Ball Competitors

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) and Ball (NYSE:BLL) are both large-cap industrial products companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings for Caterpillar and Ball, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Caterpillar currently has a consensus target price of $149.1111, suggesting a potential downside of 3.24%. Ball has a consensus target price of $89.5455, suggesting a potential upside of 1.17%. Given Ball's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Ball is more favorable than Caterpillar.

Profitability

This table compares Caterpillar and Ball's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Dividends

Caterpillar pays an annual dividend of $4.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Ball pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Caterpillar pays out 37.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Ball pays out 23.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

Risk and Volatility

Caterpillar has a beta of 1.05, meaning that its share price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ball has a beta of 0.51, meaning that its share price is 49% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Caterpillar and Ball's revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Caterpillar has higher revenue and earnings than Ball. Caterpillar is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ball, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

66.2% of Caterpillar shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.5% of Ball shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of Caterpillar shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.7% of Ball shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Caterpillar beats Ball on 9 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

Ball (NYSE:BLL) and Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) are both large-cap industrial products companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and valuation.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

82.5% of Ball shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 67.8% of Deere & Company shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.7% of Ball shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Deere & Company shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Ball and Deere & Company's top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Deere & Company has higher revenue and earnings than Ball. Deere & Company is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ball, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Ball and Deere & Company's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Ball and Deere & Company, as provided by MarketBeat.

Ball presently has a consensus target price of $89.5455, suggesting a potential upside of 1.17%. Deere & Company has a consensus target price of $215.8694, suggesting a potential downside of 4.64%. Given Ball's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Ball is more favorable than Deere & Company.

Risk and Volatility

Ball has a beta of 0.51, meaning that its share price is 49% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Deere & Company has a beta of 0.92, meaning that its share price is 8% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Ball pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Deere & Company pays an annual dividend of $3.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.3%. Ball pays out 23.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Deere & Company pays out 30.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

Summary

Ball beats Deere & Company on 9 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW) and Ball (NYSE:BLL) are both large-cap industrial products companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Illinois Tool Works and Ball's revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Illinois Tool Works has higher revenue and earnings than Ball. Illinois Tool Works is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ball, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Illinois Tool Works and Ball's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Dividends

Illinois Tool Works pays an annual dividend of $4.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.3%. Ball pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Illinois Tool Works pays out 58.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Ball pays out 23.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Illinois Tool Works has increased its dividend for 49 consecutive years. Illinois Tool Works is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

78.1% of Illinois Tool Works shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.5% of Ball shares are held by institutional investors. 0.8% of Illinois Tool Works shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.7% of Ball shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Illinois Tool Works and Ball, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Illinois Tool Works presently has a consensus price target of $183.8125, indicating a potential downside of 6.04%. Ball has a consensus price target of $89.5455, indicating a potential upside of 1.17%. Given Ball's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Ball is more favorable than Illinois Tool Works.

Volatility and Risk

Illinois Tool Works has a beta of 1.15, indicating that its share price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ball has a beta of 0.51, indicating that its share price is 49% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Illinois Tool Works beats Ball on 10 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

ABB (NYSE:ABB) and Ball (NYSE:BLL) are both large-cap industrial products companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability and earnings.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

3.7% of ABB shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.5% of Ball shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.7% of Ball shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares ABB and Ball's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Risk and Volatility

ABB has a beta of 1.06, indicating that its share price is 6% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ball has a beta of 0.51, indicating that its share price is 49% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

ABB pays an annual dividend of $0.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.1%. Ball pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. ABB pays out 41.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Ball pays out 23.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. ABB has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. ABB is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for ABB and Ball, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

ABB presently has a consensus target price of $20.00, suggesting a potential downside of 17.39%. Ball has a consensus target price of $89.5455, suggesting a potential upside of 1.17%. Given Ball's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Ball is more favorable than ABB.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares ABB and Ball's gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

ABB has higher revenue and earnings than Ball. ABB is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ball, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Ball beats ABB on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

Eaton (NYSE:ETN) and Ball (NYSE:BLL) are both large-cap industrial products companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, risk and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Eaton and Ball's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Dividends

Eaton pays an annual dividend of $2.92 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.8%. Ball pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Eaton pays out 51.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Ball pays out 23.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Eaton has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Eaton is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

77.6% of Eaton shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.5% of Ball shares are held by institutional investors. 0.5% of Eaton shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.7% of Ball shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Eaton and Ball's gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Eaton has higher revenue and earnings than Ball. Eaton is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ball, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk and Volatility

Eaton has a beta of 1.12, indicating that its share price is 12% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ball has a beta of 0.51, indicating that its share price is 49% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Eaton and Ball, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Eaton presently has a consensus target price of $100.50, indicating a potential downside of 2.82%. Ball has a consensus target price of $89.5455, indicating a potential upside of 1.17%. Given Ball's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Ball is more favorable than Eaton.

Summary

Eaton beats Ball on 9 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR) and Ball (NYSE:BLL) are both large-cap industrial products companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends and profitability.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Emerson Electric and Ball, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Emerson Electric presently has a consensus target price of $68.3333, suggesting a potential upside of 5.08%. Ball has a consensus target price of $89.5455, suggesting a potential upside of 1.17%. Given Emerson Electric's higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Emerson Electric is more favorable than Ball.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

72.4% of Emerson Electric shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.5% of Ball shares are held by institutional investors. 0.5% of Emerson Electric shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.7% of Ball shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Emerson Electric and Ball's gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Emerson Electric has higher revenue and earnings than Ball. Emerson Electric is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ball, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

Emerson Electric has a beta of 1.5, suggesting that its stock price is 50% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ball has a beta of 0.51, suggesting that its stock price is 49% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Emerson Electric pays an annual dividend of $2.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. Ball pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Emerson Electric pays out 54.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Ball pays out 23.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Emerson Electric has raised its dividend for 58 consecutive years. Emerson Electric is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Profitability

This table compares Emerson Electric and Ball's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Summary

Emerson Electric beats Ball on 9 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.