Ball Corporation has reported a 14.4% rise in comparable earnings per share for the second quarter of 2026, with global aluminium packaging shipments up 4.3 per cent on the same period last year.

The Westminster, Colorado-based can maker posted sales of $4.00bn for the quarter, up from $3.34bn a year earlier. Net earnings attributable to the corporation came in at $221m, or 83 cents per diluted share, against $212m and 76 cents in 2025.

On a comparable basis, net earnings were $276m, or $1.03 per diluted share, compared with $251m and 90 cents last year. Comparable operating earnings rose 7.7 per cent to $433m.

Chief executive Ron Lewis said the numbers reflected “the consistent execution of our strategy”, pointing to higher volumes, customer partnerships and what he described as the resilience of a business model built over decades.

South America leads the growth

The strongest performance came from South America, where comparable operating earnings jumped to $82m on sales of $591m, up from $50m on $477m a year earlier. Segment volumes grew by a mid-teen percentage, helped by favourable price and mix.

EMEA also improved, with comparable operating earnings of $162m on sales of $1.24bn, against $152m on $1.12bn in 2025. Volumes were up by a mid-single digit percentage. The segment now includes the acquired Benepack business, along with Ball’s facilities in India and Myanmar and the former Saudi Arabian operation, following a realignment in the first quarter.

North and Central America was the outlier. Sales climbed to $2.00bn from $1.61bn, but comparable operating earnings slipped to $207m from $212m. Ball attributed the decline to higher costs, including operating costs and plant start-up costs, which offset a favourable price and mix position. Volumes in the region rose by a low-single digit percentage.

Much of the sales growth across the North American and South American segments was driven by higher aluminium prices feeding through to customers rather than by volume alone.

$800m earmarked for shareholders

Ball returned $222m to shareholders through buybacks and dividends in the first half of the year and says it remains on course to return at least $800m by the end of 2026. Share repurchases began during the second quarter.

Chief financial officer Dan Rabbitt said the company’s contractual pass-through mechanisms had underpinned performance and that Ball retained the flexibility to invest in longer-term growth projects.

For the full year, the company expects comparable diluted earnings per share growth of more than 10 per cent and free cash flow above $900m.

Ball has also been reshaping its portfolio. The group de-consolidated its aluminium cups business in March 2025 and, in August of the same year, sold 41% of its 51% stake in Ball United Arab Can Manufacturing Company.

Lewis said the Ball Business System remained the backbone of the operating model, with economic value added continuing to guide capital allocation decisions.