Whether you see them or not, industrials businesses play a crucial part in our daily activities. Still, their generally high capital requirements expose them to the ups and downs of economic cycles, and the market seems confused about where we could go next.
This uncertainty has led to a flat return for the industry over the past six months while the S&P 500 was up 4.1%.
Shares of industrial manufacturing company Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) fell 3% in the morning session after the company's stock was downgraded by a Wall Street firm earlier in the week, and investors showed caution ahead of its upcoming quarterly earnings report.
Over the past six months, Ingersoll Rand’s shares (currently trading at $88.27) have posted a disappointing 6.2% loss, well below the S&P 500’s 4.1% gain. This was partly driven by its softer quarterly results and may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
The end of an earnings season can be a great time to discover new stocks and assess how companies are handling the current business environment. Let’s take a look at how Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) and the rest of the gas and liquid handling stocks fared in Q1.
Large-cap stocks have the power to shape entire industries thanks to their size and widespread influence.
With such vast footprints, however, finding new areas for growth is much harder than for smaller, more agile players.
Ingersoll Rand delivered first quarter results that met Wall Street’s revenue expectations, though its non-GAAP profit came in modestly below consensus. Management emphasized robust order activity, with CEO Vicente Reynal highlighting a 10% total order increase and record free cash flow. Reynal credited the company’s "in-region, for-region" manufacturing footprint and recurring revenue strength for offsetting softer equipment demand. CFO Vik Kini noted that approximately $15 million in revenue was deferred to the next quarter at customer request, impacting this quarter’s margins.
A company that generates cash isn’t automatically a winner.
Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand.
When Wall Street turns bearish on a stock, it’s worth paying attention.
These calls stand out because analysts rarely issue grim ratings on companies for fear their firms will lose out in other business lines such as M&A advisory.
While profitability is essential, it doesn’t guarantee long-term success.
Some companies that rest on their margins will lose ground as competition intensifies - as Jeff Bezos said, "Your margin is my opportunity".
Industrial manufacturing company Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) met Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 2.8% year on year to $1.72 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.72 per share was 2.6% below analysts’ consensus estimates.
Exciting developments are taking place for the stocks in this article.
They’ve all surged ahead of the broader market over the last month as catalysts such as new products and positive media coverage have propelled their returns.
Corporate buybacks surged in April, led by Apple, Alphabet, and Wells Fargo, signaling confidence and boosting stock prices. Tech and consumer companies also joining the buyback binge.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is often seen as a benchmark for strong businesses, but that doesn’t mean every stock is worth owning.
Some companies face significant challenges, whether it’s stagnating growth, heavy debt, or disruptive new competitors.
