Jefferies has maintained a Buy recommendation on Crown Holdings (NYSE: CCK) and kept a $142.00 price target on the packaging company’s stock. The shares have returned roughly 33% over the past year and traded recently around $114.92, close to a 52-week high of $115.85.
The firm’s continued positive stance comes as several analysts have lifted earnings forecasts for Crown in the current reporting period, with eight analysts raising their estimates. At the same time, a number of brokerages have issued divergent views on the stock following recent performance and results.
Jefferies analyst Philip Ng is organizing an investor field trip to Crown’s Bowling Green beverage can facility on March 16-17. The plant, located in the Kentucky Transpark, is one of the company’s newest North American operations and is highlighted by its size and throughput capabilities.
The Bowling Green facility occupies 327,000 square feet and began operating in 2021. It was built to serve rising demand across a range of beverage categories - carbonated soft drinks, ready-to-drink cocktails, sparkling water, energy drinks, teas, hard seltzers, and nutritional beverages. At full utilization the plant is designed to approach an annual output of 1.3 billion cans, emphasizing high-speed, high-efficiency production.
The itinerary for the visit includes a dinner in Nashville on March 16 with Tom Fischer, Vice President of Investor Relations & Corporate Affairs, followed by a plant tour and a round-table discussion with plant managers and members of the executive team on March 17. The event is intended to give investors direct exposure to the site’s operations and management commentary.
Crown’s operating model is cited as a differentiator in margin and return performance versus peers. The company’s in-house equipment manufacturing capability and engineering team are credited with enabling faster response times and customization for customers, which the company leverages to support higher margins.
That operational flexibility includes servicing smaller customers and managing frequent line changeovers. Those abilities have allowed Crown to respond to shifts in the supply chain environment and to support growth categories and newer brands. The company has established exclusive relationships with brands such as High Noon and Athletic as examples of its work with emerging and growth-oriented beverage producers.
Despite the upbeat operational narrative and recent share appreciation, analyst sentiment has been mixed. Crown reported strong fourth-quarter 2025 results, posting adjusted earnings per share of $1.74, above the forecasted $1.70. Even with the beat, the stock slipped in premarket trading, reflecting investor questions about the pace of future growth.
Several firms updated their views following recent developments. RBC Capital increased its price target to $140 from $120 and kept an Outperform rating, citing consistent execution over the past eight quarters. In contrast, UBS downgraded its view from Buy to Neutral, setting a $126 target on expectations of more moderate earnings growth ahead. Wolfe Research moved from Outperform to Peerperform, describing a balanced risk/reward after the recent rally. JPMorgan shifted its rating from Overweight to Neutral while nudging up its price target to $115 from $112, citing valuation concerns.
These analyst moves illustrate a period of varied expectations for Crown’s near-term trajectory despite solid recent operating results. Investors evaluating the company can weigh the balance between the company’s production capabilities, claimed higher margins and returns, and the range of analyst views on expected growth and valuation.
Key points
- Jefferies reaffirmed a Buy rating on Crown Holdings with a $142.00 price target while the stock trades near its 52-week high following a 33% one-year gain. - Markets and Packaging sectors
- An investor field trip to the Bowling Green, Kentucky Transpark plant is scheduled for March 16-17 to showcase a 327,000-square-foot, high-speed beverage can operation that began production in 2021 and can approach 1.3 billion cans annually at full utilization. - Beverage packaging and Manufacturing sectors
- Analyst reactions are mixed: eight analysts raised earnings estimates recently, but several brokerages adjusted ratings and price targets in differing directions after recent results and stock appreciation. - Financial and Equity Research sectors
Risks and uncertainties
- Mixed analyst sentiment and multiple rating changes indicate uncertainty about Crown’s future earnings trajectory, which could affect investor confidence and share price volatility. - Equity markets
- Premarket selling after a quarterly earnings beat suggests investor concern over the sustainability of growth, raising uncertainty for near-term valuation. - Market sentiment
- Expectations for more moderate earnings growth voiced by some brokerages could pressure future upside, particularly if execution or demand patterns shift. - Corporate earnings and consumer packaging demand