second quarter 2026
Filed Aug 4, 2026Ball Reports Strong Second Quarter 2026 Results
Comparable diluted earnings per share increased 14.4%, comparable operating earnings increased 7.7%, global aluminum packaging shipments increased 4.3%, and the company reaffirmed its 2026 free-cash-flow and shareholder-return objectives.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalesGAAP | $4.00 billion | – | – |
| Net earnings attributable to the corporationGAAP | $221 million | – | – |
| Total diluted earnings per shareGAAP | 83 cents | – | – |
| Comparable net earningsnon-GAAP | $276 million | – | – |
| Comparable diluted earnings per sharenon-GAAP | $1.03 per diluted share | – | 14.4% |
| Comparable operating earningsnon-GAAP | $433 million | – | 7.7% |
| Global aluminum packaging shipmentsother | increased 4.3% in the second quarter | – | increased 4.3% |
| Beverage Packaging, North and Central America segment comparable operating earningsnon-GAAP | $207 million | – | – |
| Beverage Packaging, EMEA segment comparable operating earningsnon-GAAP | $162 million | – | – |
| Beverage Packaging, South America segment comparable operating earningsnon-GAAP | $82 million | – | – |
| 2025 net salesother | $13.16 billion | – | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beverage Packaging, North and Central AmericaSecond quarter sales reflect higher volume and favorable price/mix, primarily attributable to higher aluminum prices. Comparable operating earnings decreased year-over-year due to higher costs, primarily due to higher volumes, operating costs and plant start-up costs, partially offset by favorable price/mix, including the timing of metal pass through to our customers. | $2.00 billion | – | Second quarter segment volume increased low-single digit percent. |
| Beverage Packaging, EMEASecond quarter sales reflect higher year-over-year shipments and favorable price/mix. Comparable operating earnings reflect higher volume and favorable price/mix, partially offset by higher costs. Results include the acquired Benepack business and reflect the first quarter 2026 realignment of the company's facilities in India and Myanmar, as well as the former Saudi Arabian business, within the segment. | $1.24 billion | – | Year-over-year second quarter segment volume increased mid-single digit percent. |
| Beverage Packaging, South AmericaSecond quarter sales reflect higher volume and favorable price/mix, primarily attributable to higher aluminum prices. Comparable operating earnings were higher year-over-year driven by higher volumes and favorable price/mix. | $591 million | – | Second quarter segment volume increased by a mid-teen percentage year over year. |
2026 outlook
- Noteexpect comparable diluted earnings per share growth of 10-plus percent
- Notefree cash flow greater than $900 million
- Notereturn at least $800 million through share buybacks and dividends to shareholders by year-end
- Notetarget of greater than 10 percent annual EPS growth
Capital returns
- Returned $222 million to shareholders via share repurchases and dividends in the first six months of 2026.
- During the second quarter, we began executing our planned share repurchases.
- on track to return at least $800 million through share buybacks and dividends to shareholders by year-end.
What drove it
- Global aluminum packaging shipments increased 4.3% in the second quarter.
- Higher volumes and operating earnings were driven by the strength of customer partnerships, disciplined commercial and operational execution, and the resilience of the business model.
- North and Central America sales reflected higher volume and favorable price/mix, primarily attributable to higher aluminum prices.
- EMEA sales reflected higher year-over-year shipments and favorable price/mix.
- South America operating earnings were driven by higher volumes and favorable price/mix.
Concerns
- North and Central America comparable operating earnings decreased year-over-year due to higher costs, primarily due to higher volumes, operating costs and plant start-up costs.
- EMEA comparable operating earnings were partially offset by higher costs.
- Second quarter results reflect higher year-over-year undistributed corporate expenses.
- The release identifies risks including supply and demand constraints, raw-material, equipment and logistics costs, competitive packaging and pricing, power and supply chain interruptions, foreign exchange and tax-rate changes, tariffs, inflation, reduced cash flow and interest rates affecting debt.
What to watch
- Execution toward comparable diluted earnings per share growth of 10-plus percent in 2026.
- Delivery of free cash flow greater than $900 million.
- Progress toward returning at least $800 million through share buybacks and dividends to shareholders by year-end.
- Whether North and Central America can offset higher volume-related, operating and plant start-up costs through price/mix and metal pass-through timing.
- Volume trends across North and Central America, EMEA and South America.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- free cash flow greater than $900 million
- We remain on track to deliver our free cash flow objectives for the year, driven by business performance and our strong financial position.
Analysis
Ball reported a strong second quarter, with sales of $4.00 billion versus $3.34 billion in 2025, U.S. GAAP net earnings attributable to the corporation of $221 million versus $212 million, and total diluted earnings per share of 83 cents versus 76 cents. Comparable diluted earnings per share increased 14.4% to $1.03 per diluted share, while comparable operating earnings increased 7.7% to $433 million. Global aluminum packaging shipments increased 4.3% in the second quarter, linking earnings growth to higher physical volumes as well as pricing and mix.
The regional performance was led by South America, where segment comparable operating earnings were $82 million compared with $50 million and volume increased by a mid-teen percentage year over year. EMEA delivered comparable operating earnings of $162 million compared with $152 million, supported by higher shipments and favorable price/mix, partly offset by higher costs. North and Central America sales increased to $2.00 billion from $1.61 billion, but comparable operating earnings declined to $207 million from $212 million as higher costs, operating costs and plant start-up costs outweighed part of the benefit from favorable price/mix and metal pass-through timing.
The release emphasizes price/mix and contractual passthrough mechanisms as important elements of reported performance. Higher aluminum prices contributed to sales growth in North and Central America and South America. EMEA results include the acquired Benepack business and reflect the realignment of facilities in India and Myanmar and the former Saudi Arabian business. Non-reportable second-quarter results reflected higher year-over-year undistributed corporate expenses.
Capital allocation is active. Ball returned $222 million to shareholders via share repurchases and dividends in the first six months of 2026 and stated that it began executing planned share repurchases during the second quarter. The company remains on track to return at least $800 million through share buybacks and dividends by year-end while retaining flexibility to invest in sustainable EVA growth projects.
For 2026, management expects comparable diluted earnings per share growth of 10-plus percent and free cash flow greater than $900 million. The key execution issue is sustaining volume and price/mix benefits while controlling the higher costs and start-up costs that pressured North and Central America, alongside delivery of the stated free-cash-flow and shareholder-return objectives.
Management, verbatim
Ball delivered another quarter of strong results, reflecting the consistent execution of our strategy and continued progress toward our long-term objectives. Higher volumes and operating earnings were driven by the strength of our customer partnerships, disciplined commercial and operational execution, and the resilience of a business model we have built over decades. Our global portfolio of sustainable packaging solutions and focus on operational excellence position us to continue creating value for customers and shareholders through innovation, efficiency and disciplined growth
Ron Lewis, chief executive officer
We continue to deliver strong financial performance, supported by the stability of our contractual passthrough mechanisms and the disciplined execution of our operating teams. We remain on track to deliver our free cash flow objectives for the year, driven by business performance and our strong financial position. During the second quarter, we began executing our planned share repurchases, reflecting our confidence in the business and commitment to returning at least $800 million to shareholders in 2026. At the same time, we continue to maintain the flexibility to invest in long-term, sustainable EVA growth projects. Our strong financial foundation remains central to delivering consistent returns and long-term value
Dan Rabbitt, senior vice president and chief financial officer
Our strategy remains centered on long-term value creation through strong customer partnerships, an engaged and empowered workforce, and disciplined execution. Our year-to-date performance reflects the strength of that strategy and our team's ability to consistently deliver for customers and shareholders. The Ball Business System is the backbone of our operating model, and EVA remains our financial lens for capital allocation and value creation. Supported by our resilient business model, we are well positioned to capitalize on the long-term growth of aluminum packaging, deliver our target of greater than 10 percent annual EPS growth, and return significant value to shareholders.
Ron Lewis, chief executive officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Period-end date.
- GAAP gross profit and gross margin.
- Non-GAAP gross profit and gross margin.
- GAAP operating income.
- GAAP operating margin.
- GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses.
- Effective tax rate.
- Cash and cash equivalents.
- Total debt.
- Operating cash flow.
- Historical free cash flow.
- Capital expenditures.
- Dividend amount, dividend per share and share-repurchase amount separately.
- Share count.
- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported financial metrics.
- Revenue, gross margin, operating expenses or tax-rate guidance.
- Full unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements referenced in the release were not included in the provided filing text.
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.