Ball (BALL) vs Greif (GEF)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Greif (GEF) has outperformed Ball (BALL) over the past year, gaining 37.5% versus a gain of 18.4%. Over five years, GEF leads with a +27.6% price change compared with -37.0% for BALL. Ball is the larger company by market cap ($15.22 billion vs $4.67 billion), about 3.3 times the size.
On valuation, Ball trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 17.2x for Greif). Greif offers the higher dividend yield (5.04% vs 1.39%). Ball converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 7.0% versus 6.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BALL | GEF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $57.48 | $82.17 |
| Market cap | $15.22B | $4.67B |
| 1-day change | +0.09% | -0.45% |
| YTD return | +8.51% | +21.37% |
| 1-year return | +18.42% | +37.55% |
| 5-year return | -37.04% | +27.59% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 16.38 | 37.18 |
| Forward P/E | 12.71 | 17.23 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.51 | $2.21 |
| Dividend yield | 1.39% | 5.04% |
| Annual dividend | $0.80 | $4.14 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $13.16B | $4.35B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.58% | +4.30% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $915.00M | $268.80M |
| Gross margin | 19.59% | 20.65% |
| Operating margin | — | 7.76% |
| Net margin | 6.95% | 6.17% |
| 52-week high | $68.29 | $90.57 |
| 52-week low | $44.83 | $55.75 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.83% | -9.27% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.02% | +7.34% |
| Average volume | 1.92M | 314.41K |
| Shares outstanding | 264.70M | 24.81M |
| Employees | 16,000 | 12,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
| Industry | Containers/Packaging | Packaging & Containers |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Ball is about 3.3 times larger than Greif by market value ($15.22B vs $4.67B).
- GEF has outperformed BALL by 19.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Greif trades at a higher earnings multiple (37.2x vs 16.4x trailing P/E).
- Greif offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.04% vs 1.39%).
- Ball grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+11.58% vs +4.30%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Ball in Industrials and Greif in Consumer Cyclical.
About Ball
BALL stock →Ball Corporation supplies aluminum packaging products for the beverage, personal care, and household products industries in the United States, Brazil, and internationally. The company manufactures and sells aluminum beverage containers to fillers of carbonated soft drinks, beer, energy drinks, and other beverages.
Industrials · Containers/Packaging · 16,000 employees
About Greif
GEF stock →Greif, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells industrial packaging products and services worldwide. It operates in four segments: Customized Polymer Solutions; Durable Metal Solutions; Sustainable Fiber Solutions; and Integrated Solutions.
Consumer Cyclical · Packaging & Containers · 12,000 employees
BALL vs GEF FAQ
Which is bigger, Ball or Greif?
Ball (BALL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $15.22B compared with $4.67B for Greif (GEF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BALL or GEF?
GEF returned +37.55% over the past 12 months, compared with +18.42% for BALL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BALL or GEF?
BALL has the lower trailing P/E at 16.4, versus 37.2 for GEF. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ball or Greif?
Greif has the higher yield at 5.04%, compared with 1.39% for Ball.
Are Ball and Greif in the same industry?
No. Ball is in the Industrials sector, while Greif is in Consumer Cyclical.