Reflecting On Professional Tools and Equipment Stocks' Q1 Earnings: Middleby (NASDAQ:MIDD)
Automation that increases efficiency and connected equipment that collects analyzable data have been trending, creating new demand. Some professional tools and equipment companies also provide software to accompany measurement or automated machinery, adding a stream of recurring revenues to their businesses. On the other hand, professional tools and equipment companies are at the whim of economic cycles. Consumer spending and interest rates, for example, can greatly impact the industrial production that drives demand for these companies' offerings.
The 9 professional tools and equipment stocks we track reported a slower Q1. As a group, revenues missed analysts' consensus estimates by 0.8%.
Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 6.8% on average since the latest earnings results.
Holding a Guinness World Record for creating the world's fastest conveyor pizza oven, Middleby (NYSE:MIDD) is a food service and equipment manufacturer.
Middleby reported revenues of $906.6 million, down 2.2% year on year. This print fell short of analysts' expectations by 3.7%. Overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts' organic revenue and EBITDA estimates.
'Middleby has a demonstrated track record of operational excellence, strong cash flow generation and disciplined capital investments, which provides the foundation for our attractive capital allocation framework," said Tim FitzGerald, CEO of The Middleby Corporation.
Interestingly, the stock is up 9.8% since reporting and currently trades at $148.70.
Read our full report on Middleby here, it's free.
Having played a significant role in the construction of the iconic Sydney Opera House, ESAB (NYSE:ESAB) manufactures and sells welding and cutting equipment for numerous industries.
ESAB reported revenues of $678.1 million, down 1.7% year on year, outperforming analysts' expectations by 2.2%. The business had a very strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates.
The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 7.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $128.90.
Is now the time to buy ESAB? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free.
Founded in 1920, Snap-on (NYSE:SNA) is a global provider of tools, equipment, and diagnostics for various industries such as vehicle repair, aerospace, and the military.
Snap-on reported revenues of $1.24 billion, down 3% year on year, falling short of analysts' expectations by 4.1%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts' adjusted operating income estimates.
Snap-on delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 1.6% since the results and currently trades at $326.73.
Read our full analysis of Snap-on's results here.
With an iconic 'STANLEY' logo which has remained virtually unchanged for over a century, Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE:SWK) is a manufacturer primarily catering to the tool and outdoor equipment industry.
Stanley Black & Decker reported revenues of $3.74 billion, down 3.2% year on year. This print beat analysts' expectations by 1.7%. Aside from that, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts' EPS estimates but a miss of analysts' adjusted operating income estimates.
The stock is up 15.8% since reporting and currently trades at $70.85.
Read our full, actionable report on Stanley Black & Decker here, it's free.
Headquartered in Ohio, Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ:LECO) manufactures and sells welding equipment for various industries.
Lincoln Electric reported revenues of $1.00 billion, up 2.4% year on year. This number topped analysts' expectations by 2.9%. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a narrow beat of analysts' organic revenue estimates but a miss of analysts' EPS estimates.
Lincoln Electric achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is up 8.2% since reporting and currently trades at $199.02.
Read our full, actionable report on Lincoln Electric here, it's free.
As a result of the Fed's rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has come down from frothy levels post-pandemic. The general rise in the price of goods and services is trending towards the Fed's 2% goal as of late, which is good news. The higher rates that fought inflation also didn't slow economic activity enough to catalyze a recession. So far, soft landing. This, combined with recent rate cuts (half a percent in September 2024 and a quarter percent in November 2024) have led to strong stock market performance in 2024. The icing on the cake for 2024 returns was Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. Presidential Election in early November, sending major indices to all-time highs in the week following the election. Still, debates around the health of the economy and the impact of potential tariffs and corporate tax cuts remain, leaving much uncertainty around 2025.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
Join Paid Stock Investor Research
Help us make StockStory more helpful to investors like yourself. Join our paid user research session and receive a $50 Amazon gift card for your opinions. Sign up here.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Bitcoin About to Enter the S&P 500? MicroStrategy Now Qualifies For Inclusion, Analyst Says
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Anyone invested in the S&P 500 may soon own Bitcoin indirectly. MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) maxi Jeff Walton said Tuesday on X that the company had cleared the final hurdle to qualify for the highly coveted index, which could make Bitcoin an index asset by proxy. Since MicroStrategy's inclusion in the Nasdaq 100, the big question has been whether the company with the most significant Bitcoin holdings of any public firm can get included in the S&P 500 next. But one hurdle stood in its way for months: net profitability over 12 months. Don't Miss: — no wallets, just price speculation and free paper trading to practice different strategies. Grow your IRA or 401(k) with Crypto – . Under previous accounting rules, MicroStrategy was forced to report its Bitcoin holdings at an impaired price, leading to negative earnings on unrealized losses. However, following a Financial Accounting Standards Board rule change allowing firms to record their digital assets at fair value, MicroStrategy has finally been able to clear the profitability criteria. With Bitcoin closing at around $107,000 on Monday, Walton said MicroStrategy will report an estimated $14 billion profit in Q2, translating to an estimated $11 billion net profit over the past 12 months. "This clears the FINAL criteria Strategy needed to be considered for the S&P 500," he said. But qualifying may not be enough for inclusion. After qualifying, the S&P 500 committee still has complete discretion over which companies get included. This process is likely to be "controversial and heavily debated," according to Walton. Trending: New to crypto? on Coinbase. The committee typically considers index balance, economic representation and stability before making its decision. Analysts are divided on whether MicroStrategy's Bitcoin accumulation model will be an issue for the committee, as some argue that the firm now largely operates like a closed-ended fund. "S&P excludes ETFs and closed-end funds from its index because they want the index to contain operating businesses, not investment funds," Brooklyn Investment Group equities chief Antii Petajisto told Bloomberg last year, discussing MicroStrategy's odds of being included in the index. Whatever the case, market watchers will have to wait until the third week of September to know if the firm will be included, as the second quarter inclusion window has the firm makes the cut, it would become the second cryptocurrency-related company to do so this year after Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) in May. 'Inclusion in the S&P 500 means every major index fund holds Strategy shares—further cementing Bitcoin's mainstream legitimacy,' Bitcoin content creator 'Alexes Nakamoto' said. MicroStrategy stock is trading at $396 pre-market with a market capitalization of $113 billion. At last look, it also holds 597,325 BTC worth nearly $64 billion, representing nearly 3% of the entire asset supply. Read Next: Named a TIME Best Invention and Backed by 5,000+ Users, Kara's Air-to-Water Pod Cuts Plastic and Costs — Image: Shutterstock This article Is Bitcoin About to Enter the S&P 500? MicroStrategy Now Qualifies For Inclusion, Analyst Says originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Media Stocks Q1 Teardown: The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) Vs The Rest
As the Q1 earnings season comes to a close, it's time to take stock of this quarter's best and worst performers in the media industry, including The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) and its peers. The advent of the internet changed how shows, films, music, and overall information flow. As a result, many media companies now face secular headwinds as attention shifts online. Some have made concerted efforts to adapt by introducing digital subscriptions, podcasts, and streaming platforms. Time will tell if their strategies succeed and which companies will emerge as the long-term winners. The 7 media stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q1. As a group, revenues missed analysts' consensus estimates by 5.3%. Luckily, media stocks have performed well with share prices up 16.7% on average since the latest earnings results. Founded in 1851, The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) is an American media organization known for its influential newspaper and expansive digital journalism platforms. The New York Times reported revenues of $635.9 million, up 7.1% year on year. This print was in line with analysts' expectations, and overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts' EPS estimates and a decent beat of analysts' adjusted operating income estimates. The New York Times achieved the fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 8.4% since reporting and currently trades at $57.12. Is now the time to buy The New York Times? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. Founded by brothers Walt and Roy, Disney (NYSE:DIS) is a multinational entertainment conglomerate, renowned for its theme parks, movies, television networks, and merchandise. Disney reported revenues of $23.62 billion, up 7% year on year, outperforming analysts' expectations by 2%. The business had a very strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts' adjusted operating income estimates and a solid beat of analysts' EPS estimates. Disney delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 34.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $124. Is now the time to buy Disney? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. Launching the careers of legendary artists like Frank Sinatra, Warner Music Group (NASDAQ:WMG) is a music company managing a diverse portfolio of artists, recordings, and music publishing services worldwide. Warner Music Group reported revenues of $1.48 billion, flat year on year, falling short of analysts' expectations by 2.2%. It was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts' EPS estimates and a miss of analysts' Recorded Music revenue estimates. As expected, the stock is down 2.2% since the results and currently trades at $29.43. Read our full analysis of Warner Music Group's results here. Originally launched as a soccer streaming platform, fuboTV (NYSE:FUBO) is a video streaming service specializing in live sports, news, and entertainment content. fuboTV reported revenues of $416.3 million, up 3.5% year on year. This print lagged analysts' expectations by 28.7%. Taking a step back, it was still a very strong quarter as it produced an impressive beat of analysts' EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates. fuboTV had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is up 27% since reporting and currently trades at $3.69. Read our full, actionable report on fuboTV here, it's free. Creator of the legendary Scholastic Book Fair, Scholastic (NASDAQ:SCHL) is an international company specializing in children's publishing, education, and media services. Scholastic reported revenues of $335.4 million, up 3.6% year on year. This result came in 3.5% below analysts' expectations. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts' EPS estimates but full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts' expectations. The stock is up 15.2% since reporting and currently trades at $21.63. Read our full, actionable report on Scholastic here, it's free. The Fed's interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 have successfully cooled post-pandemic inflation, bringing it closer to the 2% target. Inflationary pressures have eased without tipping the economy into a recession, suggesting a soft landing. This stability, paired with recent rate cuts (0.5% in September 2024 and 0.25% in November 2024), fueled a strong year for the stock market in 2024. The markets surged further after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, with major indices reaching record highs in the days following the election. Still, questions remain about the direction of economic policy, as potential tariffs and corporate tax changes add uncertainty for 2025. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Investors in OptimizeRx (NASDAQ:OPRX) have unfortunately lost 55% over the last three years
It is doubtless a positive to see that the OptimizeRx Corporation (NASDAQ:OPRX) share price has gained some 73% in the last three months. But that is small recompense for the exasperating returns over three years. Indeed, the share price is down a tragic 55% in the last three years. Some might say the recent bounce is to be expected after such a bad drop. While many would remain nervous, there could be further gains if the business can put its best foot forward. It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that. AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. Because OptimizeRx made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. That's because fast revenue growth can be easily extrapolated to forecast profits, often of considerable size. Over three years, OptimizeRx grew revenue at 16% per year. That's a fairly respectable growth rate. So some shareholders would be frustrated with the compound loss of 16% per year. The market must have had really high expectations to be disappointed with this progress. So this is one stock that might be worth investigating further, or even adding to your watchlist. The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts It's good to see that OptimizeRx has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 34% in the last twelve months. Notably the five-year annualised TSR loss of 1.3% per year compares very unfavourably with the recent share price performance. The long term loss makes us cautious, but the short term TSR gain certainly hints at a brighter future. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Take risks, for example - OptimizeRx has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: most of them are flying under the radar). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.