BALL: 10-K Risk Factor Changes

​ ​ ​ 2025 ​ ​ ​ 2024 ​ ​ ​ 2023 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Net sales ​ $ 13,161 ​ $ 11,795 ​ $ 12,062 ​ Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation ​ ​ 912 ​ ​ 4,008 ​ ​ 707 ​ Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation as a % of net sales ​ ​ 7 % ​ 34 % ​ 6 % ​ Sales in 2025 increased $1.37 billion compared to 2024 primarily due to increases of $713 million from higher volume, $579 million from price mix, primarily from higher aluminum prices, and $177 million from currency translation. ​ Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation in 2025 decreased $3.10 billion compared to 2024 primarily due to decreases of $3.58 billion from discontinued operations, net of tax, $107 million from a higher provision for income taxes and $41 million from lower interest income in corporate undistributed expenses, net, partially offset by decreases in costs of $461 million from business consolidation and other activities, $82 million from lower incremental compensation costs related to the successful sale of the aerospace business in 2024 and $135 million from the results of the reportable segments discussed below. ​ When analyzing net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation as a percentage of net sales, it is important to note that net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation includes discontinued operations, net of tax resulting from the net sales attributable to the historical aerospace reportable segment through the date of the divestiture on February 16, 2024, that are now reported as discontinued operations. However, net sales attributable to the historical aerospace reportable segment are not included in the net sales figures in the table above. ​ Cost of Sales (Excluding Depreciation and Amortization) ​ Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization, was $10.58 billion in 2025 compared to $9.35 billion in 2024. These amounts represented 80 percent and 79 percent of consolidated net sales for the years ended 2025 and 2024, respectively. The increase year-over-year was primarily due to higher manufacturing costs, including higher raw materials costs of $1.09 billion, driven by higher aluminum prices and higher volume, and other items discussed in the reportable segments below. ​ Depreciation and Amortization ​ Depreciation and amortization expense was $622 million in 2025 compared to $611 million in 2024. These amounts represented 5 percent of consolidated net sales for the years ended 2025 and 2024. ​ 24 24 24 Table of ContentsSelling, General and Administrative​Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) was $566 million in 2025 compared to $647 million in 2024. These amounts represented 4 percent and 5 percent of consolidated net sales for the years ended 2025 and 2024, respectively. The decrease was primarily due to 2024 including $82 million of incremental cash bonuses and stock-based compensation cost from the successful sale of the aerospace business.​Business Consolidation and Other Activities​Business consolidation and other activities resulted in income of $41 million in 2025 compared to charges of $420 million in 2024. These amounts represented less than 1 percent and 4 percent of consolidated net sales for 2025 and 2024, respectively. The amounts in 2025 primarily include an $81 million gain related to the sale of the Saudi Arabian business and costs for previously announced facility closures and a loss related to the aluminum cups transaction. The 2024 amounts primarily relate to a $233 million noncash charge to adjust the carrying value of the aluminum cups business to its fair value less cost to sell and facility shutdown costs. Further details regarding business consolidation and other activities are provided in Note 6.​Interest Income ​Interest income was $30 million in 2025 compared to $68 million in 2024. These amounts represented less than 1 percent of consolidated net sales for the years ended 2025 and 2024. The decrease in interest income was primarily due to the higher amount of cash on hand in 2024 from the sale of the aerospace business.​Interest Expense​Interest expense was $314 million in 2025 compared to $293 million in 2024. Interest expense as a percentage of average borrowings decreased by approximately 30 basis points from 4.8 percent in 2024 to 4.5 percent in 2025. The interest expense increase was primarily driven by an increase of $42 million from a higher amount of weighted average principal outstanding during the year, resulting mainly from the issuance of new notes, partially offset by a decrease of $21 million from lower weighted average interest rates on outstanding debt during the year. ​Tax Provision ​The company’s effective tax rate is affected by recurring items such as income earned in non-U.S. jurisdictions with tax rates that differ from the U.S. tax rate and by discrete items that may occur in any given year but are not consistent from year to year. ​The 2025 effective income tax rate was 21.3 percent compared to 24.9 percent for 2024. As compared with the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 21 percent, the 2025 effective income tax rate was reduced by 4.2 percent for the impact of tax holidays and by 2.0 percent for the sale of the Saudi Arabian business. This reduction was offset by an increase of 2.4 percent for non-U.S. tax rate differences, 2.0 percent for direct withholding taxes, net of credits, and 1.3 percent for state and local income taxes. While these items are expected to recur, the potential magnitude of each item is uncertain.​Further details of taxes on income are provided in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements within Item 8 of this annual report.​RESULTS OF BUSINESS SEGMENTS​Segment Results​Ball’s operations are organized and reviewed by management along its product lines and geographical areas, and its operating results are presented in the three reportable segments discussed below.​25 Table of Contents Table of Contents Table of Contents Selling, General and Administrative​Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) was $566 million in 2025 compared to $647 million in 2024. These amounts represented 4 percent and 5 percent of consolidated net sales for the years ended 2025 and 2024, respectively. The decrease was primarily due to 2024 including $82 million of incremental cash bonuses and stock-based compensation cost from the successful sale of the aerospace business.​Business Consolidation and Other Activities​Business consolidation and other activities resulted in income of $41 million in 2025 compared to charges of $420 million in 2024. These amounts represented less than 1 percent and 4 percent of consolidated net sales for 2025 and 2024, respectively. The amounts in 2025 primarily include an $81 million gain related to the sale of the Saudi Arabian business and costs for previously announced facility closures and a loss related to the aluminum cups transaction. The 2024 amounts primarily relate to a $233 million noncash charge to adjust the carrying value of the aluminum cups business to its fair value less cost to sell and facility shutdown costs. Further details regarding business consolidation and other activities are provided in Note 6.​Interest Income ​Interest income was $30 million in 2025 compared to $68 million in 2024. These amounts represented less than 1 percent of consolidated net sales for the years ended 2025 and 2024. The decrease in interest income was primarily due to the higher amount of cash on hand in 2024 from the sale of the aerospace business.​Interest Expense​Interest expense was $314 million in 2025 compared to $293 million in 2024. Interest expense as a percentage of average borrowings decreased by approximately 30 basis points from 4.8 percent in 2024 to 4.5 percent in 2025. The interest expense increase was primarily driven by an increase of $42 million from a higher amount of weighted average principal outstanding during the year, resulting mainly from the issuance of new notes, partially offset by a decrease of $21 million from lower weighted average interest rates on outstanding debt during the year. ​Tax Provision ​The company’s effective tax rate is affected by recurring items such as income earned in non-U.S. jurisdictions with tax rates that differ from the U.S. tax rate and by discrete items that may occur in any given year but are not consistent from year to year. ​The 2025 effective income tax rate was 21.3 percent compared to 24.9 percent for 2024. As compared with the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 21 percent, the 2025 effective income tax rate was reduced by 4.2 percent for the impact of tax holidays and by 2.0 percent for the sale of the Saudi Arabian business. This reduction was offset by an increase of 2.4 percent for non-U.S. tax rate differences, 2.0 percent for direct withholding taxes, net of credits, and 1.3 percent for state and local income taxes. While these items are expected to recur, the potential magnitude of each item is uncertain.​Further details of taxes on income are provided in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements within Item 8 of this annual report.​RESULTS OF BUSINESS SEGMENTS​Segment Results​Ball’s operations are organized and reviewed by management along its product lines and geographical areas, and its operating results are presented in the three reportable segments discussed below.​ Selling, General and Administrative ​ Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) was $566 million in 2025 compared to $647 million in 2024. These amounts represented 4 percent and 5 percent of consolidated net sales for the years ended 2025 and 2024, respectively. The decrease was primarily due to 2024 including $82 million of incremental cash bonuses and stock-based compensation cost from the successful sale of the aerospace business. ​ Business Consolidation and Other Activities ​ Business consolidation and other activities resulted in income of $41 million in 2025 compared to charges of $420 million in 2024. These amounts represented less than 1 percent and 4 percent of consolidated net sales for 2025 and 2024, respectively. The amounts in 2025 primarily include an $81 million gain related to the sale of the Saudi Arabian business and costs for previously announced facility closures and a loss related to the aluminum cups transaction. The 2024 amounts primarily relate to a $233 million noncash charge to adjust the carrying value of the aluminum cups business to its fair value less cost to sell and facility shutdown costs. Further details regarding business consolidation and other activities are provided in Note 6. Note 6 ​ Interest Income ​ Interest income was $30 million in 2025 compared to $68 million in 2024. These amounts represented less than 1 percent of consolidated net sales for the years ended 2025 and 2024. The decrease in interest income was primarily due to the higher amount of cash on hand in 2024 from the sale of the aerospace business. ​ Interest Expense ​ Interest expense was $314 million in 2025 compared to $293 million in 2024. Interest expense as a percentage of average borrowings decreased by approximately 30 basis points from 4.8 percent in 2024 to 4.5 percent in 2025. The interest expense increase was primarily driven by an increase of $42 million from a higher amount of weighted average principal outstanding during the year, resulting mainly from the issuance of new notes, partially offset by a decrease of $21 million from lower weighted average interest rates on outstanding debt during the year. ​ Tax Provision ​ The company’s effective tax rate is affected by recurring items such as income earned in non-U.S. jurisdictions with tax rates that differ from the U.S. tax rate and by discrete items that may occur in any given year but are not consistent from year to year. ​ The 2025 effective income tax rate was 21.3 percent compared to 24.9 percent for 2024. As compared with the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 21 percent, the 2025 effective income tax rate was reduced by 4.2 percent for the impact of tax holidays and by 2.0 percent for the sale of the Saudi Arabian business. This reduction was offset by an increase of 2.4 percent for non-U.S. tax rate differences, 2.0 percent for direct withholding taxes, net of credits, and 1.3 percent for state and local income taxes. While these items are expected to recur, the potential magnitude of each item is uncertain. ​ Further details of taxes on income are provided in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements within Item 8 of this annual report. Note 16 Item 8 ​