Ball (NYSE:BLL) was upgraded by equities researchers at Vertical Research from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday. The analysts noted that the move was a valuation call.
A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. KeyCorp lowered shares of Ball from a “sector weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $40.81 to $36.00 in a report on Friday, December 8th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Ball from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $48.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, December 4th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Ball from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, November 3rd. UBS assumed coverage on shares of Ball in a report on Monday, October 23rd. They set a “buy” rating and a $50.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of Ball from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Monday, October 16th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. The stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $44.79.
Ball (NYSE:BLL) traded down $0.35 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $38.29. 2,391,800 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,387,011. The firm has a market cap of $13,526.15, a PE ratio of 20.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.60 and a beta of 0.96. Ball has a twelve month low of $35.65 and a twelve month high of $43.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 1.04.
In related news, Chairman John A. Hayes sold 5,519 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.74, for a total transaction of $224,844.06. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 408,451 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,640,293.74. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Lisa Ann Pauley sold 17,090 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.79, for a total transaction of $697,101.10. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 108,923 shares in the company, valued at $4,442,969.17. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 33,923 shares of company stock worth $1,392,977. Insiders own 2.70% of the company’s stock.
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BLL. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA boosted its stake in Ball by 100.0% during the second quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA now owns 2,450 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $103,000 after acquiring an additional 1,225 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its holdings in Ball by 5,297.8% during the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,483 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $104,000 after buying an additional 2,437 shares during the last quarter. First Personal Financial Services raised its holdings in Ball by 100.0% during the second quarter. First Personal Financial Services now owns 3,594 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $152,000 after buying an additional 1,797 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its holdings in Ball by 100.0% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 4,123 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $174,000 after buying an additional 2,061 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Howe & Rusling Inc. acquired a new position in Ball during the third quarter worth $182,000. 89.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
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Ball Company Profile
Ball Corporation is a supplier of metal packaging to the beverage, food, personal care and household products industries. The Company’s packaging products are produced for a range of end uses and are manufactured in facilities around the world. Its segments include beverage packaging, North and Central America; beverage packaging, South America; beverage packaging, Europe; food and aerosol packaging; aerospace, and other.
