Ball (NYSE:BALL) Hits New 52-Week High on Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Ball Corporation (NYSE:BALL) shares hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The company traded as high as $60.89 and last traded at $60.4790, with a volume of 357904 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $56.69.

The company reported $0.91 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $3.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.11 billion. Ball had a return on equity of 18.10% and a net margin of 6.93%.Ball’s revenue was up 16.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.84 earnings per share. Ball has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.930- EPS.

Ball Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. Ball’s dividend payout ratio is presently 24.10%.

Key Headlines Impacting Ball

Here are the key news stories impacting Ball this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings and revenue beat — Ball reported $0.91 EPS vs. a $0.90 consensus and revenue of $3.35B (above $3.11B est.), driven by higher volumes and price/mix. Investors typically reward simple beats. Market presentation / Press release
• Positive Sentiment: Strong full‑year metrics and cash returns — Ball reported record adjusted free cash flow of $956M for 2025 and returned $1.54B via buybacks/dividends; management expects 10%+ comparable EPS growth and >$900M free cash flow in 2026. Those items support valuation and capital return expectations. Press Release
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades/target raises from buy/scores firms — Jefferies raised its target to $71 (buy), Mizuho to $70 (outperform) and Truist to $75 (buy), giving visible upside and likely supporting buying interest. Benzinga coverage Mizuho write‑up
• Neutral Sentiment: Consensus broker view is constructive — aggregate broker view summarized as a “Moderate Buy,” which supports continued interest but is not a unanimous buy signal. Article
• Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan moved its target to $60 but kept a “neutral” rating — target is below current market price, so this is less supportive than the buy‑rated raises and may cap upside for some investors. Benzinga coverage
• Negative Sentiment: FY‑2026 EPS guidance slightly below Street — Ball set FY2026 guidance at ~$3.93 EPS vs. a ~3.98 consensus, which tempers the upside implied by analyst raises and could lead some traders to lock in gains. Guidance / Press release

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on BALL. Raymond James Financial assumed coverage on shares of Ball in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. They set a “market perform” rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Ball from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley set a $66.00 price objective on Ball in a research note on Wednesday. Robert W. Baird set a $75.00 price target on Ball in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Ball in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $67.92.

Institutional Trading of Ball

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. GoalVest Advisory LLC purchased a new position in Ball in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Board of the Pension Protection Fund bought a new stake in shares of Ball during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Triumph Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of Ball in the third quarter worth $26,000. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton lifted its holdings in shares of Ball by 145.0% in the second quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 517 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 306 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Trust Co. of Vermont boosted its position in shares of Ball by 297.0% during the fourth quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 802 shares of the company’s stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.51% of the company’s stock.

Ball Stock Up 5.0%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. The company has a market capitalization of $17.38 billion, a PE ratio of 19.53, a PEG ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.13. The company’s 50 day moving average is $53.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $51.83.

About Ball

Ball Corporation is a leading provider of sustainable aluminum packaging solutions and advanced aerospace technologies. Headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, the company serves customers in the beverage, food and aerosol markets through a global network of manufacturing facilities. With an emphasis on sustainability and innovation, Ball designs and produces metal cans, bottles and ends that support recycling and reduce environmental impact.

The company’s packaging segment specializes in beverage cans for soft drinks, beer and energy drinks, as well as metal packaging for food and personal care applications.