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AA vs. BALL: Alcoa vs. Ball Stock Comparison

How do Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL) both fall under the Materials industry group, but AA is classified in Metals & Mining while BALL is classified in Containers & Packaging.

Company profile comparison for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL)
Profile ItemAABALL
NameAlcoa CorporationBall Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningContainers & Packaging
GICS Sub-IndustryAluminumMetal, Glass & Plastic Containers
Market Capitalization10.44 billion USD17.16 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AA
BALL
GSPC
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL)
MetricAABALL
Total Return (1Y)12.55%38.59%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.53%12.78%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.46%-4.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AA
BALL
GSPC
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL)
MetricAABALL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)53.37%27.54%
Beta (5Y)1.800.94
Max Drawdown (5Y)-75.46%-54.87%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.61M2.12M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AA and BALL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL)
MetricAABALL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.161.25
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.232.02

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 20.58% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ball (BALL) at 9.49% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AA.

AA

Materials industry group

20.58%

Max
52.88%
AA
20.58%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%

BALL

Materials industry group

9.49%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
BALL
9.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 10.68% and Ball (BALL) at 3.52% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AA

Materials industry group

10.68%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
AA
10.68%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%

BALL

Materials industry group

3.52%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
BALL
3.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 16.01% and Ball (BALL) at 9.67% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AA

Materials industry group

16.01%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
AA
16.01%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%

BALL

Materials industry group

9.67%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
BALL
9.67%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL)
MetricAABALL
ROE (TTM)20.58%9.49%
ROA (TTM)7.52%4.65%
Net Margin (TTM)10.68%3.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.01%9.67%
Gross Margin (TTM)22.76%17.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alcoa (AA) at 7.87% and Ball (BALL) at 11.58% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Alcoa (AA) at 1,600.00% delivers above-range EPS growth, while Ball (BALL) at -74.62% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in earnings momentum.

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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL)
MetricAABALL
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.87%11.58%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.01%-0.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)1,600.00%-74.62%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--13.62%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Alcoa (AA) at 2.31 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Ball (BALL) at 1.04 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for BALL.

AA

Materials industry group

2.31

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
AA
2.31
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16

BALL

Materials industry group

1.04

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
BALL
1.04
Min
0.16
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Alcoa (AA) at 0.58 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ball (BALL) at 1.33 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AA

Materials industry group

0.58

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
AA
0.58
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

BALL

Materials industry group

1.33

Max
1.98
BALL
1.33
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL)
MetricAABALL
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.311.04
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.581.33
Net Debt / EBITDA0.143.45

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 1.04% and Ball (BALL) at 1.20% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

AA

Materials industry group

1.04%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
AA
1.04%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

BALL

Materials industry group

1.20%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
BALL
1.20%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 6.96% and Ball (BALL) at 40.20% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

AA

Materials industry group

6.96%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
AA
6.96%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

BALL

Materials industry group

40.20%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
BALL
40.20%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL)
MetricAABALL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.04%1.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)6.96%40.20%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 6.88 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Ball (BALL) at 33.13 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

AA

Materials industry group

6.88

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
AA
6.88
Min
3.93

BALL

Materials industry group

33.13

Max
59.00
BALL
33.13
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 0.73 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Ball (BALL) at 1.13 prices around its industry’s middle — AA costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

AA

Materials industry group

0.73

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
AA
0.73
Min
0.00

BALL

Materials industry group

1.13

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
BALL
1.13
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Alcoa (AA) at 1.27 and Ball (BALL) at 3.02 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

AA

Materials industry group

1.27

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
AA
1.27
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17

BALL

Materials industry group

3.02

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
BALL
3.02
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Ball (BALL)
MetricAABALL
P/E Ratio (TTM)6.8833.13
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.731.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.273.02
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)8.80%1.54%