Ball is the world's largest metal can manufacturer with market share over 30% in its three main regions (North America, Europe, and South America). The company is focused on increasing capacity amid a wave of new developed-market demand, while also investing in faster-growing emerging-market economies.
It is a $15.5B industrial company. Revenue grew 15.6% over the last year, it keeps 7¢ of every dollar of sales as profit, and its net debt equals ~7.0 years of free cash flow. It trades at 16.3× earnings — in the cheapest third of its own history.
- Website
- ball.com
- Location
- Westminster, CO
- Employees
- 16 000
- Sector
- Industrials
- Founded
- 1886
Skills
Six independent scores, 0–100, built from reported numbers and valuation history. Click a row to see how it was scored.
Strong valuation and quality; Growth and Moat lag behind.
Valuation85
- P/E vs own history26th pct · 20/25
- FCF yield5.3% · 20/25
- P/S1.1x · 25/25
- EV/EBITDA10.5x · 20/25
Growth46
- Revenue CAGR-1.2% · 0/25
- Net income CAGR1.0% · 6/25
- EPS CAGR ~5Y14.7% · 20/25
- Fwd implied growth19.4% · 20/25
Profitability57
- ROIC10.3% · 12/25
- ROE17.1% · 20/25
- Net margin6.6% · 13/25
- Operating margin10.3% · 12/25
Health52
- Altman Z2.05 · 18/25
- Current ratio1.07 · 12/25
- Interest coverage5.0x · 10/25
- Net cash / debtD/A 30% · 12/25
Quality82
- Piotroski F6/9 · 15/25
- Beneish M-2.35 · 20/25
- FCF conversion87% · 22/25
- Margin stabilityσ 2.9% · 25/25
Moat28
- ROIC >12% years0/9 yrs · 0/25
- Median gross margin19.5% · 6/25
- FCF-positive years6/9 yrs · 10/25
- Worst-year net marginworst 2.9% · 12/25
Experience
The company's career so far — founding, the IPO, landmark products and acquisitions, plus revenue milestones and insider buying.
- FY2024FinancialBest year on record$4.01B net income
- 2020AcquisitionBall acquired the naming rights of Pepsi Center in Downtown Denver and renamed it Ball Arena
- FY2017FinancialRevenue crossed $10B$11.0B for the year
- FY2016FinancialProfitable every year on record9 consecutive profitable years in our data
- FY2016FinancialRevenue already above $1B$9.06B in first reported year
- 2016AcquisitionBall acquired British firm Rexam plc to become the world's largest producer of aluminum beverage cans
- Mar 6, 2009ProductThe Ball Aerospace-built Kepler space telescope carrying the largest camera ever sent by NASA…
- 2006AcquisitionSensing an opportunity to expand its packaging business in other categories, Ball entered the steel aerosol business…
- 1996MilestoneBall no longer produces glass mason jars and left the home canning business altogether in 1996 by spinning off a…
- Jul 13, 1972IPOBall Corporation's stock went public on July 13, 1972
- 1969AcquisitionRenamed the Ball Corporation in 1969, it acquired Jeffco Manufacturing Company, a maker of recyclable aluminum…
- 1922MilestoneThe business was renamed the Ball Brothers Company in 1922 and the Ball Corporation in 1969
- 1898ProductBall machine, patented in 1898, introduced mass production into its glass-blowing process and gave it a competitive…
- 1886FoundedThe Ball brothers renamed their business the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1886
Achievements
Verifiable track record, straight from the reported numbers.
Strengths & watch-outs
What a bull and a bear would each point to. Both lists come from the reported numbers, not opinions.
Strengths
- Revenue growing 15.6% year over year
Watch-outs
- Net debt would take ~8.6 years of free cash flow to repay
- Net debt equals ~7.0 years of free cash flow
Qualifications
The basics a company should meet before you research it further. Each check uses the reported numbers.
- Revenue growing — the company sells more than a year ago+15.6% YoY
- Profitable — makes more than it spends$947M TTM
- Profit growing — earnings are higher than last year+13.7% YoY
- Generates cash — cash left after running and investing$827M TTM
- Debt under control — could handle its obligations~7.0y of cash flow to repay
- Established company — not a micro-cap — lower blow-up risk$15.5B market cap
- Not printing shares — share count not ballooning — you keep your slice-18.9% shares over ~5y
- Proven track record — years of profitability behind it9/9 profitable years
- Financially stable — balance sheet not near distressAltman Z 2.0 — grey
- Pays a dividend — returns cash to shareholdersyield 1.39%
- Valuation not extreme — price not wildly above earningsP/E 16.3
Peer comparisonBall Corporation vs 6 largest industrials peers — cap, P/E, growth and margin side by sideOpen ▾Close ▴
| Company | Market cap | P/E | Revenue growth | Net margin | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BALL this company | $15.5B | 16.3 | +15.6% | 6.6% | Mixed |
| LRCX Lam Research Corp | $399.2B | 54.9 | +26.0% | 31.3% | Strong |
| CAT Caterpillar Inc. | $368.0B | 33.9 | +18.4% | 14.5% | Solid |
| RTX RTX Corporation | $251.3B | 32.4 | +11.8% | 8.3% | Strained |
| DE Deere & Company | $167.7B | 34.4 | +8.3% | 10.2% | Solid |
| ETN Eaton Corporation, plc | $167.2B | 43.6 | +15.5% | 12.8% | Mixed |
| UNP Union Pacific Corp. | $166.8B | 22.6 | +4.2% | 28.8% | Strained |
Head-to-head: BALL vs LRCX · BALL vs CAT · BALL vs RTX
References
What covering analysts publish about the company — information only, not a recommendation.
Appendix · Financial records
The full statements behind this CV, FY2016–FY2025. For readers who want to check the numbers.
Live data and quarterly detail: stockcv.com/BALL
Want the live picture — intraday moves, valuation history and full analysis?
Deeper analysis of BALL on PreMarketPriceFigures are derived from company filings (quarterly values normalised from as-filed year-to-date data where applicable) and may be delayed, restated or incomplete. This page is information, not investment advice. Latest price $58.46 · market cap $15.5B.