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Ball Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • GAAP result turned to a loss: The company reported a U.S. GAAP net loss attributable to the corporation of $94 million, or 36 cents per diluted share, on sales of $4.19 billion, against $1.18 per share in 2025. Source
  • Comparable EPS rose 6.8%: Comparable net earnings were $293 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, against $280 million, or $1.03, in 2025, an increase of 6.8% in per-share earnings. Source
  • North and Central America costs rose: North and Central America earnings decreased on higher operating costs and plant start-up costs, partly offset by price/mix including metal pass-through timing and higher volume. Source
  • Pension buy-out settlement charge: Business consolidation and other activities cost $482 million in the quarter, against a $78 million gain in 2025. The charges were mainly a $475 million noncash pension settlement charge. Source
  • $431 million returned in nine months: Management said the company returned $431 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends in the first nine months of 2026. Source
  • Negative free cash flow for nine months: For the first nine months, operating cash flow was $20 million and capital expenditures were $459 million, leaving free cash flow of negative $439 million, or negative $543 million adjusted. Source
  • New beverage can plant in Baruth: Management is investing in a new beverage can plant in Baruth, Germany, to support long-term customer growth in EMEA and strengthen the regional network. Source

“In an operating environment that remains dynamic, our teams continued to execute at a high level, driving global volume and operating earnings growth.”

Ron Lewis, chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Comparable diluted EPS growth Source202610-plus percentKept
Free cash flow Source2026in the range of $900 million
Long-term operating earnings growth Sourcelong-term4 to 6 percent
Shareholder returns through buybacks and dividends Source2026, by year-endat least $800 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A new beverage can manufacturing facility in Baruth, Germany is being invested in. The second quarter release did not mention it. Source
  • New: A new beverage can manufacturing facility in India was announced. The second quarter release did not mention it. Source
  • Guidance kept: Comparable diluted EPS growth guidance of 10-plus percent for 2026 is the same as in the second quarter release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Free cash flow of $900 million for 2026 is the same figure as before. The wording changed from greater than to in the range of. Source
  • Guidance kept: The commitment to return at least $800 million through buybacks and dividends in 2026 is the same as in the second quarter release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • GAAP result turned to a loss: The company reported a U.S. GAAP net loss attributable to the corporation of $94 million, or 36 cents per diluted share, on sales of $4.19 billion, against $1.18 per share in 2025. Source
  • Comparable EPS rose 6.8%: Comparable net earnings were $293 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, against $280 million, or $1.03, in 2025, an increase of 6.8% in per-share earnings. Source
  • Comparable operating earnings rose 2.5%: Comparable operating earnings were $451 million, against $440 million in 2025, an increase of 2.5%. Source

Segment and regional results

  • North and Central America earnings: North and Central America comparable operating earnings were $210 million on sales of $2.06 billion, against $215 million on $1.64 billion. Sales rose on higher volume and higher aluminum prices. Source
  • EMEA earnings rose on volume: EMEA comparable operating earnings were $170 million on sales of $1.33 billion, against $164 million on $1.13 billion in 2025. Source
  • South America earnings rose on volume: South America comparable operating earnings were $92 million on sales of $653 million, against $77 million on $508 million, as higher volumes and price/mix lifted results. Source
  • Corporate expenses rose in Other: Other comparable operating loss was $21 million against $16 million. Undistributed corporate expenses were $38 million against $29 million. Source

“Our third quarter results reflect disciplined execution across the business, supported by global volume growth, operational performance and the stability provided by our contractual passthrough mechanisms.”

Dan Rabbitt, senior vice president and chief financial officer

Costs, charges and pricing

  • North and Central America costs rose: North and Central America earnings decreased on higher operating costs and plant start-up costs, partly offset by price/mix including metal pass-through timing and higher volume. Source
  • Pension buy-out settlement charge: Business consolidation and other activities cost $482 million in the quarter, against a $78 million gain in 2025. The charges were mainly a $475 million noncash pension settlement charge. Source
  • Tariff contingencies reversed in quarter: Reversal of previously accrued tariff contingencies, resolved by a final U.S. Department of Commerce ruling, partly offset the quarter’s business consolidation charges. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • $431 million returned in nine months: Management said the company returned $431 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends in the first nine months of 2026. Source
  • Shares used for comparable EPS: Comparable diluted EPS used approximately 265 million weighted average shares. Total diluted loss per share excluded potentially issuable securities as anti-dilutive. Source
  • Net debt and leverage at quarter end: Net debt was $6,874 million, leverage 3.21 times and interest coverage 6.92 times, measured on the twelve months to September 30, 2026. Source
  • Negative free cash flow for nine months: For the first nine months, operating cash flow was $20 million and capital expenditures were $459 million, leaving free cash flow of negative $439 million, or negative $543 million adjusted. Source

Strategy and capacity investment

  • New beverage can plant in Baruth: Management is investing in a new beverage can plant in Baruth, Germany, to support long-term customer growth in EMEA and strengthen the regional network. Source
  • New beverage can plant in India: A new beverage can plant in India was announced to support long-term customer growth and strengthen the company’s manufacturing network in the region. Source
  • Benepack acquisition in Europe: In January 2026 Ball acquired 80 percent of Benepack’s European beverage can business from ORG, which keeps 20 percent. The plants are in Belgium and Hungary. Source

Management view and culture

  • Ball Business System and EVA: Management said the Ball Business System strengthens ownership and accountability, and that EVA is the framework for how the company invests, improves and grows the business. Source
  • Balanced capital allocation described: Management described a balanced approach to capital allocation that returns significant cash to shareholders through buybacks and dividends. Source
  • Engaged workforce and disciplined decisions: Management cited an engaged and empowered workforce and disciplined operational and capital deployment decisions as pillars of its strategy. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Global aluminum packaging shipments Sourceincreased 4.7% in the third quarter
North and Central America segment volume Sourceincreased low-single digit percent year over year
EMEA segment volume Sourceincreased mid-single digit percent year over year
South America segment volume Sourceincreased low-double digit percentage year over year

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management described the external environment as volatile. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it remains on track for its long-term objective of 4 to 6 percent operating earnings growth. Source
  • Not stated: Costs for previously announced facility closures were included in the quarter’s business consolidation charges. No status against the closure plan was given. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.