Crown Holdings Inc rises amid sector rotation despite market decline
Crown Holdings Inc's stock price increased by 3.01% today, reaching a 20-day high. This movement occurs in the context of a broader market decline, with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.31% and the S&P 500 down 0.15%.
The stock's rise is attributed to sector rotation, as investors are shifting their focus towards companies with stronger earnings growth projections, contrasting with the performance of Ball Corporation, which has seen a significant decline in its stock price this year. Crown Holdings, along with other companies in the Industrial Products sector, is benefiting from this shift in investor sentiment.
This upward movement in Crown Holdings' stock suggests a positive outlook for the company, especially as it continues to outperform peers like Ball Corporation, which is facing challenges in the market.
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- Merger Impact: Amcor's all-stock merger with Berry Global, completed last April, is projected to generate approximately $23 billion in revenue over the next twelve months, and if profit margins return to levels seen three years ago, net income could exceed $1.85 billion, highlighting the scale benefits and market potential of the merger.
- Earnings Guidance: Management has guided for adjusted earnings per share of $4.00 to $4.15 for FY2026, with free cash flow expected to be between $1.8 billion and $1.9 billion, indicating a strong financial outlook post-merger that could enhance investor confidence.
- Debt Management Risks: While the company aims to reduce its debt levels of approximately $15 billion, the current debt-to-EBITDA ratio stands at 4x, indicating potential operational leverage risks when paying down debt, especially as packaging demand may soften.
- Dividend Appeal: With a dividend yield of 5.24%, Amcor offers relative attractiveness in the current market, and while dividend payments may impact option pricing, the stable cash flow and dividend policy still provide value support for investors.

- Market Dynamics: The stock market is characterized by rapid changes, where previously popular stocks can quickly lose favor.
- Investor Strategy: Investors are increasingly looking back at former stock picks to identify potential opportunities for profit.
- Earnings Growth Slowdown: UBS downgraded Crown Holdings (CCK) from Buy to Neutral, citing a slowdown in earnings growth as the beverage can maker ramps up investment to meet demand while operating near full capacity, with adjusted EPS growth expected to decline to about 6% over the next two years.
- High Capacity Utilization: While global beverage can demand remains strong, Crown (CCK) is operating close to full capacity, leading to pressures from startup costs and lower initial margins on new facilities, resulting in a 2% and 4% reduction in EPS forecasts for 2026 and 2027, respectively.
- Solid Cash Flow: Despite the weakening earnings momentum, UBS highlighted that Crown (CCK)'s cash generation remains a key support for the stock, estimating free cash flow of approximately $750 million annually, implying a free cash flow yield of about 5% that is expected to grow over time.
- Limited Valuation Upside: UBS maintained its $126 price target, applying a 9.5 times enterprise value to EBITDA multiple, with the stock trading near the upper end of Crown (CCK)'s recent valuation range, necessitating attention to risks from declining earnings or cost pressures.
- Significant Earnings Growth: Crown Holdings reported Q4 2025 earnings per share of $1.31, down from $3.02 in the prior year, yet adjusted EPS rose 9% to $1.74, showcasing the company's resilience and profitability in challenging conditions.
- Record Cash Flow: The company achieved a record free cash flow of $1.146 billion in 2025, up from $814 million in 2024, reflecting strong operational efficiency and capital management, providing a solid foundation for future investments and shareholder returns.
- Commitment to Strategic Investments: Management reiterated its focus on responsibly investing to support partners' growth while committing to gradually increasing dividends and returning $625 million to shareholders through disciplined share repurchases, highlighting its dedication to shareholder value.
- Optimistic Outlook: Crown Holdings projects adjusted EPS for 2026 to be between $1.70 and $1.80, with full-year free cash flow estimated at approximately $900 million, and despite challenges from inflation and start-up costs, management maintains a cautiously optimistic view on growth in North America and Europe.
- Strong Performance: Crown Holdings reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.74, beating expectations by $0.04, which reflects the company's robust profitability and enhances investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenue of $3.13 billion, a 7.9% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $140 million, indicating sustained demand in the packaging sector that drives overall performance.
- 2026 Outlook: Crown Holdings anticipates adjusted diluted EPS for 2026 to be in the range of $7.90 to $8.30, reflecting an optimistic outlook on future profitability, alongside an expected free cash flow of approximately $900 million, showcasing strong cash generation capabilities.
- Rising Aluminum Demand: The increasing usage of aluminum cans further supports Crown's results, as credit reports indicate that this trend will continue to drive growth, solidifying the company's competitive position in the packaging market.
- Earnings Announcement: Crown Holdings (CCK) is set to announce its Q4 earnings on February 4th after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of $1.70, reflecting a 6.9% year-over-year growth, indicating stable profitability trends for the company.
- Revenue Expectations: The revenue estimate for Q4 stands at $2.99 billion, representing a 3.1% year-over-year increase, which highlights the ongoing demand in the packaging sector, particularly with rising aluminum can usage.
- Performance Beat Record: Over the past two years, Crown Holdings has exceeded EPS estimates 88% of the time and revenue estimates 63% of the time, showcasing the company's strong capability in managing market expectations effectively.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen no upward revisions but four downward adjustments, while revenue estimates experienced two upward and two downward revisions, potentially reflecting a cautious market outlook on the company's future performance.








