Ball (BALL) vs Advanced Drainage Systems (WMS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Ball (BALL) has outperformed Advanced Drainage Systems (WMS) over the past year, gaining 18.4% versus a loss of 8.9%. Over five years, WMS leads with a +11.6% price change compared with -37.0% for BALL. Ball is the larger company by market cap ($15.22 billion vs $9.51 billion), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, Ball trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 17.1x for Advanced Drainage Systems). Ball offers the higher dividend yield (1.39% vs 0.59%). Advanced Drainage Systems converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 14.0% 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 | WMS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $57.48 | $126.08 |
| Market cap | $15.22B | $9.51B |
| 1-day change | +0.09% | -3.07% |
| YTD return | +8.51% | -12.95% |
| 1-year return | +18.42% | -8.88% |
| 5-year return | -37.04% | +11.63% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 16.38 | 22.16 |
| Forward P/E | 12.71 | 17.10 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.51 | $5.69 |
| Dividend yield | 1.39% | 0.59% |
| Annual dividend | $0.80 | $0.74 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $13.16B | $3.05B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.58% | +5.03% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $915.00M | $426.46M |
| Gross margin | 19.59% | 38.27% |
| Operating margin | — | 20.30% |
| Net margin | 6.95% | 13.98% |
| 52-week high | $68.29 | $179.32 |
| 52-week low | $44.83 | $124.39 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.83% | -29.69% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.02% | +45.07% |
| Average volume | 1.89M | 701.53K |
| Shares outstanding | 264.70M | 75.41M |
| Employees | 16,000 | 6,425 |
| 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
- BALL has outperformed WMS by 27.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Advanced Drainage Systems trades at a higher earnings multiple (22.2x vs 16.4x trailing P/E).
- Advanced Drainage Systems is more profitable, keeping 14.0 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 +5.03%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Ball in Industrials and Advanced Drainage Systems 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 Advanced Drainage Systems
WMS stock →Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets thermoplastic corrugated pipes and related water management products in the United States, Canada, and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Containers/Packaging · 6,425 employees
BALL vs WMS FAQ
Which is bigger, Ball or Advanced Drainage Systems?
Ball (BALL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $15.22B compared with $9.51B for Advanced Drainage Systems (WMS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BALL or WMS?
BALL returned +18.42% over the past 12 months, compared with -8.88% for WMS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BALL or WMS?
BALL has the lower trailing P/E at 16.4, versus 22.2 for WMS. 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 Advanced Drainage Systems?
Ball has the higher yield at 1.39%, compared with 0.59% for Advanced Drainage Systems.
Are Ball and Advanced Drainage Systems in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Containers/Packaging industry within the Industrials sector.