Core Viewpoint - Ball Corporation is recognized as one of the 10 Most Profitable Undervalued Stocks to Buy, with analysts raising price targets following strong fourth-quarter results and a positive outlook for 2026 and 2027 [1][8]. Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Citi analyst Anthony Pettinari increased the price target for Ball Corporation to $74 from $67, maintaining a Buy rating due to strong fourth-quarter results and a compelling outlook [1]. - Truist raised its price target to $75 from $69 while keeping a Buy rating, noting a 9% post-earnings stock movement reflecting increased investor confidence in the company's execution and focus on profitable growth under new CEO Ron Lewis [2]. - RBC Capital lifted its target to $74 from $67 and reiterated an Outperform rating, citing a fourth-quarter earnings beat driven by robust volumes [2]. - BofA raised its price target to $71 from $63 and maintained a Buy rating, while also increasing FY2026 and FY2027 EPS forecasts [3]. - UBS increased its target to $66 from $58 and maintained a Neutral rating after updating its model post-earnings [3]. - Morgan Stanley raised its price target to $66 from $63, keeping an Equal Weight rating, citing improved clarity on operating leverage into 2027 [3]. Financial Performance - Ball Corporation reported fourth-quarter revenue of $3.35 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $3.11 billion [4]. - The company achieved robust volume growth in the quarter and returned approximately $1.54 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends [4]. Company Overview - Ball Corporation supplies aluminum packaging products for the beverage, personal care, and household products industries, operating in the United States, Brazil, and internationally [5]. - The company manufactures and sells aluminum beverage containers to fillers of carbonated soft drinks, beer, energy drinks, and other beverages [5].

INVESTOR PRESENTATION February 2026 2025 Q4 Legal Disclaimers 1. See Appendix – "Boardwalk EBITDA" for a reconciliation of net income attributable to Loews to EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure. 2. See page titled "Loews Hotels & Co – Portfolio" for additional information about hotels owned and operated by Loews Hotels & Co. Forward Looking Statements and Risk Factors. The information presented herein is generally available from public sources, including our and our subsidiaries' earnings releases and SEC filings. ...

Core Viewpoint - Greif aims to double its market capitalization and share price by adopting a holistic approach to business value creation, focusing on strategic changes and operational efficiency [1][3]. Business Performance - Greif reported net sales of $994.8 million for the first quarter of its fiscal year, reflecting a 2.2% decline due to broader economic conditions [2]. - The company is optimistic about exceeding last year's performance, with expectations of growth if market conditions improve [3]. Strategic Changes - Under CEO Ole Rosgaard, Greif has undergone significant restructuring, including divestitures, closures, and workforce reductions, to enhance operational efficiency [3][10]. - The company plans to sell its timberland, which has generated approximately $9 million in EBITDA annually, to reduce debt and save on interest costs [4][5]. Market Positioning - Greif seeks to redefine its identity beyond being perceived as a paper company, aiming to be a leader in premium packaging [6][12]. - The company faces competition from larger containerboard firms and recognizes the need to adapt to a shrinking customer base [7][8]. Organizational Structure - Greif has restructured its strategic business units (SBUs) to focus on manufacturing technologies rather than regional operations, enhancing depth in product expertise [14][15]. - A new commercial function has been established to streamline sales efforts across the entire product portfolio, improving customer engagement [16]. Economic Outlook - The company operates in a challenging recessionary environment, with no immediate signs of recovery anticipated in 2026 [17][18]. - Greif is focused on long-term strategies rather than short-term responses to economic fluctuations, emphasizing sustainable growth [21][23]. Employee Engagement - Despite workforce reductions, Greif has received recognition for employee engagement and is committed to transparent communication regarding strategic changes [24][26]. - The leadership emphasizes the importance of maintaining morale and respect for employees during transitions [25]. Future Prospects - Greif is excited about the potential for growth and operational readiness, likening the company to a finely tuned machine [27][28].

Core Sales Performance - Pharma core sales increased by 4% in the quarter, with prescription core sales growing by 1%, driven by systemic nasal drug delivery and higher royalty payments, despite a 36% decline in emergency medicine sales [1][5][19] - For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, Aptar reported sales of $963 million, a 14% increase from $848 million a year earlier, with core sales reflecting healthy underlying demand across all segments [4][5] Profitability and Financial Metrics - Adjusted EPS for the quarter was $1.25, down from $1.62 in the prior year, attributed to higher depreciation, amortization, and interest expenses [2] - Adjusted EBITDA was $191 million, a 2% decrease year-over-year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 19.8%, down from 23% in the prior-year quarter, impacted by unfavorable product mix and higher production costs [3][7] Segment Performance - Injectables core sales increased by 24%, driven by demand for elastomeric components, while consumer healthcare core sales rose by 3% [10] - Beauty segment achieved 10% core sales growth, with personal care growing by 17%, although the adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 10.2% due to lower-margin projects and operational disruptions [9][12] Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns - In 2025, the company returned $486 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, with a new $600 million buyback authorization announced [15][16] - Free cash flow was reported at $303 million, down $64 million year-over-year, primarily due to timing of tax payments and higher working capital [14] Outlook and Challenges - For Q1 2026, adjusted EPS is guided to be between $1.13 and $1.21, reflecting higher interest expenses and an expected effective tax rate of 21% to 23% [18] - Management anticipates a $65 million revenue headwind in 2026 due to declining emergency medicine demand, with the impact expected to be more pronounced in the first half of the year [19][20]

Forward Looking Statements & Non-GAAP Financial Measures February 6, 2026 Q4 and Full Year 2025 Results Stephan B. Tanda, Aptar President and CEO Vanessa Kanu, Executive Vice President and CFO This presentation includes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are based on management's beliefs and assumptions in light of information currently a ...

Core Insights - Crown Holdings reported a year-over-year sales increase in 2025, driven by higher shipments in its European beverage business and North American tinplate [1] - The company experienced a decline in Q4 net income compared to the previous year, despite an increase in net sales for the full year [1] Financial Performance - Q4 net sales reached $3.13 billion, up 7.7% year over year [1] - Q4 net income was $201 million, down from $392 million in Q4 2024 [1] - Full-year 2025 net sales totaled $12.4 billion, an increase of 4.8% year over year [1] - Full-year 2025 net income was $883 million, compared to $560 million in 2024 [1] Beverage Trends - Beverage sales in the Americas rose over 7% year over year to $5.62 billion in 2025 [1] - Energy drinks, sparkling water, and flavored alcohols are performing well in the U.S. market [1] - Beer is showing better performance in Europe than in North America, with a shift from glass and plastic to cans driving demand [1] Aluminum Costs - Tariffs are impacting aluminum costs, creating uncertainty in long-term pricing [1] - The company is concerned about the sustainability costs being passed on to consumers [1] Capacity Planning - Crown Holdings does not plan to invest in adding capacity in North America in the next couple of years [1] - The company has limited open capacity and does not need to pursue additional capacity aggressively [1] Outlook - Executives expect North American volumes to grow by 2% to 3% in 2026, driven by food can demand [1] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share are projected to be between $7.90 and $8.30 [1] - The company anticipates approximately $900 million in adjusted free cash flow and $550 million in capital spending for capacity expansions and upgrades in Brazil, Greece, and Spain [1]

Core Insights - The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has outlined key sustainability regulation priorities and reporting requirements for 2026 and beyond, focusing on packaging compliance, extended producer responsibility, and waste frameworks [1] Group 1: Packaging Regulation Priorities - Critical developments in extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging are expected to become operational in 2026, with the appointment of the producer responsibility organisation (PRO) anticipated in March and fee modulation based on recyclability data planned for July [3] - The UK's Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for recyclable containers will publish its final design in April, which will impact retailers and producers ahead of the October 2027 implementation [4] - A regulatory update to the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) is expected later in 2026, potentially introducing a mass balance approach for chemically recycled plastics, affecting compliance pathways for businesses [5] Group 2: Reporting and Data Transparency - Reporting obligations are set to intensify in 2026, emphasizing the need for transparent sustainability data and claims verification for regulatory compliance and alignment with emerging frameworks [6] - Proposed mandatory UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (SRS) may require large listed companies to disclose climate-related risks, governance, and emissions data, including scope 3 emissions, as part of evolving government consultations [7] - The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) in the EU aims to standardize rules on material recyclability, minimum recycled content, and waste reduction, impacting businesses operating in both EU and UK markets [8]

Core Insights - Amcor Plc (AMCR) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 86 cents for Q2 fiscal 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 83 cents, with a year-over-year growth of 7.5% [2][9] - Total revenues increased by 68% year over year to $5.45 billion, although this fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.55 billion [4][9] - The growth was primarily driven by the Berry acquisition, which accounted for approximately 66% of the revenue increase, while volume declined by 3% [4][9] Financial Performance - Including special items, net earnings per share were reported at 38 cents, down from 56 cents in the prior-year quarter [3] - The cost of sales rose by 68.6% year over year to $4.41 billion, while gross profit increased by 66% to $1.04 billion, resulting in a gross margin of 19.1% compared to 19.3% in the previous year [5] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $826 million, reflecting an 83% increase from $453 million in the prior-year quarter, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 15.2% [6] Segment Performance - In the Global Flexible Packaging Solutions segment, net sales rose by 27% year over year to $3.19 billion, despite a 2% decline in volume [7][9] - The Global Rigid Packaging Solutions segment saw net sales surge by 210% to $2.26 billion, driven by a 212% contribution from the acquisition, although volumes declined by 6% [10][13] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - As of December 31, 2025, Amcor had cash and cash equivalents of $1,057 million, up from $827 million as of June 30, 2025, and generated $370 million in cash from operating activities in the first half of fiscal 2026 [14] - Net debt increased to $14.08 billion from $13.27 billion as of June 30, 2025 [14] Guidance - The company maintains its adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2026 in the range of $4.00 to $4.15 and projects free cash flow of $1.8 to $1.9 billion [15] Stock Performance - Over the past year, AMCR shares have decreased by 3.1%, compared to an 8.2% decline in the industry [16]

This story was originally published on Packaging Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Packaging Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: The U.S. Department of Commerce issued antidumping and countervailing duty orders for thermoformed molded fiber products imported from China and Vietnam. These took effect immediately upon Commerce publishing the duty orders Jan. 27, and they run for five years, with the possibility of extensions. This action follows the U.S. International Trade ...

Core Insights - Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) experienced a significant rebound, rising by 10.31% to close at $13.70, as investors sought bargains after the stock approached its 52-week low [1][8] Financial Performance - The company reported a 32% decline in net income, falling to $444 million from $658 million year-on-year, while net sales decreased by 2.3% to $8.6 billion from $8.8 billion [2] - In the fourth quarter, net income dropped by 48% to $71 million from $138 million, with net sales remaining flat at $2.1 billion [3] - Full-year net sales were negatively impacted by a $150 million loss from the disposal of the Augusta, Georgia, bleached paperboard, alongside lower paperboard prices and a $97 million decline in packaging sales [4] Market Challenges - The company faces challenges due to consumer affordability issues and competitive pressures, which are expected to persist in the near term [5] - The CEO has initiated a comprehensive review of the organization and operations to enhance shareholder value [6]