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Crown Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS rose 7% to $2.39: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.39 against $2.24, up 7%. Reported diluted EPS was $2.08 against $1.85. Net income attributable to Crown was $225 million against $214 million. Source
  • Net sales rose on shipments and pass-through: Net sales were $3,711 million against $3,202 million, reflecting higher beverage can shipments and pass-through of higher material costs. Income from operations was $442 million, against $423 million. Source
  • Material cost pass-through added $405 million: Pass-through of higher material costs added $405 million to quarterly net sales and $1,034 million to nine-month net sales. Source
  • Quarterly free cash flow fell: Adjusted free cash flow was $299 million against $500 million. Operating cash flow was $406 million against $580 million. Source
  • Third-quarter buybacks of $81 million: Management said the company repurchased $81 million of its common stock in the quarter and has acquired nearly 6% of outstanding shares over the past twelve months. Source
  • Full-year EPS range narrowed: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS range is $8.35 to $8.45, against $8.30 to $8.50 in the second-quarter release. The midpoint is $8.40 in both. Source
  • Free cash flow guidance raised: Adjusted free cash flow is expected at at least $950 million, up from at least $900 million, after capital spending of about $550 million. Source
  • Northern India plant breaks ground: Groundbreaking started in September on a can plant in Uttar Pradesh, marking the company's entry into one of the world's fastest growing beverage markets. Source

“The Company performed well during the third quarter, continuing its pace for another exceptional year in 2026.”

Timothy J. Donahue, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$8.35 to $8.45
Adjusted free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026at least $950 millionRaised from at least $900 million
Capital spending Sourcefull year 2026approximately $550 millionKept
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2026$1.63 to $1.73New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted free cash flow guidance raised to at least $950 million from at least $900 million given in the second-quarter release. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter adjusted diluted EPS range of $1.63 to $1.73 is given for the first time in this release. Source
  • New: Groundbreaking for the Northern India can plant took place in September, after the second-quarter release described facility construction. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EPS rose 7% to $2.39: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.39 against $2.24, up 7%. Reported diluted EPS was $2.08 against $1.85. Net income attributable to Crown was $225 million against $214 million. Source
  • Net sales rose on shipments and pass-through: Net sales were $3,711 million against $3,202 million, reflecting higher beverage can shipments and pass-through of higher material costs. Income from operations was $442 million, against $423 million. Source
  • Segment income slightly lower: Segment income was $484 million against $490 million. The company attributed the decline to input cost inflation offsetting the contribution from higher shipments. Source
  • Nine-month sales and earnings higher: Nine-month net sales were $10,638 million against $9,238 million. Nine-month segment income was $1,390 million against $1,364 million, and adjusted diluted EPS was $6.72 against $6.05. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas Beverage sales up: Americas Beverage net sales were $1,700 million against $1,417 million. Segment income was $259 million against $255 million. Source
  • Asia Pacific sales and income rose: Asia Pacific net sales were $321 million against $259 million. Segment income was $46 million against $44 million. Source
  • Transit Packaging income lower: Transit Packaging net sales were $520 million against $517 million, while segment income was $60 million against $70 million. The release gives no cause for the change. Source
  • Other segment income flat: The Other segment, including North America tinplate businesses, had net sales of $398 million against $351 million and segment income of $51 million in both periods. Corporate items were $41 million against $39 million. Source

“We remain confident in the Company’s long-term prospects and in our ability to generate significant free cash flow.”

Timothy J. Donahue, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and customers

  • Long-term can demand seen growing: Management said long-term beverage can demand continues to grow, as customers and consumers increasingly favour aluminum cans as the most sustainable packaging choice. Source
  • Cans preferred for new products: Management said cans remain the preferred format for brands in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic categories, including many new product introductions. Source
  • Nine-month shipments drove segment income: Nine-month segment income of $1,390 million was driven by 6% higher beverage can shipments, partly offset by input cost inflation. Source

Costs, pass-through and margins

  • Material cost pass-through added $405 million: Pass-through of higher material costs added $405 million to quarterly net sales and $1,034 million to nine-month net sales. Source
  • Tax rates lower year on year: Reported effective tax rate was 25.6% against 26.1%. Adjusted effective tax rate was 24.9% against 25.2%. Source
  • Amortization and restructuring excluded: Adjusted EPS excludes intangibles amortization of $34 million ($0.31 per share) and restructuring and other of $8 million ($0.07 per share) in the quarter. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Quarterly free cash flow fell: Adjusted free cash flow was $299 million against $500 million. Operating cash flow was $406 million against $580 million. Source
  • Nine-month capital spending rose: Nine-month operating cash flow was $1,065 million against $1,043 million. Capital expenditures were $310 million against $181 million. Source
  • Cash balance and leverage level: Cash and cash equivalents were $629 million at September 30, 2026, against $1,172 million a year earlier. Adjusted net leverage was 2.5 times in both periods. Source

Share repurchases and dividends

  • Third-quarter buybacks of $81 million: Management said the company repurchased $81 million of its common stock in the quarter and has acquired nearly 6% of outstanding shares over the past twelve months. Source
  • Nine-month buybacks and dividends up: Nine-month common stock repurchases were $598 million against $314 million. Dividends paid to shareholders were $115 million against $90 million. Source
  • Shares outstanding reduced: Shares outstanding at quarter end were 108,051,952, against 115,347,894 a year earlier. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter guidance

  • Full-year EPS range narrowed: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS range is $8.35 to $8.45, against $8.30 to $8.50 in the second-quarter release. The midpoint is $8.40 in both. Source
  • Free cash flow guidance raised: Adjusted free cash flow is expected at at least $950 million, up from at least $900 million, after capital spending of about $550 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS range set: Fourth-quarter adjusted diluted EPS is expected in the range of $1.63 to $1.73. Source

Capacity, growth and capital allocation

  • Brazil, Greece, Spain projects on plan: Capacity expansion projects in Brazil, Greece and Spain were described as previously announced and on plan, supporting continued customer needs. Source
  • Northern India plant breaks ground: Groundbreaking started in September on a can plant in Uttar Pradesh, marking the company's entry into one of the world's fastest growing beverage markets. Source
  • Balanced capital allocation approach: Management described balanced capital allocation, with investment in organic growth and returns to shareholders supported by the balance sheet. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 October 2026

  • Northern India plant start-up: Commercial start-up of the Northern India can plant is expected in the first quarter of 2028. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Global beverage can shipments Sourcemore than 6% higher in the quarter
Asia beverage can shipments Sourcedouble-digit gains
North America beverage can shipments Source6% increase
Europe beverage can shipments Source4% growth

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said beverage can volumes offset most of the rising input cost pressures, with input cost inflation cited as the offset to shipment gains. Source
  • Financial: Pass-through of higher material costs made up part of the quarter's net sales increase, the company reported. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: CFO said the company is on track to deliver another year of solid earnings and free cash flow. Source
  • On track: Management said these previously announced projects are on plan and will support continued customer needs. Source
  • Not stated: The second-quarter release guided third-quarter adjusted diluted EPS to $2.20 to $2.30. This release reports $2.39 and does not compare the two.

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.