Q2 2026 Ball Corp Earnings Call
Speaker #2: Greetings, and welcome to the BALL Corporation's second quarter 2026 earnings conference call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A brief question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation.
Speaker #2: If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press *0 on your telephone keypad. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Brandon Potthoff, Head of Investor Relations.
Speaker #2: Thank you, sir. You may begin.
Speaker #3: Thank you. Good morning, everyone. This is BALL Corporation's conference call regarding the company's second quarter 2026 results. During this call, we will reference our second quarter 2026 earnings presentation, available through this webcast and on our website, at investors.ball.com.
Speaker #3: The information provided during this call will contain forward-looking statements. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied.
Speaker #3: We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made today. Some factors that could cause the results or outcomes to differ are described in the company's latest Form 10-K, other SEC filings, and in today's earnings release and earnings presentation.
Speaker #3: If you do not already have our earnings release, it is available on our website at ball.com. Information regarding the use of non-GAAP financial measures may also be found in the notes section of today's earnings release.
Speaker #3: In addition, this presentation and the release include a summary of non-comparable items as well as a reconciliation of comparable net earnings and diluted earnings per share calculations.
Speaker #3: I would now like to turn the call over to our CEO, Ron Lewis.
Speaker #4: Thank you, Brandon. Today, I'm joined by Dan Rabbitt, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. I will provide some brief introductory remarks and discuss second quarter and first half 2026 financial performance, as well as our outlook for the remainder of 2026.
Speaker #4: Dan will touch on key metrics, and then we will finish up with closing comments and a question-and-answer session. As we begin, I want to reinforce the same big-picture message we have discussed in prior quarters.
Speaker #4: Because it remains central to how we think about BALL's long-term value creation. The fundamentals supporting our business remain firmly in place. Packaged liquid volume continues to grow globally, and aluminum cans continue to gain share as consumers, customers, and retailers prioritize convenience, performance, and sustainability.
Speaker #4: These trends continue to support a durable runway of demand for our products. Within that growing market, BALL remains well-positioned. Across our regions, we continue to benefit from long-term customer partnerships, a well-contracted portfolio, disciplined capacity management, and an unmatched global footprint.
Speaker #4: Together, those advantages support strong utilization and consistent commercial performance. We are pairing those operating advantages with financial discipline. Through the first half of 2026, our results have reinforced our confidence in the framework we laid out for the year, supported by a healthy balance sheet and a capital allocation approach grounded in EVA.
Speaker #4: We remain focused on investing where we can earn attractive returns and returning capital to shareholders. Operationally, our teams continue to make progress. Standardization, cost discipline, and the Ball business system are helping us reduce complexity, improve productivity, and create a more repeatable operating model as volumes grow.
Speaker #4: When you bring together attractive industry fundamentals, strong customer relationships, disciplined execution, financial strength, and an operating system built for continuous improvement, BALL remains well-positioned to deliver on our 2026 objectives and create long-term value for shareholders.
Speaker #4: Our first-half results reinforce the resilience of our business and the consistency of our execution, even as the external environment remains complex. The strategy we have discussed in prior quarters remains clear, consistent, and grounded in four strategic pillars, and our first-half performance provides further evidence that it is working.
Speaker #4: First, we remain focused on executing in our core business. That discipline shows up through service, cost management, and ongoing efforts to improve operational consistency across our plants, and regions.
Speaker #4: Second, we stay close to our customers and maximize the strength of our global network. Long-term customer partnerships, strong service levels, and a balanced footprint give us the flexibility to respond quickly and reliably.
Speaker #4: Third, we continue to accelerate the substrate shift to aluminum and expand into targeted categories. Aluminum's sustainability and performance advantages remain compelling, and we are focused on translating these advantages into disciplined growth.
Speaker #4: Fourth, we manage complexity to our advantage. Our scale, standardization, and systems help us stay focused on the levers we control and build more repeatable performance over time.
Speaker #4: The BALL business system connects these priorities across the organization, helping us standardize best practices and improve productivity and drive continuous improvement. At the center of that system are our people and culture.
Speaker #4: Low ego, high collaboration, and a shared commitment to doing the right things the right way—that consistency is what supports our first-half performance and gives us confidence in our ability to deliver on our 2026 objectives while continuing to create value long-term.
Speaker #4: That is where the BALL business system and EVA come together. One helping us to operate with greater consistency, the other guiding how we allocate capital to create long-term value.
Speaker #4: In the second quarter and first half, that discipline showed up in our financial performance while we continued to focus on delivering operational results in line with our BALL business system goals.
Speaker #4: It is also why our 2026 framework remains unchanged. 10-plus percent comparable diluted EPS growth, strong free cash flow, and consistent returns to shareholders. With that context, let me address how those priorities translated into our second quarter and first half results.
Speaker #4: Turning to our second quarter performance, we continue to build on the solid start we discussed last quarter. Global volumes improved 4.3% year over year with growth in each region reflecting continued momentum across our portfolio and keeping us on track with the full-year volume outlook we outlined earlier this year.
Speaker #4: Comparable operating earnings grew 7.7% year over year supported by disciplined cost management, commercial performance, and continued progress through the BALL business system. Even as we absorbed the previously discussed North American startup costs.
Speaker #4: That performance flowed through to the bottom line, with comparable diluted EPS growth of 14.4%, reflecting operating earnings performance and capital allocation. Our first-half performance reinforces our confidence in delivering 10-plus percent comparable diluted EPS growth for the full year.
Speaker #4: We also remain focused on shareholder returns and remain on track to return approximately $800 million to shareholders in 2026. Operationally, we continue to advance our priorities including integrating Benepac to expand our EMEA capacity and continuing to make progress at our Millersburg facility which remains on track toward full ramp-up in 2027.
Speaker #4: Overall, this was a solid second quarter and first half that reinforced the resilience of our business and our confidence in the 2026 framework. With that context, I'll let Dan walk through the details of our second quarter financial performance and provide more color on our expectations for the balance of 2026.
Speaker #4: Over to you, Dan.
Speaker #2: Thank you, Ron. I'll walk through our second quarter 2026 financial performance and provide additional context on the first half and our expectations for the balance of the year.
Speaker #2: Overall, the business continued to perform well in the second quarter. Global shipped beverage can volumes increased 4.3% year over year, supported by growth across each region and continued progress against our full-year expectations.
Speaker #2: Across both the quarter and the first half, our teams remained focused on service, cost discipline, and improving the controllable performance drivers that support our 2026 framework.
Speaker #2: As Ron noted, comparable operating earnings increased 7.7% year over year and comparable diluted EPS increased 14.4% aided by disciplined performance and capital allocation tailwinds.
Speaker #2: Our first half performance remains consistent with the financial framework we laid out for 2026. In North and Central America, volumes increased low single digits year over year consistent with our expectation for full-year growth at the low end of our long-term 1-3% range.
Speaker #2: Demand remained constructive in energy drinks and non-alcoholic beverages. Segment comparable operating earnings declined 2.4% year over year, as higher costs, including approximately $5 million of startup costs, were partially offset by favorable price/mix, including the timing of metal pass-through to our large customers who procure their own aluminum.
Speaker #2: We continue to expect full-year startup costs to total approximately $35 million, with roughly $30 million expected in the second half. In EMEA, volumes increased mid-single digits year over year, supported by underlying demand and the contribution from Benepac, partially offset by last year's sale of our Saudi Arabian business.
Speaker #2: Segment comparable operating earnings increased 6.6% year over year, reflecting higher volume and favorable price mix, partially offset by higher costs. We continue to make progress integrating the Hungary and Belgium facilities for 2026 with the inclusion of Benepac.
Speaker #2: We continue to expect volume growth above the top end of our long-term 3-5% range. In South America, volumes increased mid-teens year over year as the region moved past first quarter customer timing and inventory impacts.
Speaker #2: Segment comparable operating earnings increased 64% year over year, driven by higher volumes and favorable price mix. Looking ahead, we continue to expect volume growth at the low end of our long-term 4% to 6% range in 2026.
Speaker #2: Now focusing on modeling details for 2026. As Ron noted, with the resilience of our business and our pass-through models, we continue to expect to be on track with our long-term 10% plus comparable diluted EPS growth goal.
Speaker #2: We anticipate free cash flow of greater than $900 million in 2026. Our 2026 full-year effective tax rate on comparable earnings is expected to be slightly above 23%.
Speaker #2: Full-year 2026 interest expense is expected to be in the range of $310 million capex is expected to be in line with gap DNA in 2026.
Speaker #2: Full-year 2026 reported adjusted corporate undistributed costs recorded in other non-reportable are expected to be in the range of $175 million. We anticipate year-end 2026 net debt to comparable EBITDA to be around $2.7 times and we will repurchase at least $600 million of shares which will bring our total capital return to shareholders to $800 million in 2026.
Speaker #2: And last week, BALL's board declared its quarterly cash dividend. And with that, I'll turn it back to Ron.
Speaker #3: Thanks, Dan. In summary, the key message is that we are delivering against the framework we laid out for 2026. Through the first half, we grew global volumes, expanded comparable diluted EPS, generated strong earnings performance, and remained on track with our free cash flow and capital return priorities.
Speaker #3: That progress reflects the consistency of our strategy and the discipline of our teams. We continue to stay close to our customers, manage the levers we control, invest through an EVA lens, and use the BALL business system to improve how we operate across the company.
Speaker #3: Importantly, our first half results reinforce our confidence in the full-year framework. We remain focused on delivering 10-plus percent comparable diluted EPS growth, generating strong free cash flow, and returning approximately $800 million to shareholders in 2026.
Speaker #3: We know there is still work ahead and our teams remain focused on the operating and commercial priorities that matter most in the second half.
Speaker #3: But the first half demonstrates that the strategy is consistent, the framework is intact, and BALL remains well-positioned to create long-term value for shareholders. Thank you and with that, Christine, we are ready for questions.
Speaker #1: Thank you. We will now be conducting a question-and-answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad.
Speaker #1: A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star 2 if you would like to remove your question from the queue.
Speaker #1: For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star keys. One moment please while we poll for questions.
Speaker #1: Thank you. Our first question comes from a line of Gansham, Punjabi with Baird. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #4: Thank you. Good morning, everybody. You know, Ron, I know comparisons are a bit tougher in the Beverage North America and Central America segment, given your performance from last year.
Speaker #4: But, you know, sort of looking back, how did the flagship events over the summer including America 250 and the World Cup impact your volumes?
Speaker #4: You know, was that material in any way or were you supply constrained just given just given your footprint position at this point?
Speaker #3: Hi, Gansham. Nice to hear from you. Thanks for the question. We said coming into the year in North America, that we were running notably tight.
Speaker #3: And that certainly is the case, and so we didn't see any really meaningful growth in North America due to America 250 or World Cup.
Speaker #3: But what it did do coming into this quarter—and, quite frankly, Q3 that we've just started—is it gave us a lot of confidence in the growth that we were going to see.
Speaker #3: And that flowed through. I mean, we served our customers with distinction and the best of our ability, but the fact of the matter is we are trying to bring this new plant up in Millersburg and until we do that, we will be we will be notably tight until we can until we can get that capacity up and running.
Speaker #4: Okay, great. Thanks for that. And then in Europe, you know, adjusting for BENEPAC and some of the portfolio moves there and segment realignment, etc., what were underlying volumes during the second quarter, and was that consistent with your expectations going into Q2?
Speaker #3: Yeah, thanks, Gansham. Let me let me answer at a high level and then I'll let Dan do some of the details. But in general, you know, our our long-term growth outlook is 3 to 5 percent growth.
Speaker #3: What we've said is with the acquisition of Benepac for the full year, we should be exceeding that on an annualized basis. And for sure, our organic business was right in line with what our what our long-term growth outlook is.
Speaker #3: But there is some puts and takes in there with the change in the sector. So let me let Dan kind of detail that out for if you don't mind.
Speaker #4: Yeah.
Speaker #3: Hi, Gansham. Yeah, I think, you know, really we grew our volumes second quarter a little less than 500 million units cans compared to last year.
Speaker #3: The way to think about where it came from was our legacy businesses now in that segment are really the traditional Europe footprint that we've had for a while now.
Speaker #3: And some Asian assets and when you look at it, we really those delivered mid-single digit growth in the in for that segment. And the puts and takes that kind of neutralized each other was the integration of the Benepac business and that came with some cans.
Speaker #3: But it also was offset by the loss of the Saudi Arabian business as well. So good good performance. It was really all done on our on the assets that we brought into the year.
Speaker #3: And we're overall pleased with where they stand.
Speaker #4: Perfect. Thank you much.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from the line of Anthony Petinari with Citi. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #5: Good morning. The detail and the full year outlook are extremely helpful. I'm just wondering if there's any finer point you could put on kind of the cadence from 3Q to 4Q versus maybe kind of a normal seasonal cadence.
Speaker #5: I mean, you talked about the startup costs, and I think you talked about them in the second half. I'm just wondering if we could expect those to be more weighted toward Q3 or Q4, or if there are, you know, changes in energy costs in EMEA, or just any thoughts on what the Q3/Q4 cadence might look like versus, you know, a quote-unquote normal year.
Speaker #3: Hi Anthony. Thanks for the question. So what we have said is we expect roughly 35 million dollars worth of startup costs in the year.
Speaker #3: We've detailed about 5 million of those in the first first half of the year, really in the second quarter. And for Q3, Q4, to be frank, like it's a little challenging for us to give you a specific number.
Speaker #3: We still expect to see $30 million of the $35 million flow into the back half of the year. What I will say, which is really great news for us, is our plant in Millersburg is now making commercial cans as of last month.
Speaker #3: And we're looking forward to ramping that up, and you should expect to see the full benefit of that in 2027. We're just in the process of getting it ramped up.
Speaker #3: So, wouldn't want to provide any more details than just the back half—hope that's okay.
Speaker #5: No, no, that's fair. And then maybe just a related question: I don't know if you can give maybe some additional thoughts or color on the South American market and your individual markets there, given your thoughts on the second half, given the Q2 outperformance.
Speaker #5: You know, some of your peers have maybe expressed some conservatism towards the end of the year. I'm just wondering if you can give any more thoughts given, you know, the really strong quarter that you had there.
Speaker #3: Yeah, thanks for that question. We're quite frankly really pleased with our performance in South America. We noted last quarter that we were going to see a good second quarter when we when we knew that that was coming through.
Speaker #3: And I mentioned how we were doing relative to relative to the our Q1 performance when we talked about April. So firstly, South America can be volatile.
Speaker #3: We know that quarter to quarter. And it's driven by customer activity that we have the privilege to serve what time of year it is, etc., etc.
Speaker #3: So I think I would start by just saying let's not get too fixated on any one given quarter. Last quarter we were down a little bit.
Speaker #3: This quarter we were up a lot. For the full year, we're focused on delivering against our long-term growth outlook of 4 to 6 percent.
Speaker #3: And we came into the year saying we'd be on the low end of that range. We have even more confidence that we'll be at least at the low end of that range, and maybe even into the middle of that range, on a full-year basis.
Speaker #3: So Q1 and Q2 kind of offset and we more than make up we're right in that we're right where we're supposed to be for the full year as we sit here today through the first half of the year.
Speaker #3: Other than that, we're just focused on serving our customers. The can market in general I would say can market in general in South America is very healthy.
Speaker #3: What is unique to us, and you mentioned it, is that we are the can maker in South America that makes cans in more countries than anybody else.
Speaker #3: So we have a privileged place in the region. What happened in the quarter we drove strong mid-team volume growth combined with, you know, a really good network, really good operational performance, really good commercial performance.
Speaker #3: And that that delivered meaningful flow through. I don't want to comment anything specifically about individual countries other than to say outside of Brazil, which is the predominance of our business, all of the countries that are also in South America for us generally are accreted to our business and this quarter was no exception.
Speaker #3: So I would summarize the quarter by saying we have a privileged customer portfolio. And they enjoyed success from World Cup and we benefited from their success.
Speaker #5: Okay. That's very helpful. I'll turn it over.
Speaker #3: Thank you, Anthony.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from the line of George Staffos with Bank of America. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #4: Hi everyone. Good morning. Thanks for the details. I wanted to spend my first question on operations and then second question dig into the volume outlook.
Speaker #4: Ron, if we look at the results, and they were certainly at least in line with your guidance, in North and Central America though, even if we add back the startup costs, I think EBIT would have been comparable EBIT would have been about flat despite volume growth.
Speaker #4: And so recognizing there is inflation with Millersburg, I'm sure there are other factors that maybe hit the network. Can you talk while you didn't see your normal or your at least targeted operating leverage?
Speaker #4: And then within Europe as well, we had, you know, mid single digit volume growth. I don't think we saw if I did my calculations right, the normal lift in EBIT relative to volume was that Dan just a function of the different moving pieces one year versus the other in terms of the businesses there?
Speaker #4: How should we think about that?
Speaker #3: Okay, thanks, George, for the question. I'll start, and then I'll ask Dan to add a little color, if you don't mind. Starting in North America, we are notably tight, as we've said.
Speaker #3: Coming into the year, we did have volume growth in the quarter and the first half of the year in North America. So, with those high utilization rates, and quite frankly some good volume growth that we knew was coming through, it equates to some operational friction, no doubt.
Speaker #3: And that puts pressure on everything. On the way we plan, on scheduling, on labor, on freight, maintenance, etc., etc. And a little shout out to our our teams that work in our plants.
Speaker #3: It's extremely hot. Like as I walk our plants, it's a it's a it's an environment that is challenging to work in. So thanks to them.
Speaker #3: And that's why quite frankly we're investing for growth. We bought a plant in in Florida, as you know, it's fully operational for us and fully integrated into our network.
Speaker #3: And now we're bringing up this new plant in Millersburg, Oregon. That will relieve some pressure and obviously support our customers, helping us to deliver operating leverage in the long term.
Speaker #3: From a European perspective, I would just say the acquisition that we made of the two plants, one in one in Belgium and one in Hungary, we knew that we are also quite tight in Europe and these were two acquisitions that helped from that capacity standpoint.
Speaker #3: But we also knew that we needed to get them ramped up and into our network. That will take us more or less the full full year of 2020 6.
Speaker #3: And so we're similarly tight there, and it's similarly hot. We are managing through that process. But from an overall puts and takes perspective, maybe Dan, you could take the back half of that question.
Speaker #2: Yeah. Excuse me. As as we as we think about the quarter, I think we have to say that the the demand, the volume demand was really strong.
Speaker #2: Strong in all of our markets. And our two biggest markets both US the North America and the EMEA segment really came in with with them limited capacity.
Speaker #2: Some so we were pretty tight coming in. Volumes and orders came in really strong. So it obviously put a little stress and strain on our on our network.
Speaker #2: So but really when you look at it, we we we never really wanted or had intended to be valuated on every segment, every quarter on operating leverage.
Speaker #2: It's just not the way the business works. And and you pointed out obviously that we came up a little short in North America and and that really does come from the fact that we are we saw some startup costs and and also with the strong demand, it really just challenged us to deliver at times.
Speaker #2: And and these are these are good problems to have. Because they're based on orders and and strong demand. But I think that's the main takeaway.
Speaker #2: I think the operating leverage in the rest of the company was pretty good. And actually, for the enterprise at large, it was fabulous—8% operating earnings growth.
Speaker #2: We don't do much better than that ever. And so that's a that's a great a great mark.
Speaker #4: Yeah, I appreciate that, Dan. I just wanted to peer under the hood, so to speak. Point of clarification—was there any operational friction or costs related to Benepec in Q2 that, in some ways, we should adjust for?
Speaker #4: And then the second question, you know, Ron, you talked about, you know, strength obviously in energy and and non-alcoholic beverages. So what are you seeing and implying in terms of the outlook for alcohol for beer?
Speaker #4: Has there been you know, any change in momentum in some of the ready to drink and other categories? Thanks, guys, and good luck in the quarter.
Speaker #3: Thank you, George. First on your question on benepec operational friction, these are plants one is a brand new startup plant. So we need to think of the plant in Hungary as just a startup plant.
Speaker #3: And and the plant in Belgium, we are working diligently to get to 24/7 operation just like the plant in Hungary. So I would say in general, we're right on track with what we expected from those plants.
Speaker #3: But they are not accretive to our overall business yet. And that's what we said we were getting when we bought that those plants. And we're excited about them.
Speaker #3: We're we're really pleased. From a category perspective, I think you're maybe talking specifically about North America.
Speaker #4: That's right.
Speaker #3: We yeah. So I'll start by saying this. The can is winning. It continues to win. It's been winning for years. We have shown volume growth across our business all of last year.
Speaker #3: In fact, accelerating last year. So we've now completed our sixth quarter of growth. We expect that to continue for the foreseeable future. And we had a really strong quarter, 4% plus volume growth on the back of a comparable 4% plus volume growth in Q2 of last year and a plus 4% volume growth in all of 2025.
Speaker #3: That's above what we expect from our long-term outlook. As far as categories, as I said, the can is winning, and we're focused on supporting all of our customers.
Speaker #3: I would say the other thing about the dynamics of the beverage industry is the can is used to deliver value to consumers. Be it in single format or really in the multi-pack format.
Speaker #3: And we have a great customer portfolio. So we're seeing growth even in a really tight capacity environment for us. As it relates to to individual categories, I couldn't say more than what you see in all of the data that you you all analyze and and quite frankly share with us.
Speaker #3: So beer along with soft drinks and energy is delivering growth ultimately for our business and for the can industry overall.
Speaker #4: Thank you very much. I appreciate the thoughts.
Speaker #3: George.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from the line of Gabe Hajdi with Wells Fargo. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #5: Hi, good morning, Ron, Dan. Thanks for taking the question in detail. I wanted to maybe ask—I'm piggybacking, I guess, on George's question a little bit differently.
Speaker #5: I think there kind of had been some commentary about alcohol as part of the portfolio being about 40% and maybe over time getting closer to 30%.
Speaker #5: I'm just curious if if under kind of your purview and as you look at things, is that still sort of part of the initiatives across the organization?
Speaker #5: And again, I appreciate that you're servicing customers and making sure that they they have everything they need. Is it maybe just natural attenuation if you're kind of projecting beer to be down low single digits in volumetric terms?
Speaker #5: And then the can continuing to win. Just help us think about that maybe over the medium term.
Speaker #3: Sure. Thank you. So thanks, Gabe, for the question. As I said, the can is winning. And as far as the category goes, beer is an important category for us.
Speaker #3: And it's an important category for the can industry. But it's certainly not our only category. Nor is it our biggest category. And as you can see from our overall volumes relative to other substrates, the can does continue to win.
Speaker #3: And that's because of other other categories continuing to pick up the pace. So I would just say number one, consumers want convenience. That means they're going to drink more from packaged beverages.
Speaker #3: And when they drink more from a packaged beverage, more often than not, they're continuing and will continue to continue to accelerate the pace of buying a can versus another substrate.
Speaker #3: And we have the privilege and right to win in that environment. So I think, regardless of what is being sold in that can, the can will continue to grow.
Speaker #3: And we're going to help all of our customers to win in that in that regard.
Speaker #4: Appreciate that.
Speaker #5: Also, I think last call, you mentioned being kind of 90% sold out in North America, or I should say contracted, excuse me. In North America.
Speaker #5: And then 50%, I think, for the end of the decade. Are there any updates there? And then specific maybe to to Europe. I think you mentioned picking up some business over there.
Speaker #5: Just anything material that we should be mindful of maybe going into '27? Thank you.
Speaker #3: Hey, thanks, Gabe. So first of all, on on our you know, our our outlook for contracted volumes, we don't intend to provide a quarterly guidance on these calls as to what our outlook is on a we provided that anecdotally.
Speaker #3: I would say there's been no material change to that. We are more than 50% sold out through the end of the decade. We said that before.
Speaker #3: And that's still true. And the reason we shared that before is just to give you confidence that demand is out there from our customers.
Speaker #3: But it's more of an anecdotal comment. We don't plan to update that on a quarterly basis. As it relates to Europe, Europe is the land of opportunity.
Speaker #3: Can penetration rates are lower than anywhere else in the regions we serve. Sustainability tailwinds are stronger in Europe they are in any any other region we serve.
Speaker #3: And there is more investment in can filling capacity anywhere else than in the regions we serve. So, Europe is an absolute land of opportunity.
Speaker #3: And you can see it in our as well as our primary competitors volume growth. This quarter and over the last several years. Now, as it relates to, you know, customers and and and contracts, etc., I would just say overall volume growth.
Speaker #3: Nothing specific to any any given customer or or or business we won that I would I would call out. Again, we will given the acquisition we made, finish above the high end of our 3 to 5% growth outlook for the year.
Speaker #3: In Europe. And or in our EMEA business. So we're we're really pleased with it. And we're going to continue to serve our customers with the distinction there because they are really growing with the can.
Speaker #4: Thank you.
Speaker #3: Thank you.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from the line of Elaine Rodriguez with Mizuho. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #4: Thank you. Good morning, everyone. Quick question on the volumes. By segment. Like, how do you think your regional volumes did compare with the markets?
Speaker #4: Essentially, like, did they lag or outpace the respective markets?
Speaker #3: Thank you very much for the question. So, let me just review where we said we would be for the full year, and then I'll tell you what I feel from the quarter perspective.
Speaker #3: For the full year, we said we will be in this 2% to 3% long-term outlook. We may be towards the high end of that range.
Speaker #3: And we said North America would be on the low end of our 1% to 3% range. We said EMEA would be above our 3% to 5% range.
Speaker #3: And South America would be on the low end of our 4 to 6% range. In the quarter, I would say we were we were we grew low single digits right in line with what we expected in North America.
Speaker #3: Some were higher, some were lower. In EMEA, we grew right in line with the mid single digits as we called out. You know, I think we were we were right in line with market probably in both of those geographies.
Speaker #3: And clearly to stand out with South America where we grew mid teens and the market was more flattish to up slightly. So that's that's probably the puts and takes by region on our volumes in the quarter.
Speaker #4: No, that that that that that's fair. And also, can you talk can you talk about capital allocation? And should we expect about 200 million of share we purchase in each of the remaining quarters?
Speaker #4: Or will there be more nuance to that?
Speaker #3: Yeah. Hi. This is Dan. Going to take that question. From a capital allocation perspective, specific to share repurchases, we're still standing by the guidance that we've been that we've been holding out all year.
Speaker #3: And that is that we would repurchase around 600 million dollars worth of shares and deliver close to another 200 million dollars in dividend for a total of 800 million dollars of of return back to the shareholders.
Speaker #3: So that still holds true. Through the first half of the year, we've done about $100 million of those share repurchases, and that was also what was contemplated as well.
Speaker #3: Because of the back-half nature of our free cash flow—meaning it comes in the back half of the year—we really didn't want to take on the risk on the balance sheet by leveraging up to make those share repurchases.
Speaker #4: Okay. Thank you.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from the line of Hillary Kakanando with Deutsche Bank. Please proceed with your question. Hillary Kakanando, your line is live.
Speaker #2: Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry, I was on mute. Sorry about that. I know Ken's winning, and it seems like there's still, you know, substrate shift going on in Europe.
Speaker #2: But in North America, would you say the, you know, volume growth is still coming from substate shift? Or is it more from new product launches?
Speaker #2: And if so, are there any new products or category coming out over the next year that you're really excited about?
Speaker #3: Yeah. Hi, Hillary. Thanks for the question. What I can say is, looking at the data that we get and that I'm sure you all pore over, the overall beverage market in North America is relatively flat, while the can grows.
Speaker #3: You know, over the last year, in that 2 to 3% range. While other substrates decline similarly, you know, 2 to 3%. Something like this.
Speaker #3: So overall, the can just continues to take share in the normal course of of business. As far as our, you know, what we see from the market, our customers certainly, when it comes to launching new products and categories, more often than not, it is in a can.
Speaker #3: And and the great news is when our customers choose the can, they lean into it with the ability to to to deliver value to consumers through, you know, different sizes, different multi-pack capacities.
Speaker #3: And that allows them to meet the kind of the customers their customers and their consumers where they are. So that innovation with respect to sizes and pack pack size configuration really helps the can to win and our customers to win with the can.
Speaker #2: Got it. Great. Thank you so much. And then just just a quick, I guess, a modeling question. I know Millersburg Startup cost is, you know, 35 million.
Speaker #2: In 2026, are you expecting anything in 2027? Or we're pretty much done in terms of spending in 2026?
Speaker #3: Yeah. This is this is Dan. I'll take that. So so really the the first part of your your statement is really what we expect on the startup cost.
Speaker #3: The 5 million that came in in this quarter and then really, you know, upwards of 30 million more in the in the in in the second half of this year.
Speaker #3: And and so it's very much on plan. And the plan was really for it to be a contributor next year. And so we're we're making cans there.
Speaker #3: And and we're well, we're not on a continuous basis, of course. But that that's really what the ramp up's all about, getting it getting it up to speed so it can be productive for next year.
Speaker #2: So so no no startup costs spilling into 2027?
Speaker #3: That's correct.
Speaker #2: Okay. Got it. Thank you so much.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from the line of Mike Roxland with Truist. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #5: Yeah, thank you, Ron. Dan, Brandon, thank you for taking my questions, and congrats on all the progress. My first question is in terms of just trying to get an early read on how volume is shaping up for '27.
Speaker #5: Realizing that you're more than 90% sold, obviously you opened Millersburg last month. You expect a full ramp in '27. You know, when should that occur?
Speaker #5: Probably '27, mid '27. And and similar question for Vendor Pack. When do you expect to to run those assets full next year?
Speaker #3: Hi, Mike. Thanks for the question. And thanks for the congratulatory comment. Gives me a chance to accept them on behalf of our 16,000 Ball employees who are working very hard to support our customers and deliver really great value for our shareholders and and all of their colleagues.
Speaker #3: So, on behalf of those 16,000 colleagues of mine, thank you. And I accept your congratulatory comment. You know, as for 2027, we aren't concerning ourselves too much with guidance on 2027 on this call.
Speaker #3: What I will say, and I'll reiterate, is we grew 4-plus percent in Q2, on the back of 4-plus percent growth last year for the full year.
Speaker #3: And 4% in the second quarter last year. So this is our sixth consecutive quarter of growth. And that's just a clear evidence and sign that the can is winning.
Speaker #3: And we'll continue to win on a go-forward basis. For the long term, we are confident in our 2 to 3% volume growth outlook. So that's what you should continue to model for us.
Speaker #3: And and quite frankly, this year we will again probably finish above that. Certainly above the 2 to 3%. So slightly above that. And next year we expect to be in that range.
Speaker #3: As it relates to Millersburg, again, I said we started making commercial cans there last month. We expect to deliver pretty much the full value of that plant.
Speaker #3: Let's say certainly beginning sometime in the first quarter, I would say. We we we may not have it ramped completely on January 1. But we should expect to have pretty much the full value of that plant in 2027.
Speaker #3: As it relates to Vendor Pack, similarly, this year is about integrating those assets. They should be fully ramped in operational, running as a part of our network and being accretive just as they normally would do any other plant startup.
Speaker #3: So we got some some big opportunities to deliver good value to ourselves and to our custom our customers in 2027 as a result of those investments.
Speaker #5: Very clear, Ron. Thank you. And this is one quick follow up on on the volumes. Where where do volumes stand currently for July thus far by region?
Speaker #5: And you know, any early reading or what do your order books look like for for August thus far realizing it's it's earlier in the month?
Speaker #5: Thank you.
Speaker #3: Yeah. Thanks, Mike. So I would say we're right on track in in July. Results from our quarter and full year it's still very very much summer in the northern hemisphere and extremely warm.
Speaker #3: And a lot of activity. So, really, we have great confidence in our Q3 plan based on our July and month-to-date August numbers.
Speaker #3: Nothing special to call out there other than we're right on our right on our plan.
Speaker #5: Got it. Could look in the second half.
Speaker #3: Thanks, Mike.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from the line of Josh Spector with UBS. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #6: Hi. Good morning. It's Anoja Shah sitting in for Josh. I know it's a pretty small it's a smaller category. But I wanted to talk about the other category.
Speaker #6: And it seems like you're or it's all business did pretty well in Q2. Could you just talk about what went right and is this kind of a new run rate for you in aerosol?
Speaker #6: And then separately, one of your aerosol competitors just announced an expansion in Pennsylvania. Can you talk about the competitive environment you're seeing there right now?
Speaker #3: Sure. Thanks for the question. And we're really pleased to get to talk about our what we call our personal home care business. I would just say it all consistently in this quarter is no exception.
Speaker #3: Our personal home care business is accretive to our overall volume growth. And our operating earnings growth. And while it's relatively small, we really like our PHC business.
Speaker #3: And it gives me the chance to thank all the people, all of my colleagues, that work in our personal home care business. So we like it.
Speaker #3: We like it going forward. And we think that that investment in this business by us or competitors is good because there's continued demand. Just really positive.
Speaker #3: And we see we see good outlook for it.
Speaker #6: Yeah. This is Dan. I
Speaker #4: I would overlay just a couple of things. One is obviously this business at times grows even higher rates than than our beverage can business does.
Speaker #4: So in this quarter, really was no exception to that. So high single digits for the quarter. But I would say a lot of it has to do with the industry industry dynamics.
Speaker #4: And and for North America, it really consists of two markets. It consists of you the US and Mexico. We we happen to be located in Mexico.
Speaker #4: And and so when it when a competitor really comes up in Pennsylvania or in the US, it's almost like it's it's not necessarily relevant in some regards because our our competition really are those who are down in Mexico.
Speaker #6: Okay. Great. Thank you for that. And then there was a pretty big change to section 232 in July that I think includes some incentives for domestic production of aluminum.
Speaker #6: Do you expect any near to medium-term impact? I know you have an immediate pass-through on aluminum. But maybe this can mean some relief for end consumers that could have a potentially positive impact on your volumes here in North America.
Speaker #6: And thanks. I'll turn it over after.
Speaker #3: Thanks for that question. The short answer is no. We aren't seeing any impacts. And also no we don't foresee any any big change relative to tariff and trade policies in the US or globally for that matter.
Speaker #3: We just can't forecast or predict them. And we understand that what was what was offered but in terms of the the section 232 changes.
Speaker #3: But they're they're just not material enough to really move the needle. It does give me a chance to say that we and the industry are concerned and keep an eye on aluminum price.
Speaker #3: Because the cost of aluminum while it is a pass-through model does ultimately affect end consumer demand. And our and our customers so the can continues to win and grow even in that elevated cost environment for aluminum.
Speaker #3: But we would very much like to see aluminum prices lower. And I think, you know, the investments that are happening in the industry, be it smelting or rolling, we encourage, and we're excited about those investments as they come online.
Speaker #3: Be it in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world. Thank you.
Speaker #1: Our next question comes from the line of Matt Roberts with Raymond James. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #7: Brandon, good morning. Thank you for the time. Actually, really quick run. Just thought before your volumes. Were you saying above 2 to 3 or or the high end?
Speaker #7: Just clarification there on your comments.
Speaker #3: Yeah. Hi, Matt. So I said on the foot for this year the 2 to 3 percent we should be at or above. You know, it's hard for us to call it.
Speaker #3: But I would say, right now, as we sit at the half year, we're right in the middle of that range. So, we expect to see some acceleration of volume growth in the back half of this year.
Speaker #3: And we'll be I would just say call it 3 percent is probably good enough for right now. That's probably the best I could do it in prognosticating how we'll finish the year.
Speaker #7: All right. And then really really just one other for me. Think of the Ingram mill capacity and Millersburg in in 27. Recognizing there's certainly network relief valves capacity creates from operational and and cost perspective.
Speaker #7: But is there any change in in product mix from that facility? Any difference in standard and specialty shift in 27? Or or is Millersburg in line with the system average?
Speaker #7: Trying to look at the the operating leverage impacts. Is it is it really all from cost or or any mix?
Speaker #3: Yeah. Thanks for the question, Matt. So again, we're really happy with our our investment in the Pacific Northwest. It it's a it's a long way to ship cans there.
Speaker #3: So we're excited to have capacity back in that region. We started producing last month. It was an important milestone for us. It's also important to note this is a one-line plant.
Speaker #3: It will be fully ramped up in 2027. But it is still only a one-line plant. And it's only making standard size cans. So you won't see a mix shift impact from that plant.
Speaker #3: So, it'll be more or less in line. I will say there is a continued move from standard cans to more of what we call sleek cans, et cetera.
Speaker #3: So there, you will continue to see mix shift, but it won't be as a result of this plant coming back up—coming online in 2027 at a full ramp-up.
Speaker #1: Our next question is a follow-up from Gabe Hodgley with Wells Fargo. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #5: Thank you guys for for taking the follow-up. Ron, I I guess as you think about North America or NACA being a a 1 to 3 percent growing geography for you all.
Speaker #5: I know you're adding Millersburg, and that's going to give you some relief in the Pacific Northwest. But I think I've heard you say at least three times that things are pretty tight.
Speaker #5: And it's not optimal for the system generally speaking. Again, appreciating we know their seasonality. You guys build inventories in the spring and et cetera et cetera.
Speaker #5: But I want to understand as you look across the system are there other areas for you to add a little bit of I'll call it creek capacity whether it's you know, decorators in the back end or additional lines or anything that you'd be adding in North America or would require new you know, four walls and brick and mortar?
Speaker #5: Thank you.
Speaker #3: Yes. Thanks. Thanks, Gabe. I appreciate that additional question because it does give me a chance to talk a little bit about those opportunities. One, I would say let's start with the industry itself.
Speaker #3: I would characterize the can making industry in North America as healthily tight. There's been many quarters of volume growth. It is the reason why we're building and and bringing this new plant up and online.
Speaker #3: And I think we will continue to be disciplined in our investments. And backed by any investment we make will be backed by long-term off-take agreements with our most strategic customers where we have built relationships and earned their trust over decades.
Speaker #3: As it relates to where else can we de-bottleneck? Of course we can always pursue de-bottlenecking. We have a number of projects that we've been working on this year in a number of our plants.
Speaker #3: That we don't go into great detail on. Because it's the normal course of business. But yes, the answer is we expect to deliver efficiency and productivity in our in our network each and every year.
Speaker #3: So hopefully that answers your question. Gabe.
Speaker #7: Thank you.
Speaker #3: All right. I think we have time for one more question.
Speaker #1: Thank you. Our final question comes from the line of Phil Eng with Jefferies. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker #8: Hey Ron, Dan, Brandon, thanks for all the details. This is John on for Phil. I just wanted to touch on a couple of points. First, we've had a couple of capacity announcements in India.
Speaker #8: I know you guys have some capacity there. Just wondering what you're seeing from competition and market growth from that standpoint. And then, jumping over to South America.
Speaker #8: Could you quantify in any way the amount of World Cup volumes that came through in the quarter? I mean, I know it's not necessarily easy but just thinking for a modeling purpose.
Speaker #8: You know, how much of a drag that could be next year? And then I I'll I'll follow up with one more question. Appreciate it.
Speaker #3: Thanks, John. So firstly, as it relates to India, we talk about Europe and EMEA as a land of opportunity and India is accretive to that comment.
Speaker #3: It is a land of opportunity and a land of opportunity. Can can growth is is you know, more than teens in that region and has been for a while.
Speaker #3: We as you said have announced capacity expansion in one of our two plants on top of a capacity expansion we've already done. And as you see lots of announcement for capacity growth.
Speaker #3: So it's an exciting part of the world backed by governmental changes that we believe will be strongly accretive to can growth in the long term.
Speaker #3: So we're excited about India and we're excited to have a business there that's been thriving for many many years. As it relates to World Cup in South America, again, we we we had open capacity because it is the winter lower season there.
Speaker #3: We have an unrivaled customer portfolio and their success promoting World Cup was our success. It's hard to put a number on what would be the impact of that.
Speaker #3: What I will say is we plan to grow at the low end maybe the middle of our four to six percent growth in the year.
Speaker #3: And that's right where we expect to deliver in the long term. So rather than put a number on it, I will just say it should not be meaningful over a year to year basis.
Speaker #3: We still intend to grow 4% to 6% next year, on top of a really strong 4% to 6% growth this year.
Speaker #8: All right. That's that's helpful. And then one of your larger North American beer customers has made some investments in their metal can packaging operations.
Speaker #8: To expand some of their growing brands. I mean, they're relatively small but I'm just wondering if this is more of a factor of how tight you guys are currently running in North America or maybe it's a little bit of a focus growing in some of the other faster growing categories than necessarily mass beer.
Speaker #8: But any thoughts you can provide around that and maybe your mix in in North America and how you're thinking about it going forward would be very helpful.
Speaker #8: Thanks.
Speaker #3: All right. Thanks, John. Honestly, I I don't think we have enough enough information to comment on what our customers are are doing relative to building or buying capacity.
Speaker #3: I will just say we're we support all of our customers obviously and and and we are tight as is the industry. And that's a good thing for this industry.
Speaker #3: So I I don't really want to comment on other people's capacity and what they're doing if you don't mind. I I think that was our last question.
Speaker #3: I just will will finish by saying thanks to everybody for your interest in us, for your our our investors on this line, for your investment in us, for the your for all of you analysts for continuing to help us tell our story.
Speaker #3: Your partnership in doing that. We appreciate that very much. And we look forward to talking with all of you a lot more about our business and sharing our story.
Speaker #3: Because we are really excited about this first half of the year. We delivered exactly as we expected to to do. It it's an it's a it's a reflection of how the can continues to win and the long-term nature and the resilient nature of this business and this industry that we have the privilege to participate in and be a leading market participant in and run.
Speaker #3: So thank you very much on behalf of all of my colleagues at BALL for your interest in us. And we look forward to talking with you all again very soon.
Speaker #1: Ladies and gentlemen, this does conclude today's teleconference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation, and have a wonderful day.
