Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Ball Corp's (BLL) Earnings Beat Estimates in Q2, Up Y/Y

Read MoreHide Full Article

Ball Corporation reported second-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings of 65 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 57 cents. The bottom line also improved 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. The quarterly results reflect solid aluminum beverage-can demand in North America.

On a reported basis, the company posted earnings of 28 cents per share compared with the prior-year quarter’s 58 cents.

Total sales came in at $2,801 million in the reported quarter, down 7.2% from the year-ago quarter. The top-line figure also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,865 million.

Operational Update

Cost of sales came in at $2,230 million in second-quarter 2020, down 8.2% from the year-ago quarter. Gross profit came in at $571 million compared with the year-ago quarter’s $589 million. Gross margin came in at 20.4% during the reported quarter compared with the prior-year quarter figure of 19.5%.

Selling, general and administrative expenses remained flat year over year at $111 million. Adjusted operating income declined 5.8% year over year to $327 million. The company recorded operating margin of 11.7% compared with the prior-year quarter’s 11.5%.

Ball Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Ball Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Segment Performance

The Beverage packaging’s North and Central America segment revenues declined to $1,267 million during the April-June period from the year-ago quarter’s $1,286 million. Operating earnings surged 34% year over year to $189 million.

Sales at the Beverage packaging, EMEA segment came in at $699 million in the second quarter, down 8.9% year over year. Operating earnings plunged 35.7% year over year to $63 million.

The Beverage packaging South America segment’s revenues declined to $329 million in the second quarter from the $377 million witnessed in the prior-year period. Operating earnings fell to $46 million from the year-earlier quarter’s $65 million.

In the Aerospace segment, sales rose 15.6% year over year to $438 million. Operating earnings declined to $30 million from the year-ago quarter figure of $38 million. As of the end of the reported quarter, the segment’s contracted backlog was $2.1 billion and contracts already won, but not yet booked into current contracted backlog, increased 10% year to date to $5.3 billion.

Financial Condition

Ball Corporation reported cash and cash equivalents of $643 million at the end of the second quarter, down from the $764 million recorded at the end of the year-earlier period. Cash used in operating activities was $232 million in the first half of 2020 compared with $253 million cash generated in the first half of 2019. The company’s long-term debt increased to $7.2 billion at the end of the second quarter from $6.9 billion at the end of prior-year quarter.

Outlook

Given the significant growth prospects in North American beverage business, the company anticipates current-year capital expenditures to exceed $900 million. The company is on track to meet the previously-announced projects and will continue to deploy additional capital across its existing business portfolio to support new customer wins.

The company expects to increase its earnings per diluted share in the ongoing year. Moreover, Ball Corporation maintains its expectation to deliver long-term diluted earnings per share growth of at least 10-15% beyond 2020 and achieve additional EVA (economic value added) dollars enhancing opportunities.

Share Price Performance

Ball Corporation’s shares have gained 14.5% over the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 14.6%.

Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider

Ball Corporation currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

A few better-ranked stocks in the Industrial Products sector include Silgan Holdings, Inc. (SLGN - Free Report) , IIVI Incorporated and Energous Corporation (WATT - Free Report) . While Silgan and IIVI sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Energous carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Silgan has a projected earnings growth rate of 31.5% for the current year. The company’s shares have gained 13.1% in the past three months.

IIVI has an estimated earnings growth rate of 29% for the ongoing year. The company’s shares have rallied 46% in three months’ time.

Energous has an expected earnings growth rate of 44% for 2020. The stock has soared 252.6% over the past three months.

More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!

It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.

Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2021.

Click here for the 6 trades >>


Unique Zacks Analysis of Your Chosen Ticker


Pick one free report - opportunity may be withdrawn at any time


Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) - $25 value - yours FREE >>

Energous Corporation (WATT) - $25 value - yours FREE >>

Published in