Ball (BALL) vs Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
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 Kimberly-Clark (KMB) over the past year, gaining 18.4% versus a loss of 21.1%. Over five years, KMB leads with a -27.6% price change compared with -37.0% for BALL. Kimberly-Clark is the larger company by market cap ($32.09 billion vs $15.22 billion), about 2.1 times the size, while Ball is growing revenue faster (+11.6% vs -2.1%).
On valuation, Ball trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 12.9x for Kimberly-Clark). Kimberly-Clark offers the higher dividend yield (5.27% vs 1.39%). Kimberly-Clark converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.3% versus 7.0%.
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 | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $57.48 | $96.48 |
| Market cap | $15.22B | $32.09B |
| 1-day change | +0.09% | -0.30% |
| YTD return | +8.51% | -4.37% |
| 1-year return | +18.42% | -21.13% |
| 5-year return | -37.04% | -27.64% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 16.38 | 19.03 |
| Forward P/E | 12.71 | 12.92 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.51 | $5.07 |
| Dividend yield | 1.39% | 5.27% |
| Annual dividend | $0.80 | $5.08 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $13.16B | $16.45B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.58% | -2.13% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $915.00M | $2.02B |
| Gross margin | 19.59% | 36.01% |
| Operating margin | — | 14.29% |
| Net margin | 6.95% | 12.29% |
| 52-week high | $68.29 | $123.09 |
| 52-week low | $44.83 | $92.42 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.83% | -21.62% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.02% | +20.10% |
| Average volume | 1.90M | 3.90M |
| Shares outstanding | 264.70M | 332.58M |
| Employees | 16,000 | 36,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Containers/Packaging | Containers/Packaging |
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
- Kimberly-Clark is about 2.1 times larger than Ball by market value ($32.09B vs $15.22B).
- BALL has outperformed KMB by 39.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Kimberly-Clark offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.27% vs 1.39%).
- Kimberly-Clark is more profitable, keeping 12.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 7.0 cents for Ball.
- Ball grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+11.58% vs -2.13%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Ball in Industrials and Kimberly-Clark in Consumer Discretionary.
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 Kimberly-Clark
KMB stock →Kimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care products in the United States. It operates in two segments, North America and International Personal Care.
Consumer Discretionary · Containers/Packaging · 36,000 employees
BALL vs KMB FAQ
Which is bigger, Ball or Kimberly-Clark?
Kimberly-Clark (KMB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $32.09B compared with $15.22B for Ball (BALL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BALL or KMB?
BALL returned +18.42% over the past 12 months, compared with -21.13% for KMB (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BALL or KMB?
BALL has the lower trailing P/E at 16.4, versus 19.0 for KMB. 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 Kimberly-Clark?
Kimberly-Clark has the higher yield at 5.27%, compared with 1.39% for Ball.
Are Ball and Kimberly-Clark in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Containers/Packaging industry within the Industrials sector.