BALL vs ATR

For growth investors, Ball Corporation (BALL) is the stronger pick with 11.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 4% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR). Ball Corporation (BALL) offers the better valuation at 17. 7x trailing P/E (14. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ball Corporation (BALL) a "Buy" — based on 23 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Ball Corporation (BALL) is the cheapest at 17.

7x versus AptarGroup, Inc. at 21. 3x. On forward P/E, Ball Corporation is actually cheaper at 14. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Ball Corporation wins at 1. 09x versus AptarGroup, Inc. 's 1. 75x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, AptarGroup, Inc.

(ATR) delivered a total return of -15. 3%, compared to -31. 2% for Ball Corporation (BALL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATR returned +83. 3% versus BALL's +79. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ball Corporation (BALL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

40β versus AptarGroup, Inc. 's 0. 66β — meaning ATR is approximately 64% more volatile than BALL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 56% versus 129% for Ball Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ball Corporation (BALL) is pulling ahead at 11.

6% versus 5. 4% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AptarGroup, Inc. grew EPS 6. 3% year-over-year, compared to -74. 6% for Ball Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ATR leads at 4. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

AptarGroup, Inc.

(ATR) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 4% net margin versus 6. 9% for Ball Corporation — meaning it keeps 10. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ATR leads at 13. 6% versus 10. 6% for BALL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATR leads at 29. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Ball Corporation (BALL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 09x versus AptarGroup, Inc. 's 1. 75x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Ball Corporation (BALL) trades at 14. 7x forward P/E versus 22. 5x for AptarGroup, Inc. — 7. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATR: 35. 6% to $169. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) offers the highest yield at 1. 4%, versus 1. 4% for Ball Corporation (BALL).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ball Corporation (BALL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

40), 1. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BALL: +79. 5%, ATR: +83. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (BALL (Consumer Cyclical) and ATR (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: BALL is a mid-cap deep-value stock; ATR is a small-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.