Ball Corporation Stock: Is BALL Underperforming the Consumer Cyclical Sector?

With a market cap of $15.3 billion, Ball Corporation (BALL) is a global leader in aluminum packaging solutions. The company supplies beverage cans, aerosol containers, aluminum cups, and other metal packaging products to major multinational brands in the beverage, personal care, and household goods industries. 

Companies valued at more than $10 billion are generally considered “large-cap” stocks, and Ball Corporation fits this criterion perfectly. In addition to its packaging business, Ball Corporation also provides aerospace technologies and services to both government and commercial customers.

Shares of the Westminster, Colorado-based company pulled back 17.2% from its 52-week high of $68.12. Shares of BALL have returned 8.7% over the past three months, outperforming the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLB) marginal rise over the same time frame.

Longer term, BALL stock is up 2.4% on a YTD basis, outpacing XLB’s over 4% gain. However, shares of the metal packaging company have dipped 9.4% over the past 52 weeks, a steeper decline than XLB’s 2.3% drop over the same time frame.

The stock has been trading below its 200-day moving average since November last year. Yet, it has climbed above its 50-day moving average since late April.

Despite Ball Corporation reporting better-than-expected Q1 2025 adjusted EPS of $0.76 and revenue of $3.1 billion, shares fell marginally on May 6 likely due to a sharp year-over-year decline in GAAP EPS to $0.63, driven by the absence of aerospace business income post its February 2024 sale. Investors may have also reacted cautiously to the modest volume growth in key segments, only low-single-digit increases in North and South America and lingering concerns about geopolitical uncertainty and aluminum price volatility. 

Nevertheless, rival Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) has lagged behind BALL stock. Shares of Smurfit Westrock have declined 21.1% on a YTD basis.

Despite the stock’s underperformance relative to the sector over the past year, analysts are moderately optimistic on BALL. The stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the 14 analysts covering the stock, and as of writing, it is trading below the mean price target of $61.23.