Ball Corporation (BALL) Cash Flow Statement

NYSE: BALLOperating cash, capex, free cash flow and buybacks.

Where BALL’s cash came from and went, 2025

December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars
Cash from operations
$1.26B
+997.4% vs 2024
Capital expenditures
$474.0M
3.6% of revenue
Free cash flow
$788.0M
6.0% margin
Returned to shareholders
$1.54B
196% of free cash flow
Change in cash
$290.0M
cash at year-end $1.22B
Cash from operations: $1.26BCash from operations$1.26BBorrowing: $1.23BBorrowing$1.23BCurrency & other: $28.0MCurrency & other$28.0MShare buybacks: $1.32BShare buybacks$1.32B · 52%Capital expenditures: $474.0MCapital expenditures$474.0M · 19%Dividends: $220.0MDividends$220.0M · 9%Investments (net): $99.0MInvestments (net)$99.0M · 4%Acquisitions & other: $83.0MAcquisitions & other$83.0M · 3%Added to cash: $290.0MAdded to cash$290.0M · 12%Other financing: $31.0MOther financing$31.0M · 1%$2.52B
Cash from operations
$1.26B
Capital expenditures
−$474.0M
Investments (net)
−$99.0M
Acquisitions & other
−$83.0M
Dividends
−$220.0M
Share buybacks (net)
−$1.32B
Net borrowing (repayment)
+$1.23B
Other financing
−$31.0M
Currency & other
+$28.0M
Change in cash
$290.0M

Drawn to scale: where the cash came from and how it was used. Hover for values.

BALL operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow

Operating cash flowCapital expendituresFree cash flowFCF margin (right axis)

BALL cash flow trends, 2016–2025

Ball Corporation cash flow trends
MetricTrendThenLatestChange
Operating cash flow$194.0M2016$1.26B2025+23.1%/yr
Capital expenditures$606.0M2016$474.0M2025−2.7%/yr
Free cash flow−$412.0M2016$788.0M2025—
Free cash flow margin−4.5%20166.0%2025+10.5 pts
Operating cash flow / net income0.7320161.382025+0.65
Stock-based compensation$35.0M2016$33.0M2023−0.8%/yr
Dividends paid$83.0M2016$220.0M2025+11.4%/yr
Share buybacks (net)$107.0M2016$1.32B2025+32.2%/yr
Capex / revenue6.7%20163.6%2025−3.1 pts

Change is the average annual growth (CAGR) or the difference between the first and latest year.

BALL cash flow by activity

OperatingInvestingFinancingChange in cash

BALL net income vs operating cash flow

Net incomeOperating cash flow

Operating cash flow above net income usually means earnings are backed by cash (depreciation and stock-based pay are non-cash expenses).

BALL cash flow statement

Ball Corporation annual cash flow statement
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Operating activities
Net income$915.0M$4.01B$711.0M$732.0M$878.0M$582.0M$536.0M$453.0M$405.0M$266.0M
Depreciation & amortization$622.0M$620.0M$686.0M$672.0M$700.0M$668.0M$678.0M$702.0M$729.0M$453.0M
Stock-based compensation——$33.0M$39.0M$40.0M$43.0M$37.0M$75.0M$46.0M$35.0M
Change in working capital−$131.0M−$551.0M$360.0M−$924.0M$120.0M−$106.0M$236.0M$90.0M$321.0M−$509.0M
Other non-cash items−$144.0M−$3.97B$73.0M−$236.0M$22.0M$245.0M$61.0M$246.0M−$23.0M−$51.0M
Cash from operating activities$1.26B$115.0M$1.86B$283.0M$1.76B$1.43B$1.55B$1.57B$1.48B$194.0M
Investing activities
Capital expenditures−$474.0M−$484.0M−$1.04B−$1.65B−$1.73B−$1.11B−$598.0M−$816.0M−$556.0M−$606.0M
Investments (net)−$99.0M$5.00B−$1.16B−$768.0M−$1.64B−$1.18B−$422.0M−$206.0M——
Acquisitions & other investing−$83.0M$484.0M$1.15B$1.63B$1.73B$1.11B$598.0M$816.0M$11.0M$1.28B
Cash from investing activities−$656.0M$5.00B−$1.05B−$786.0M−$1.64B−$1.18B−$422.0M−$206.0M−$545.0M$672.0M
Financing activities
Dividends paid−$220.0M−$244.0M−$252.0M−$254.0M−$229.0M−$198.0M−$182.0M−$137.0M−$129.0M−$83.0M
Share repurchases & issuance (net)−$1.32B−$1.71B−$3.0M−$618.0M−$766.0M−$75.0M−$964.0M−$739.0M−$103.0M−$107.0M
Net borrowing (repayment)$1.23B−$2.86B−$440.0M$1.36B$98.0M−$262.0M$1.11B−$178.0M——
Shares issued$0$0$0$0$47.0M$0$19.0M$28.0M$0$0
Other financing−$31.0M$25.0M$33.0M−$4.0M−$44.0M−$67.0M−$31.0M−$14.0M−$841.0M−$197.0M
Cash from financing activities−$344.0M−$4.79B−$662.0M$485.0M−$894.0M−$602.0M−$46.0M−$1.04B−$1.07B−$387.0M
Summary
Net change in cash$290.0M$221.0M$152.0M−$21.0M−$802.0M−$425.0M$1.08B$269.0M−$149.0M$373.0M
Cash at end of period$1.22B$931.0M$710.0M$558.0M$579.0M$1.38B$1.81B$728.0M$448.0M$597.0M
Free cash flow$788.0M−$369.0M$818.0M−$1.37B$34.0M$319.0M$950.0M$750.0M$922.0M−$412.0M
Free cash flow margin6.0%−3.1%5.8%−8.9%0.2%2.7%8.3%6.4%8.4%−4.5%
Capex / revenue3.6%4.1%7.4%10.8%12.4%9.5%5.2%7.0%5.1%6.7%
Operating cash flow / net income1.380.032.620.392.002.462.893.463.650.73

Negative numbers are cash paid out. Quarterly columns are labeled by the month the quarter ended. Figures in U.S. dollars as reported; data from EODHD.

BALL cash generation

In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), Ball generated $1.3 billion of cash from operations (up 997.4%) and spent $474.0 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $788.0 million, 6.0% of revenue. It returned $1.5 billion to shareholders through dividends ($220.0 million) and net share buybacks ($1.3 billion). Cash and equivalents rose by $290.0 million over the year.

Related: BALL income statement, BALL balance sheet, BALL dividend history. See the BALL stock overview for the latest quote and news.

BALL cash flow FAQ

What is Ball's free cash flow?

Ball's free cash flow was $788.0 million in fiscal 2025: $1.3 billion of operating cash flow minus $474.0 million of capital expenditures It was -$369.0 million a year earlier..

How much cash does Ball generate from operations?

Ball generated $1.3 billion of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 1.38 times its net income of $915.0 million.

How much does Ball spend on capital expenditures?

Ball spent $474.0 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 3.6% of revenue, compared with $484.0 million the year before.

How much stock does Ball buy back?

Ball spent $1.3 billion on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.

How much does Ball pay in dividends?

Ball paid $220.0 million in dividends in fiscal 2025, 27.9% of free cash flow.

Packaging & Containers: cash flow