Ball Corp. Reports Q4 Comparable EPS Of $0.84 - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Ball Corporation (BLL) reported fourth-quarter net income to company of $76.0 million or $0.54 per share, compared to $124.5 million or $0.85 per share, prior year. On a comparable basis, Ball's fourth quarter results were net earnings of $118.0 million, or $0.84 per share, compared to $126.8 million, or $0.86 per share in the fourth quarter of 2013.

On average, 15 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report profit per share of $0.85 for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Net sales increased to $2.03 billion from $2.00 billion last year. Analysts expected revenue of $1.98 billion for the quarter.

Scott Morrison, CFO, said: ""We expect the second half to be stronger than the first half and it is unlikely we will attain our long-term 10-15 percent earnings per diluted share growth goal in 2015. We will continue to generate a significant amount of free cash flow, execute our capital allocation strategy to foster future EVA dollar growth and return value for our shareholders in 2015 and beyond."