Ball Corporation (BALL)
Key Statistics
EV/EBIT = 21x
ROE = 16.39%
Debt/Equity = 255%
FCF Yield = 3.2%
Dividend Yield = 1.3%
Market Capitalization = $18.75 billion
The Company
Ball Corporation is currently the world's largest manufacturer of recyclable metal beverage and food containers.
Ball has a long history stretching back over a century. The company was founded in 1880, initially making wooden jacket cans in Buffalo, New York. Over the years, it grew and changed its name to Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company, later becoming the Ball Corporation.
The company shifted from wooden jacket cans as it transitioned to producing glass jars for kerosene due to concerns about tin corrosion. This led to the renaming of the enterprise to the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company in 1886. Recognizing the need for expansion, the Ball brothers moved the company to Muncie, Indiana, in 1889.
In 1922, the company was renamed the Ball Brothers Company. Diversification became a hallmark as the company expanded into zinc, rubber, and paper. Ball adapted to World War II by producing military items.
In 1969, a significant transformation occurred as the company rebranded itself as the Ball Corporation. This era marked the company's foray into aerospace. This was also the era when it emerged as a leader in recyclable beverage cans. Going public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1973, the Ball Corporation continued to diversify further into various sectors.
A notable shift occurred in the early 1990s when the company decided to part ways with the home-canning business, leading to the creation of Alltrista, later renamed Jarden Corporation, today rebranded as Newell Brands. The Ball brand for mason jars and canning supplies continues to thrive under Newell Brands.
Today, Ball Corporation is the major global supplier of aluminum packaging for beverages, personal care items, and household products. Key products include including beverage containers, aerosol containers, re-closeable bottles, aluminum slugs, and cups. In 2022, the company reported total sales amounting to $15.35 billion, with 87% attributed to packaging and 13% to the aerospace sector.
They've fostered strong bonds with a myriad of leading beverage producers, including Coca Cola, Molson Coors, ABInBev, Procter & Gamble, Heineken, Red Bull, Campbell’s Soup, Diageo, Monster Beverage, Pepsi, and numerous others.