Ball Corporation BALL is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 3, before the opening bell.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BALL’s net sales is pegged at $3.74 billion, indicating 9.8% growth from the year-ago reported figure.
The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.06 per share, which has moved up in the past 60 days. The estimate indicates year-over-year growth of 3.9%.
BALL’s Solid Earnings Surprise History
Ball Corp’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 3.9%.
What the Zacks Model Unveils for Ball Corp
Our proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Ball Corp this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is not the case here, as you can see below.
You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Earnings ESP: Ball Corp has an Earnings ESP of -0.16%.
Zacks Rank: BALL currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Factors Likely to Have Shaped BALL’s Q3 Performance
Ball Corp’s global aluminum packaging shipments increased 4.3% year over year in second-quarter 2026, up from 0.8% in the first quarter, with growth across all three regions. North and Central America increased in the low-single-digit range in the second quarter despite capacity constraints, EMEA rose in the mid-single digit and South America increased in the mid-teens after first-quarter timing and inventory effects. The company expects full-year North America volume at the low end of 1-3%, EMEA above 3-5% with Benepack and South America at the low end of 4-6%.
Our third-quarter 2026 estimate for the Beverage Packaging, North and Central America segment’s net sales is pegged at $1.73 billion, indicating a 5.7% year-over-year rise. We expect the segment’s volume to increase 0.9%. We expect a 5.5% increase in the segment’s operating income to $227 million.
Our model predicts the Beverage Packaging, EMEA segment’s sales to be $1.27 billion, indicating 12.9% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. We expect volume growth of 6.8% for this segment. The segment’s operating income is projected at $173 million, indicating 5.5% year-over-year growth.
For the Beverage Packaging, South America segment, we estimate net sales of $581 million, up 14.4% year over year. Volumes are expected to increase 6.9%. The consensus estimate for the segment’s operating income is pegged at $83 million, indicating a 7.4% rise from the year-ago quarter’s actual.
Ball Corp is likely to have faced higher input costs during the quarter due to tariff-related pressures. However, stronger shipment volumes, favorable revenue growth, ongoing cost-reduction initiatives, and continued productivity and efficiency improvements are expected to have largely offset these headwinds, supporting margin expansion in the quarter.
BALL Stock’s Price Performance
The company’s shares have gained 36.4% in the past year compared with the industry's 21.3% growth.
Ball Corp’s Peers Performance in Q3
Packaging Corporation of America PKG reported third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.04 per share, up 11.4% year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.95 by 3.05%. The bottom line also exceeded the company's guidance of $2.91, driven by favorable price and mix in the Packaging segment and contributions from the acquired operations.
Packaging Corp’s net sales increased 12.5% year over year to $2.60 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $2.56 billion.
Sonoco Products Company SON posted adjusted earnings of $1.67 per share in the third quarter of 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.76. The figure dipped 13% from $1.92 in the year-ago quarter. Sonoco’s net sales of $2.04 billion declined 4.2% year over year and missed the consensus mark of $2.09 billion.
Avery Dennison Corporation AVY reported adjusted earnings of $2.42 per share for the third quarter of 2026, up 2.1% from $2.37 in the year-ago quarter. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.30.
Avery Dennison’s net sales increased 5.2% year over year to $2.33 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $2.30 billion. Organic sales improved 3.7%, supported by pricing gains, growth in high-value categories and productivity initiatives despite customer inventory destocking.
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Ball Corporation (BALL): Free Stock Analysis Report
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Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY): Free Stock Analysis Report
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).