the Americas. This was partially offset by softer demand in Latin America.Sonoco Products Company SON reported adjusted earnings of $1.51 per share in the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47 by 2.72%. The figure rose 10.2% from $1.37 in the year-ago quarter. Pricing actions, favorable foreign-exchange movements and productivity gains helped offset softer volume/mix during the quarter. Sonoco’s revenues of $1.885 billion declined 1.3% year over year and missed the consensus mark of $1.886 billion by 0.05%. Sonoco’s top line declined from the prior-year period primarily due to the absence of sales from the ThermoSafe business, which was divested in November 2025. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sonoco Products Company (SON) : Free Stock Analysis Report Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Crown Holdings, Inc. (CCK) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Silgan Holdings Inc. SLGN reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 98 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 96 cents by 2.08%. The bottom line declined 3% from $1.01 in the year-ago quarter.Including one-time items, earnings were 72 cents per share compared with earnings of 83 cents in the prior-year quarter. Silgan Holdings Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Silgan Holdings Inc. Quote Net revenues increased 6.8% year over year to $1.64 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $1.62 billion by 1.54%. Higher raw-material cost pass-throughs supported revenues, while high-single-digit growth in fragrance dispensing products and pet food metal containers stood out operationally. In second-quarter 2026, the cost of goods sold increased 8.7% year over year to $1.35 billion. Gross profit declined 1.4% to $295 million. The gross margin was 17.9% compared with the prior-year quarter’s 19.4%.Selling, general and administrative expenses were $127 million, up 4.1% year over year. The company reported an adjusted operating income of $185.3 million compared with $193 million in the prior-year quarter. The adjusted operating margin was 11.3% compared with the prior-year quarter’s 12.5%. Revenues in the Dispensing and Specialty Closures segment rose 1.7% year over year to $714 million. Results benefited from the pass-through of higher raw-material and other costs and favorable foreign currency translation but were partially offset by lower volumes and an unfavorable product mix. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA was $146.9 million compared with $145.5 million in second-quarter 2025.The Metal Containers segment’s revenues improved 13% year over year to $764 million due to the contractual pass-through of higher raw-material and manufacturing costs. Volumes were comparable with the prior-year quarter, as growth in pet food markets was offset by weaker fruit, vegetable and soup volumes. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA was $86.2 million compared with $84.4 million in the prior-year quarter.In the Custom Containers segment, revenues increased 2.9% year over year to $165.5 million. Favorable price and product mix aided revenues, partially offset by a 4% decline in volumes. The segment reported adjusted EBITDA of $35.2 million, up from the previous-year quarter’s $33.6 million. Silgan had cash and cash equivalents of $0.35 billion at June 30, 2026, compared with $1.08 billion at the end of 2025. Total debt was $4.83 billion, up from $4.35 billion at year-end.The company used $993.9 million of cash in operating activities during the first six months of 2026 compared with $904.9 million in the prior-year period. Capital expenditure was $146.7 million versus $155.7 million a year earlier.SLGN used $993.9 million in cash in operating activities compared with an outflow of $904.9 million in the first six months of 2025. SLGN reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted earnings guidance of $3.73-$3.93 per share. The midpoint implies growth of 3% from the adjusted earnings of $3.72 per share reported in 2025.The company also maintained its free cash flow forecast of $450 million and capital expenditure estimate of $310 million. For the third quarter, SLGN expects adjusted earnings of $1.21-$1.31 per share compared with $1.22 in the year-ago period. The company’s shares have lost 11% in the past year against the industry’s growth of 12.1%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research SLGN currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Packaging Corporation of America PKG reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.35 per share, falling 5.2% year over year but beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.31. The bottom line also came above Packaging Corp’s guidance of $2.33.Packaging Corp’s revenues increased 14.7% year over year to $2.49 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion by 3.6%. Total corrugated products shipments reached an all-time quarterly record, rising 24.3% both per day and in total from the prior-year quarter. Crown Holdings, Inc. CCK posted second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.49 per share, up 15.8% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 by 15.81%. Crown Holdings revenues increased 16.5% to $3.67 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $3.34 billion by 9.88%. Global beverage can volumes rose 5%, led by 6% growth in Europe and 5% growth in the Americas. This was partially offset by softer demand in Latin America. Sonoco Products Company SON reported adjusted earnings of $1.51 per share in the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47 by 2.72%. The figure rose 10.2% from $1.37 in the year-ago quarter. Pricing actions, favorable foreign-exchange movements and productivity gains helped offset the softer volume/mix during the quarter. Sonoco’s revenues of $1.885 billion declined 1.3% year over year and missed the consensus mark of $1.886 billion by 0.05%. Sonoco’s top line declined from the prior-year period primarily due to the absence of sales from the ThermoSafe business, which was divested in November 2025. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sonoco Products Company (SON) : Free Stock Analysis Report Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Crown Holdings, Inc. (CCK) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Avery Dennison Corporation’s AVY adjusted earnings of $2.89 per share for the second quarter of 2026 grew 19.4% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.47.Including one-time items, the company has reported earnings per share of $2.67 compared with the year-ago quarter’s $2.41. Avery Dennison Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Avery Dennison Corporation Quote Revenues increased 10.9% year over year to $2.46 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $2.29 billion. Strong volume growth, productivity gains, and favorable pricing and raw-material dynamics supported the results. Organic sales rose 7.6%. The cost of sales in the quarter increased 9.6% year over year to $1.73 billion. Gross profit rose 14.1% to $729.4 million. The gross margin came in at 29.6%, up from the prior-year quarter’s 28.8%.Marketing, general and administrative expenses were $352.4 million compared with $394.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating profit increased to $334.6 million from $286.7 million. The adjusted operating margin was 13.6% compared with 12.9% in the prior-year quarter.Adjusted EBITDA advanced 14.6% to $421 million. The corresponding margin improved 50 basis points to 17.1%. Volume, productivity and the net benefit of pricing and raw-material costs supported profitability, though higher employee-related expenses remained a headwind. Revenues in the Materials Group segment increased 15.9% year over year to $1.80 billion in the reported quarter. Our estimate was $1.61 billion. On an organic basis, sales improved 9.7%, driven by high-single-digit volume and mix growth, and a low-single-digit increase in pricing. The segment’s adjusted operating profit increased 17.1% year over year to $284 million. Our estimate was $258 million. The adjusted operating margin was 15.8% compared with 15.6% in the prior-year quarter.Revenues in the Solutions Group declined 0.5% year over year to $667 million. Our estimate was $672 million. On an organic basis, sales improved 2.6%, with overall apparel categories registering high-single-digit growth.The segment’s adjusted operating income increased 14.2% year over year to $76.5 million. Our estimate was $67 million. The adjusted operating margin expanded to 11.5% from 10% in the year-ago quarter. The company returned $347 million in cash to shareholders through share repurchases and dividend payments in the first half of 2026. AVY repurchased 1.2 million shares, with payments totaling $198 million.Avery Dennison ended the second quarter of 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $227 million compared with $216 million at the end of the year-ago period.The company’s long-term debt and finance leases were $3.18 billion at the end of the second quarter, up from $2.63 billion in the year-ago period. Its net-debt-to-adjusted-EBITDA ratio was 2.3X.AVY realized approximately $34 million in pre-tax savings from restructuring actions in the first half of 2026. The company also incurred around $34 million in pre-tax restructuring charges. Avery Dennison expects reported earnings of $9.40-$9.70 per share for 2026. Adjusted earnings are projected between $10 and $10.30 per share. The outlook assumes reported sales growth of 5-6% and organic growth of 3-4%.AVY expects much of the customer inventory stocking recorded in the first half to unwind during the second half, with most destocking anticipated in the third quarter. The company consequently expects a greater-than-historical sequential earnings decline in that period. It is also targeting adjusted free cash flow conversion of approximately 100% and more than $60 million in incremental restructuring savings. AVY shares have gained 1.5% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 5.2%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Avery Dennison currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Packaging Corporation of America PKG reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.35 per share, down 5.2% year over year but beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.31. The bottom line also came above Packaging Corp’s guidance of $2.33.Packaging Corp’s revenues increased 14.7% year over year to $2.49 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion by 3.6%. Total corrugated products shipments reached an all-time quarterly record, rising 24.3% both per day and in total from the prior-year quarter. Crown Holdings, Inc. CCK posted second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.49 per share, up 15.8% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 by 15.81%. Crown Holdings revenues increased 16.5% to $3.67 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $3.34 billion by 9.88%. Global beverage can volumes rose 5%, led by 6% growth in Europe and 5% growth in the Americas. This was partially offset by softer demand in Latin America. Sonoco Products Company SON reported adjusted earnings of $1.51 per share in the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47 by 2.72%. The figure rose 10.2% from $1.37 in the year-ago quarter. Pricing actions, favorable foreign-exchange movements and productivity gains helped offset softer volume/mix during the quarter. Sonoco’s revenues of $1.885 billion declined 1.3% year over year and missed the consensus mark of $1.886 billion by 0.05%. Sonoco’s top line declined from the prior-year period primarily due to the absence of sales from the ThermoSafe business, which was divested in November 2025. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sonoco Products Company (SON) : Free Stock Analysis Report Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Crown Holdings, Inc. (CCK) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Ball Corporation BALL is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BALL’s net sales is pegged at $3.67 billion, indicating 9.8% growth from the year-ago reported figure. The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at 99 cents per share, which has moved up 1% in the past 60 days. The estimate indicates year-over-year growth of 10%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Ball Corp.’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 3.79%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Ball Corp. this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is the case here, as you can see below. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Earnings ESP: Ball Corp. has an Earnings ESP of +0.98%. Zacks Rank: BALL currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Ball Corp.’s global aluminum packaging shipments increased 0.8% year over year in first-quarter 2026, driven by low-single-digit growth in North and Central America and EMEA, partly offset by a mid-single-digit decline in South America. Management noted that enterprise volumes accelerated to the mid-single digits in April, with South America posting a 20% year-over-year increase, marking a sharp turnaround from the first-quarter decline. For full-year 2026, the company expects enterprise volumes to trend toward the upper end of its long-term 2-3% growth range. North and Central America volumes are expected to remain near the lower end of the 1-3% range due to capacity constraints, while EMEA is projected to exceed its 3-5% target, supported by the acquisition of a majority stake in European beverage can manufacturer Benepack. South America volumes are expected to grow 4-6% for the year. Our second-quarter 2026 estimate for the Beverage Packaging, North and Central America segment’s net sales is pegged at $1.66 billion, indicating a 2.8% year-over-year rise. We expect the segment’s volume to increase 0.8% year over year. We expect a 4% year-over-year increase in the segment’s operating income to $225 million. Our model predicts the Beverage Packaging, EMEA segment’s sales to be around $1.2 billion, indicating 8.1% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. We expect volume growth of 6.1% for this segment. The segment’s operating income is projected at $161.2 million, indicating 6% year-over-year growth. For the Beverage Packaging, South America segment, we estimate net sales of $588.9 million, up 23.5% year over year. Shipment volumes are expected to surge 20.4%, representing a significant rebound from the 2.6% decline recorded in the first quarter and aligning with management's commentary on improving demand. The consensus estimate for the segment’s operating income is pegged at $53 million, indicating a 5.9% rise from the year-ago quarter’s actual. Ball Corp. is likely to have faced higher input costs during the quarter due to tariff-related pressures. However, stronger shipment volumes, favorable revenue growth, ongoing cost-reduction initiatives, and continued productivity and efficiency improvements are expected to have largely offset these headwinds, supporting margin expansion in the quarter. The company’s shares have gained 15% in the past year compared with the industry's 12.1% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Crown Holdings, Inc. CCK reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.49 per share, up 15.8% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 by 15.81%. Including one-time items, the company reported earnings of $2.23 per share in the quarter under review compared with $1.56 in the year-ago quarter. Crown Holdings’ net sales increased 16.5% to $3.67 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $3.34 billion by 9.88%. Global beverage can volumes rose 5%, led by 6% growth in Europe and 5% growth in the Americas. This was partially offset by softer demand in Latin America. Crown Holdings increased its full-year adjusted earnings guidance to $8.30-$8.50 per share from the previously mentioned $7.90-$8.30. Silgan Holdings SLGN reported adjusted earnings per share of 98 cents in the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 96 cents. This marked a 3% decline from earnings of $1.01 per share in the year-ago quarter. Including one-time items, the company reported earnings of 72 cents per share in the quarter under review compared with 83 cents in the second quarter of 2025. Silgan Holdings posted revenues of $1.64 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.62 billion by 1.54%. This compares with year-ago revenues of $1.54 billion. Silgan maintained its guidance for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $3.73-$3.93 for 2026, a 3% year-over-year increase at the midpoint. Here is one Industrial Products stock, which according to our model, also has the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in its upcoming release. Ferguson Enterprises Inc. FERG, slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 10, has an Earnings ESP of +1.22% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ferguson’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.23 per share. Ferguson has a trailing four-quarter average surprise of 6.5%. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ball Corporation (BALL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Crown Holdings, Inc. (CCK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ferguson plc (FERG) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Greif, Inc. GEF reported adjusted earnings of $1.61 per share for third-quarter fiscal 2026,  beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04. The 54.81% earnings surprise reflected stronger price performance, structural cost optimization and lower interest expenses. The company posted adjusted earnings of 86 cents in the year-ago quarter, excluding the impacts of adjustments.Including one-time items, earnings per share were $1.37 in the quarter compared with 53 cents in the prior-year quarter. Greif, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Greif, Inc. Quote GEF’s sales increased 3.5% year over year to $1.17 billion. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.12 billion.The cost of sales rose 2.7% year over year to $893 million. Gross profit amounted to $273 million, up 6.5% from the prior-year quarter. The gross margin came in at 23.4%, up from the prior-year quarter’s 22.7%.Selling, general and administrative expenses were $149.5 million compared with the prior-year quarter’s $168 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 24.7% year over year to $183.4 million in the fiscal third quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin came in at 15.7% compared with the prior-year quarter’s 13.1%. Revenues in the Customized Polymer Solutions segment increased 13.6% year over year to $384 million, primarily driven by higher average selling prices, favorable foreign currency translation and higher volumes. Our model projected revenues of $331 million for the quarter. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA rose to $64.3 million from $37.1 million in the year-ago quarter. The reported figure beat our estimate of $33 million.The Durable Metal Solutions segment’s revenues increased 3.4% year over year to $406 million in the fiscal third quarter, aided by positive foreign currency translation and higher average selling prices, partly offset by lower volumes. The figure beat our estimated revenues of $387 million. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA improved to $64 million from $53.6 million in the prior-year quarter. We projected the segment’s adjusted EBITDA to be $52 million.The Sustainable Fiber Solutions segment’s revenues declined 6.5% year over year to $346.5 million, reflecting lower average selling prices, impacts from the Soterra divestiture and lower volumes. The figure beat our estimated revenues of 260 million. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA was $42.5 million, down from $48.8 million in the year-ago quarter. We projected the segment’s adjusted EBITDA to be $71 million.The Innovative Closure Solutions segment’s revenues rose 18.8% year over year to $30 million, supported by higher average selling prices, higher volumes and favorable foreign currency translation. We projected the segment's revenues to be $148 million in the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $12.6 million from $7.6 million a year earlier. Our forecast for the quarter’s adjusted EBITDA was $7 million. Greif reported cash and cash equivalents of $288.5 million as of June 30, 2026, compared with $256.7 million at the end of fiscal 2025. The cash flow from operating activities totaled $77.8 million in the quarter under review, down from $147.1 million in the prior-year quarter.Long-term debt amounted to $687.4 million as of June 30, 2026, compared with $914.8 million as of Sept. 30, 2025. Total debt was $1.03 billion, while net debt declined to $741.9 million from $2.43 billion as of July 31, 2025.On June 2, Greif’s board declared a quarterly cash dividend of 62 cents per share of Class A Common Stock and 93 cents per share of Class B Common Stock. The dividend represented a 10.7% increase and was paid out on July 1, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 17, 2026.The company also announced plans to execute share repurchases under existing authorizations. It achieved $90 million in cumulative run-rate cost savings and maintained its target of at least $120 million by the end of fiscal 2027. Greif also completed the $57-million Envaplast acquisition, adding an agrochemical-focused small-container producer in Spain. GEF expects fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDA of $615-$635 million, implying year-over-year growth of 9.8-13.4%. The outlook reflects improved fiscal third-quarter demand and continued execution, even as industrial conditions remain subdued and the company has not seen evidence of a broad recovery.The adjusted free cash flow is projected between $305 million and $325 million, with conversion of about 50%. Current assumptions call for flat Customized Polymer Solutions volumes, mid-single-digit declines in Durable Metal Solutions, and low-single-digit declines in both Sustainable Fiber Solutions and Innovative Closure Solutions. The company’s shares have gained 32.4% in a year compared with the industry’s 2.2% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Greif currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Packaging Corporation of America PKG reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.35 per share, down 5.2% year over year but beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.31. The bottom line also came above Packaging Corp’s guidance of $2.33, driven by higher production and sales volumes, including contributions from the acquired Greif business. This was partially offset by lower price and mix in the packaging segment, and higher operating, freight and labor costs. Packaging Corp’s sales increased 14.7% year over year to $2.49 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion by 3.6%. Total corrugated products shipments reached an all-time quarterly record, rising 24.3% both per day and in total from the prior-year quarter. Crown Holdings, Inc. CCK posted second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.49 per share, up 15.8% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 by 15.81%. Crown Holdings sales increased 16.5% to $3.67 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $3.34 billion by 9.88%. Global beverage can volumes rose 5%, led by 6% growth in Europe and 5% growth in the Americas. This was partially offset by softer demand in Latin America. Sonoco Products Company SON reported adjusted earnings of $1.51 per share in the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47 by 2.72%. The figure rose 10.2% from $1.37 in the year-ago quarter. Pricing actions, favorable foreign-exchange movements and productivity gains helped offset softer volume/mix during the quarter. Sonoco’s sales of $1.885 billion declined 1.3% year over year and missed the consensus mark of $1.886 billion by 0.05%. Sonoco’s top line declined from the prior-year period primarily due to the absence of sales from the ThermoSafe business, which was divested in November 2025. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Greif, Inc. (GEF) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sonoco Products Company (SON) : Free Stock Analysis Report Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Crown Holdings, Inc. (CCK) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Diluted Earnings Per Share: $2.23, up from $1.56 in the prior year quarter. Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share: $2.49, a 16% increase from $2.15 in the prior year quarter. Net Sales: $3.7 billion, reflecting 5% growth in global beverage can shipments. Segment Income: $501 million, up from $476 million in the prior year quarter. Full Year Adjusted EPS Guidance: Increased to a range of $8.30 to $8.50. Adjusted Free Cash Flow: At least $900 million expected. Capital Spending: Approximately $550 million. Share Repurchases: $305 million in Q2; $517 million in the first six months. Dividends Paid: $77 million in the first half of the year. Adjusted Net Leverage Ratio: Approximately 2.5 times. Americas Beverage Revenue Growth: 21% in the quarter. European Volumes: Increased 7% in the quarter. Asia Pacific Income Growth: 6% in the quarter. North American Food Can Volumes: Declined 3% in the quarter. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Sign with BOM:532977. Is CCK fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. Release Date: July 21, 2026 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Reported diluted earnings per share increased to $2.23 from $1.56 in the prior year quarter, with adjusted earnings per share rising by 16%. Net sales increased to $3.7 billion, driven by 5% growth in global beverage can shipments and favorable foreign exchange rates. Crown Holdings Inc (NYSE:CCK) raised its full-year 2026 adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance to a range of $8.30 to $8.50. The company repurchased $305 million of shares in the second quarter, reflecting confidence in its outlook and strong free cash flow generation. Crown Holdings Inc (NYSE:CCK) is investing in growth initiatives in Brazil, Greece, Spain, and India, which are progressing on schedule while maintaining a strong balance sheet. Inflationary cost increases partially offset the income gains from higher global beverage can shipments. Income in the Americas Beverage segment declined by $3 million due to cost inflation, despite a 21% revenue increase. The ongoing Middle East crisis and related global economic headwinds pose challenges to the business. Latin American volumes declined by 10%, impacting overall performance in the region. The company expressed caution regarding the second half of the year due to potential inflation impacts and geopolitical uncertainties. Q: With America's EBIT guidance for this year being down, do you think earnings might be flat overall for the Americas given the volume momentum? Also, any thoughts on how your market shares might develop in 2027? A: Timothy Donahue, CEO: The second half of the year could be level to last year, but due to softness in Brazil, it might be challenging to match last year's segment income in the Americas. We aim for a business strategy that rewards stakeholders, focusing on sound commercial strategies rather than just volume. The market is growing, and our volume next year will likely be up compared to this year. Q: The quarter was ahead of your guidance. As we look into the third quarter, any thoughts on where volumes are right now? Why are earnings lower sequentially from 3Q versus 2Q? A: Timothy Donahue, CEO: Volumes globally in beverage cans feel firm, with high demand in North America. However, we have some caution around the second half due to the ongoing Middle East crisis, which could impact inflation and costs. We have penciled in a higher inflation number for the second half than we did three months ago. Q: Can you update us on the EPS impact from the Middle East conflict? A: Timothy Donahue, CEO: We saw a $0.05 to $0.06 impact in the second quarter, mainly in the Asian business. We expect higher inflation in the second half, which currently runs ahead of our cost recovery mechanisms. We have modeled a $0.07 to $0.10 impact for the second half. Q: How are you thinking about capital allocation, particularly regarding share repurchases and dividends? A: Timothy Donahue, CEO: We have a lot of cash and will discuss with the Board what an appropriate dividend policy should be. We increased the dividend earlier this year to reflect our confidence in future cash flow generation. We will continue to focus on disciplined capital allocation, including share repurchases. Q: What are your thoughts on M&A opportunities, and which regions are most interesting? A: Timothy Donahue, CEO: Currently, we are not contemplating any large M&A. Our focus is on using cash for investments in our business and continued share repurchases. We anticipate another $900 million to $1 billion of free cash flow next year. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Crown Holdings, Inc. CCK reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.49 per share, up 15.8% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 by 15.81%.Including one-time items, the company reported earnings of $2.23 per share in the quarter under review compared with $1.56 in second-quarter 2025. Crown Holdings, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Crown Holdings, Inc. Quote Net sales increased 16.5% to $3.67 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $3.34 billion by 9.88%. Global beverage can volumes rose 5%, led by 6% growth in Europe and 5% growth in the Americas. This was partially offset by softer demand in Latin America. The cost of products sold rose 19.9% year over year to $2.92 billion. On a year-over-year basis, gross profit moved up 4.9% to $748 million. The gross margin declined to 20.4% from the year-ago quarter’s 22.6%.Selling and administrative expenses rose 3.1% year over year to $166 million. Segmental operating income was $501 million compared with the prior-year quarter’s $476 million. Net sales in the Americas Beverage segment totaled $1.7 billion, up 20.1% year over year. The improvement reflected higher beverage can volumes and favorable currency translation. Segmental operating profit decreased 1.1% year over year to $265 million.The European Beverage segment’s sales rose 15.7% year over year to $735 million. Operating income was $107 million compared with the year-ago quarter’s $97 million. The upside was supported by higher shipments and improved operating performance across the region.The Asia-Pacific segment’s revenues totaled $331 million, up 29.3% year over year. Operating profit was $53 million compared with the prior-year quarter’s $50 million.Revenues in the Transit Packaging segment totaled $537 million compared with the year-ago quarter’s $526 million. Operating profit fell 5.6% year over year to $68 million as weakness in global industrial markets continued to weigh on performance. CCK had cash and cash equivalents of $0.66 billion at the end of second-quarter 2026, down from $0.94 billion at the end of the prior-year quarter. The company generated $659 million in cash from operating activities in the first half of 2026 compared with $463 million in the year-ago comparable period.Crown Holdings’ long-term debt decreased to $5.50 billion as of June 30, 2026, from $5.62 billion as of June 30, 2025.The company repurchased $305 million of common stock during the second quarter. Total repurchases exceeded $500 million in the first six months of 2026 and represented roughly 7% of outstanding shares.The company emphasized its confidence in long-term cash flow generation while maintaining balance-sheet flexibility. Dividends paid out to shareholders totaled $77 million during the first half, up from $60 million in the prior-year period. Crown Holdings increased its full-year adjusted earnings guidance to $8.30-$8.50 per share from the prior mentioned $7.90-$8.30. The midpoint of $8.40 implies growth of 10.7% from adjusted earnings of $7.59 in 2025.For the third quarter, CCK expects adjusted earnings of $2.20-$2.30 per share. It also projects adjusted free cash flow of at least $900 million, with a capital expenditure of $550 million.The company expects beverage can demand to remain strong through the balance of the year. It highlighted continued momentum in Europe and North America, along with improving market conditions in Brazil. The company’s shares have gained 10.8% in the past year compared with the industry’s 5.8% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Crown Holdings currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Ball Corporation BALL is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BALL’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 99 cents per share, suggesting year-over-year growth of 10%.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ball Corp’s top line is pegged at $3.67 billion, indicating growth of 9.8% from the prior-year reported figure. Ball Corp has a trailing four-quarter average surprise of 3.7%.Silgan Holdings Inc. SLGN is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SLGN’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 96 cents per share, implying a year-over-year dip of 4.9%.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Silgan Holdings’ top line is pegged at $1.62 billion, suggesting an increase of 5.1% from the prior-year reported figure. Silgan Holdings has a trailing four-quarter average surprise of 1.8%.AptarGroup, Inc. ATR is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AptarGroup’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.34 per share, indicating a year-over-year dip of 19.3%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s top line is pegged at $1 billion, implying growth of 3.8% from the prior-year reported figure. ATR has a trailing four-quarter average surprise of 3.1%. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Crown Holdings, Inc. (CCK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ball Corporation (BALL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Interested in Crown Holdings, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better. Crown raised its full-year 2026 outlook after a strong second quarter, now expecting adjusted diluted EPS of $8.30 to $8.50 versus a prior range of $7.90 to $8.30. Q2 adjusted EPS rose 16% to $2.49, helped by higher beverage can shipments and better equipment and tin plate performance. Demand for beverage cans remained the key growth driver, with global volumes up 5% in the quarter and strength across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Management said North American can demand remains solid, while Latin America was weaker due to mix and promotional pressure in Brazil. Capital returns stayed aggressive, as Crown repurchased $305 million of shares in Q2 and returned $594 million to shareholders in the first half through buybacks and dividends. The company also said it remains cautious about second-half inflation and geopolitical cost pressures, particularly related to the Middle East crisis. Corrugated Cash Flow: Hiding in Packaging Stocks Crown (NYSE:CCK) raised its full-year earnings outlook after reporting stronger second-quarter results, supported by higher global beverage can shipments, gains in its beverage can equipment business and improved performance in North American tin plate operations. Kevin Clothier, senior vice president and chief financial officer, said reported diluted earnings per share were $2.23, up from $1.56 in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted earnings per diluted share rose 16% to $2.49 from $2.15 a year earlier. Net sales increased to $3.7 billion, reflecting 5% growth in global beverage can shipments, the pass-through of higher material costs and favorable foreign currency translation. → Buyback Boom: These 3 Companies Are Betting Billions on Their Own Stocks 3 Stocks That Just Announced Big Dividend Increases Segment income rose to $501 million from $476 million in the second quarter of 2025. Clothier said the increase was driven by higher global beverage can shipments, strong performance in the beverage can equipment business and North American tin plate operations, partially offset by inflationary cost increases. Based on first-half results and a positive demand outlook, Crown increased its full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance to a range of $8.30 to $8.50, up from its prior range of $7.90 to $8.30. The company expects third-quarter adjusted diluted EPS of $2.20 to $2.30. → Cybersecurity Stocks Are Holding Up as the AI Trade Starts to Crack What are specialty REITs? How to invest in them Crown’s full-year assumptions include net interest expense of about $355 million, an effective tax rate of approximately 25%, depreciation of about $330 million and adjusted free cash flow of at least $900 million. Capital spending is expected to be approximately $550 million. Clothier said the company repurchased $305 million of its shares in the second quarter. Through the first six months of the year, Crown repurchased $517 million of shares and paid $77 million in dividends, returning a total of $594 million to shareholders. He said the pace of buybacks reflects management’s confidence in the outlook, free cash flow generation and a disciplined capital allocation framework. → Strait of Hormuz Tensions Spike Tanker Trade: These 2 Stocks Are Set to Benefit The company ended the quarter with an adjusted net leverage ratio of about 2.5 times, which Clothier said was consistent with Crown’s long-term leverage target. Crown continues to invest in growth initiatives in Brazil, Greece, Spain and India, which management said are progressing on schedule. Tim Donahue, president and chief executive officer, said Crown delivered another strong quarter, with revenue and EPS both up 16% from the prior-year period. Global beverage can volumes rose 5% in the second quarter, following 5% growth in the first quarter. In Americas Beverage, revenue increased 21%, which Donahue said was almost entirely due to the pass-through of higher aluminum costs. Sales unit volumes in North America rose 5%, offsetting declines across Latin America. Segment income declined by $3 million, primarily due to cost inflation. Donahue said North American can demand remains strong and that Crown expects full-year shipments in the region to be 3% to 4% above 2025. European volumes increased 7% in the quarter, with growth across almost all countries, leading to a 10% improvement in segment income. Donahue said the first line in Greece was commercialized earlier in July, adding needed capacity to Crown’s European system. Additional capacity is expected later in the year from a second Greek line and in Spain. Asia Pacific income rose 6% as volume gains across most countries offset cost headwinds tied to the Middle East crisis. During the question-and-answer portion of the call, Donahue said Asia Pacific volumes were up double digits in the first half of the year and that management expects high single-digit growth in the second half. Donahue said Latin America beverage can volumes were down 10% in the quarter. In response to an analyst question, Clothier said weakness in Brazil was largely a matter of customer mix, with Crown more exposed to customers serving lower-end consumers, who he said appear to be under more pressure than higher-end consumers. Donahue added that promotional activity by a major brewer in Brazil affected mix for Crown. Crown is adding a line in Ponta Grossa, Brazil, which Donahue described as a regional size expansion intended to provide more size capability in the Southeast. He said Crown’s Brazilian team is projecting flat volumes for the full year after being down high single digits in the first half, though management is applying caution to that forecast. Transit Packaging volumes were level with the prior year. Donahue said improved equipment and tool activity was offset by lower steel and plastic strap volumes, while inflation ran ahead of cost recovery. He said the business remains resilient and that second-half performance is expected to be firmer relative to the prior year than in the first half. Crown’s North American food can volumes declined 3% in the quarter, though Donahue noted they had increased 9% in the prior-year second quarter. He said the business is now about 40% pet food, which provides stability, and that pet food volumes were stronger than human food volumes on a year-over-year basis. Despite the stronger outlook, management struck a cautious tone on the second half. Donahue said demand remains firm in North America and Europe, but the company is factoring in higher inflation tied to ocean freight, industrial gases and other costs related to the Middle East crisis. In response to Anthony Pettinari of Citi, Donahue said the Middle East conflict had an estimated impact of about $0.05 to $0.06 per share in the second quarter, with a possible $0.07 to $0.10 impact in the second half embedded in current expectations. He said some of these costs are running ahead of Crown’s cost recovery mechanisms, which reset either at year-end or early next year. Management also discussed the impact of the World Cup and other activity on North American volumes. Clothier said that, while difficult to isolate precisely, the World Cup or America 250-related activity may have represented roughly 2% of North American volume in the second quarter. Donahue said Crown does not expect that same benefit in the third quarter. Asked about capital allocation, Donahue said Crown is not currently contemplating any major M&A and is not contemplating M&A broadly, aside from the possibility of very small transactions. He said free cash flow next year could again be in the $900 million to $1 billion range, subject to future results, and that beyond business investments, Crown expects continued share repurchases. Clothier said Crown should be able to repurchase close to $200 million of stock in the second half of 2026. Donahue also said the board will review dividend policy as the company approaches year-end. On India, Clothier said a new plant with two high-speed lines typically costs around $250 million, depending on land and construction costs. He said Crown generally seeks long-term contracts that anchor the economics of a greenfield plant, with commitments covering a large majority of expected volume. Donahue closed the call by reiterating that the company remains positive on its business, even as it builds caution into second-half expectations because of inflation, geopolitical uncertainty and tougher comparisons in some markets. Crown Holdings, Inc is a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products for consumer goods markets. The company designs, manufactures and sells metal packaging for beverage, food, household, personal care and specialty products. Its portfolio includes aluminum and steel beverage cans, steel food cans, aluminum aerosols, metal closures and ends, offering customers end-to-end solutions from design and prototyping to large-scale production. Founded in 1919 as the Crown Cork & Seal Company, Crown has grown through strategic acquisitions and investments in advanced manufacturing technologies. This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected]. The article "Crown Q2 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. View MarketBeat's top stocks for July 2026.