BALL vs. MLM: Ball vs. Martin Marietta Materials Stock Comparison
How do Ball (BALL) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) 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
Ball (BALL) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but BALL is classified in Containers & Packaging while MLM is classified in Construction Materials.
| Profile Item | BALL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ball Corporation | Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Containers & Packaging | Construction Materials |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Metal, Glass & Plastic Containers | Construction Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 17.16 billion USD | 36.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | February 17, 1994 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BALL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 38.59% | -12.23% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 12.78% | 6.32% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -4.75% | 5.43% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BALL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.54% | 29.72% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.94 | 1.02 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -54.87% | -33.19% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.12M | 805.11K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BALL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.25 | -0.56 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.02 | -0.75 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Ball (BALL) at 9.49% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 6.02% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
BALL
Materials industry group
9.49%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- BALL
- 9.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
MLM
Materials industry group
6.02%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- MLM
- 6.02%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 31.88% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Ball (BALL) at 3.52%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
BALL
Materials industry group
3.52%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- BALL
- 3.52%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
MLM
Materials industry group
31.88%
- Max
- 38.66%
- MLM
- 31.88%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Ball (BALL) at 9.67% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 22.29% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
BALL
Materials industry group
9.67%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- BALL
- 9.67%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
MLM
Materials industry group
22.29%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- MLM
- 22.29%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BALL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.49% | 6.02% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.65% | 3.27% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 3.52% | 31.88% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 9.67% | 22.29% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 17.84% | 26.74% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Ball (BALL) at 11.58% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 8.62% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at -42.09% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Ball (BALL) at -74.62% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BALL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.58% | 8.62% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.53% | -0.06% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -74.62% | -42.09% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.62% | 10.61% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 1.63 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.
BALL
Materials industry group
1.04
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- BALL
- 1.04
- Min
- 0.16
MLM
Materials industry group
1.63
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- MLM
- 1.63
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.75 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ball (BALL) at 1.33 uses more debt funding than most peers.
BALL
Materials industry group
1.33
- Max
- 1.98
- BALL
- 1.33
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
MLM
Materials industry group
0.75
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- MLM
- 0.75
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BALL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.04 | 1.63 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.33 | 0.75 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.45 | 5.88 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Ball (BALL) at 1.20% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.63% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
BALL
Materials industry group
1.20%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- BALL
- 1.20%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MLM
Materials industry group
0.63%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- MLM
- 0.63%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Ball (BALL) at 40.20% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 24.85% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
BALL
Materials industry group
40.20%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- BALL
- 40.20%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MLM
Materials industry group
24.85%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- MLM
- 24.85%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BALL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.20% | 0.63% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 40.20% | 24.85% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Ball (BALL) at 33.13 and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 38.67 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.
BALL
Materials industry group
33.13
- Max
- 59.00
- BALL
- 33.13
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
MLM
Materials industry group
38.67
- Max
- 59.00
- MLM
- 38.67
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Ball (BALL) at 1.13 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 5.11 sits in the pricier quartile — MLM costs more per dollar of sales.
BALL
Materials industry group
1.13
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- BALL
- 1.13
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
MLM
Materials industry group
5.11
- Max
- 9.62
- MLM
- 5.11
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Ball (BALL) at 3.02 and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 2.09 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
BALL
Materials industry group
3.02
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- BALL
- 3.02
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
MLM
Materials industry group
2.09
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- MLM
- 2.09
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BALL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 33.13 | 38.67 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.13 | 5.11 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.02 | 2.09 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.54% | 4.54% |