Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Earnings per share for the quarter were $1.31, down from $3.02 in the prior year quarter, which included a $2.32 per share gain from the sale of Eviosys. Adjusted earnings per share were $1.74, up 9% from $1.59 in the prior year quarter [3][4] - Net sales increased by 8% compared to the prior year quarter, driven by a 3% increase in global beverage can volumes, $189 million from higher raw material cost pass-through, and $58 million from favorable foreign exchange [4] - Record adjusted EBITDA for the year was almost $2.1 billion, compared to $1.9 billion in 2024, with record free cash flow of $1,146 million in 2025, up from $814 million in 2024 [4][5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Segment income for the quarter was $420 million, slightly down from $428 million in the prior year, with strong performance in European Beverage offset by lower volumes in Transit Packaging [4] - North American beverage volumes were up slightly more than 1% in the quarter, with North American gains of 2.5% offset by a 3% decline in Brazil. For the full year, North American volumes were flat, while Brazil was down 3% [8][9] - European beverage volumes increased by 10% in the fourth quarter, generating record segment income, more than double what it was a few years ago [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales unit volumes across Asian operations were down 3% in the fourth quarter due to the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, with subdued consumer purchasing power in the region [10] - The North American tin plate business benefited from 5% food can volume growth, offsetting softness in steel aerosols during the fourth quarter [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain a net leverage target of 2.5 times, achieved at the end of September 2025, down from 2.7 times at the end of 2024. The focus remains on compounding earnings, investing in the business, and returning excess cash to shareholders [5][6] - The company is committed to responsibly investing to support partners' growth while ensuring that returns on capital employed are appropriate [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving North American volume gains of 2%-3% in 2026, despite inflation and startup costs impacting EBIT [20] - The company remains bullish on European growth, projecting a potential volume growth of 4%-5% for 2026, with strong demand across various products [22][26] - Management noted that the Asian market has growth potential, with a low-cost structure allowing for commercial adjustments to drive volume growth [63] Other Important Information - The company plans to return $625 million to shareholders in 2025, consisting of $505 million in share repurchases and $120 million in dividends, compared to $336 million in 2024 [5] - The company expects full-year free cash flow for 2026 to be approximately $900 million after $550 million of capital spending [7] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook for North America's EBIT and European volume growth - Management expects North America's EBIT to be down slightly due to inflation and startup costs, with European volume growth potentially at 4%-5% [20][22] Question: Drivers of volume growth in North America and Europe - Management highlighted strong beer growth in Europe and various product categories in North America, including energy drinks and flavored alcohols, as key drivers [25][26] Question: Free cash flow growth expectations - Management indicated that a free cash flow of around $1 billion seems reasonable and sustainable, with potential for growth aligned with volume increases [28] Question: Demand outlook in January and February - Management noted that January was impacted by weather but February has shown recovery, aligning with expectations [70][71] Question: Impact of startup costs in Brazil, Greece, and Spain - Most startup costs are expected to be second-half weighted, with some hiring and training costs occurring in Q2 [108] Question: State of the Asian market and competitive landscape - Management expressed confidence in the Asian market's growth potential, emphasizing a low-cost structure and the ability to make commercial adjustments [63] Question: Capacity utilization in North America - Management stated that capacity in North America is tight, with no immediate need for new capacity, but some open capacity exists [46][82]