AQR Capital Management Adds $119M in Ball Corporation ($BALL)
AQR Capital Management significantly increased its investment in Ball Corporation, adding nearly 1.9 million shares.
Key Points
- AQR Capital Management boosted its stake in Ball Corporation by 118.8%, adding 1,909,867 shares to total 3,518,142 shares worth $212.8 million.
- Ball Corporation shares traded near $60.49 on Wednesday, with a market cap of $15.5 billion and a P/E ratio of 17.
- Insiders at Ball Corporation were active, with notable transactions by Betty Sapp and Cathy Ross, while analysts maintained positive ratings.
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AQR Capital Management has significantly increased its position in Ball Corporation (NYSE:BALL), according to its latest 13F filing with the SEC. The fund added 1,909,867 shares, boosting its stake by 118.8% to a total of 3,518,142 shares. This investment is valued at approximately $212.8 million as of the end of the reporting period.
AQR Capital Management vs. the S&P 500
Hypothetical, simulated performance of disclosed positions vs. the S&P 500. Not realized profit and not investment advice. Past performance does not indicate future results. Details.
What Changed in AQR Capital Management's Ball Corporation Position
AQR Capital Management nearly doubled its holdings in Ball Corporation, increasing its shares from 1,608,275 to 3,518,142. This substantial addition of nearly 1.9 million shares reflects a 118.8% increase in its position, bringing its total investment to about $212.8 million.
Other Institutional Activity in Ball Corporation
Other major funds have also been active in Ball Corporation. BlackRock, Inc. reduced its holdings by 719,012 shares, now holding 22,866,150 shares valued at $1.35 billion, a 3.0% decrease. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. cut its stake by 830,467 shares, leaving it with 18,056,214 shares worth $1.07 billion, down 4.4%. Meanwhile, Vanguard Capital Management LLC opened a new position with 17,375,507 shares valued at $1.03 billion. State Street Corp increased its holdings by 533,159 shares, a 4.5% rise, ending with 12,391,737 shares valued at $732.5 million. JPMorgan Chase & Co also increased its stake by 1,374,404 shares, a 23.4% increase, now holding 7,256,377 shares worth $421.1 million.
Ball Corporation Stock Down 2.1%
Shares of Ball Corporation traded near $60.49 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $15.5 billion and a P/E ratio of 17. Its 52-week range is between $44.83 and $68.29. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $58.33 and a 200-day moving average of $55.37. Ball Corporation also maintains a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.65, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 145.54.
$BALL stock price
Daily closing prices, year to date. Not investment advice.
Recent Earnings
In its recent earnings report, Ball Corporation posted revenue of $13.67 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 16.3%. The company's net margin stands at 6.9%, with a return on equity of 16.8%. Earnings per share (EPS) was reported at $3.43. The next earnings announcement is scheduled for August 4, 2026.
Earnings drift grade
Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.
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Forward outlook
2 analysts raised price targets.
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EPS & revenue
EPS beat estimates by 8.8%. Revenue beat estimates by 5.1%.
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Profit surprise
EBITDA met by 0 percent. Operating income missed by 8 percent.
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Pre-earnings setup
Bar was high, analysts already very bullish.
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Analyst signal
2 target raises.
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Earnings quality
Gross margin up 3.2 points. Operating margin down 1.8 points. Positive free cash flow.
Earnings Call Summary
Ball delivered a strong first quarter with 3.6 billion dollars in revenue, beating consensus by 175 million dollars, and earnings per share of 94 cents, beating expectations by 9 cents. Global beverage can volumes grew about 1 percent, and the company achieved 10 percent operating earnings growth by executing on cost discipline and passing aluminum costs through to customers. Management highlighted that the aluminum can is winning share in all regions and stressed the importance of profit per can as a key metric going forward.
Guidance Ball expects to deliver 10 percent or higher comparable earnings per share growth for the full year 2026. The company guides for greater than 900 million dollars in free cash flow and plans to return 800 million dollars to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. In North America, volumes should grow at the low end of the 1 to 3 percent range. EMEA volumes are expected to grow above 3 to 5 percent due to the Benepack acquisition. South America should see 4 to 6 percent growth.
Solid report. Results were generally better than expected, but the forward outlook did not materially change.
Dividend
Ball Corporation pays an annual dividend rate of $0.80 per share, yielding 1.39%. The dividend payout ratio is 23.3%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Ball Corporation
Recent insider activity at Ball Corporation includes several transactions by Betty Sapp and Cathy Ross on June 15, 2026. Betty Sapp sold 1,145 shares and bought 229 shares, while Cathy Ross sold 102 shares and bought 102 shares. Additionally, on April 30, 2026, Cathy Ross sold 3,369 shares.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
On May 6, 2026, UBS maintained a hold rating on Ball Corporation with a price target of $64. Wells Fargo also maintained its buy rating with a $71 target. Earlier, on April 15, 2026, Truist Securities maintained a buy rating with a $77 target. The consensus among analysts is a buy rating, with an average target price of $70.79 based on 14 analyst opinions.
About Ball Corporation
Ball Corporation supplies aluminum packaging products primarily for the beverage, personal care, and household products industries. Its offerings include aluminum beverage containers and extruded aluminum aerosol containers, among others. The company is headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, and led by CEO Ronald J. Lewis. With about 16,000 employees, Ball operates in the United States, Brazil, and internationally.
Bottom Line
AQR Capital Management's significant increase in its stake highlights its confidence in Ball Corporation. Investors often track such institutional moves for insights, though it's important to remember that 13F filings reflect past positions and may not represent current holdings. Ball's recent earnings and analyst ratings suggest a positive outlook, while insider transactions provide additional context.
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