On Thursday, Mizuho Securities adjusted its stock price target for Ball Corporation (NYSE:BALL), a leading provider of metal packaging for beverages, foods, and household products. The firm reduced the target to $67 from $69 while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock.
The revision comes as Ball Corp is anticipated to present its second-quarter adjusted EBIT and EPS. The figures are expected to align with the Bloomberg consensus of $357 million and $0.71, respectively.
The adjustment in the price target reflects a tempered volume forecast for the company's BevCan segment. During the Investor Day on June 18, Ball Corp revised its growth expectations for BevCan to 2-3%, a decrease from the previously projected 4-6%.
The new price target is based on approximately 12 times the forward next twelve months plus one quarter (NTM+1) estimated EBITDA of $2.13 billion. This is a slight decrease from the previous multiple of around 12.5 times. The analyst's decision to maintain a Neutral stance indicates a wait-and-see approach to the stock, suggesting that the current market price may already reflect the company's fundamentals and future prospects.
Investors and stakeholders in Ball Corp will be looking closely at the upcoming earnings report to see if the company's financial performance aligns with expectations and the revised growth outlook for its BevCan business.
In other recent news, Ball Corporation has seen several significant developments. The company reported a 3.7% increase in global beverage can shipments in the first quarter of 2024 and successfully divested its aerospace business, reducing its debt by $2.8 billion. Ball Corporation has also announced plans to return approximately $1.5 billion to its shareholders in 2024 through a robust share repurchase program and dividends.
Truist Securities upgraded Ball Corp shares from Hold to Buy, citing earnings growth, strong free cash flow, and the intention to return a significant portion of that cash to shareholders. Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC), on the other hand, adjusted its outlook on Ball Corp, decreasing the price target to $64.00 from $69.00 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating, reflecting revised global volume growth rates.
In other company news, Ball Corporation welcomed Aaron Erter to its board of directors. Erter brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as CEO of James Hardie (NYSE:JHX) Industries plc and in various leadership roles at Stanley Black & Decker. These are the recent developments at Ball Corporation, which reported net sales of $12.06 billion for the year 2023.
InvestingPro Insights
As Ball Corporation (NYSE:BALL) approaches its second-quarter earnings report, the InvestingPro platform offers valuable insights that may interest investors monitoring the company's performance. With a Market Cap of $19.22 billion and a P/E Ratio standing at 32.4, Ball Corp's financial health is a critical factor for stakeholders. Notably, the company's Gross Profit Margin over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 is 19.48%, reflecting its ability to maintain profitability amidst market fluctuations.
InvestingPro Tips reveal that Ball Corp has a reputation for consistency, having maintained dividend payments for an impressive 52 consecutive years. Moreover, despite analysts revising earnings downwards for the upcoming period, the company is expected to remain profitable this year. These insights, combined with the company's historical low price volatility, could be significant for investors looking for a stable investment with a reliable dividend history.
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