Ball (BALL) vs International Paper (IP)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Ball (BALL) has outperformed International Paper (IP) over the past year, gaining 18.7% versus a loss of 30.7%. Over five years, BALL leads with a -37.0% price change compared with -40.2% for IP. International Paper is the larger company by market cap ($16.85 billion vs $15.22 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, International Paper trades at a lower forward P/E (10.5x vs 12.7x for Ball). International Paper offers the higher dividend yield (5.81% vs 1.39%). Ball converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 7.0% versus -14.9%.
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 | IP |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $57.48 | $31.82 |
| Market cap | $15.22B | $16.85B |
| 1-day change | +0.09% | -1.00% |
| YTD return | +8.81% | -19.14% |
| 1-year return | +18.74% | -30.67% |
| 5-year return | -37.04% | -40.22% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 16.38 | — |
| Forward P/E | 12.71 | 10.53 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.51 | $-5.17 |
| Dividend yield | 1.39% | 5.81% |
| Annual dividend | $0.80 | $1.85 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $13.16B | $23.63B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.58% | +49.25% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $915.00M | $-3.52B |
| Gross margin | 19.59% | 29.61% |
| Net margin | 6.95% | -14.88% |
| 52-week high | $68.29 | $50.25 |
| 52-week low | $44.83 | $29.26 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.83% | -36.68% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.02% | +46.86% |
| Average volume | 1.90M | 5.06M |
| Shares outstanding | 264.70M | 529.57M |
| Employees | 16,000 | 62,602 |
| Sector | Industrials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Containers/Packaging | Paper |
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 has outperformed IP by 49.4 percentage points over the past year.
- International Paper offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.81% vs 1.39%).
- Ball is more profitable, keeping 7.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -14.9 cents for International Paper.
- International Paper grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+49.25% vs +11.58%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Ball in Industrials and International Paper in Basic Materials.
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 International Paper
IP stock →International Paper Company produces and sells renewable fiber-based packaging in North America, Latin America, Europe, South America, and North Africa. It operates through two segments, Packaging Solutions North America and Packaging Solutions EMEA.
Basic Materials · Paper · 62,602 employees
BALL vs IP FAQ
Which is bigger, Ball or International Paper?
International Paper (IP) is larger, with a market capitalization of $16.85B compared with $15.22B for Ball (BALL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BALL or IP?
BALL returned +18.74% over the past 12 months, compared with -30.67% for IP (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ball or International Paper?
International Paper has the higher yield at 5.81%, compared with 1.39% for Ball.
Are Ball and International Paper in the same industry?
No. Ball is in the Industrials sector, while International Paper is in Basic Materials.