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 L.B. Foster (NASDAQ:FSTR) and the rest of the general industrial machinery stocks fared in Q1.
Automation that increases efficiency and connected equipment that collects analyzable data have been trending, creating new demand for general industrial machinery companies. Those who innovate and create digitized solutions can spur sales and speed up replacement cycles, but all general industrial machinery companies are still 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 15 general industrial machinery stocks we track reported a mixed Q1. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.5% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 1.5% below.
In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 3.1% on average since the latest earnings results.
L.B. Foster (NASDAQ:FSTR)
Founded with a $2,500 loan, L.B. Foster (NASDAQ:FSTR) is a provider of products and services for the transportation and energy infrastructure sectors, including rail products, construction materials, and coating solutions.
L.B. Foster reported revenues of $97.79 million, down 21.3% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 14.5%. Overall, it was a mixed quarter for the company with full-year EBITDA guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations.
John Kasel, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "As mentioned in our 2024 year end earnings announcement back in March, we started 2025 with first quarter sales and profitability down versus last year. This was due to an exceptionally-strong first quarter last year for our Rail segment. Within the segment, Rail Products sales declined $23.7 million, or 44.7%, due to lower Rail Distribution volumes. Infrastructure sales grew 5.0% over last year and expanded operating results in the quarter driven by a 33.7% increase in Precast Concrete sales. Focusing on what we can influence in the short term, we drove cost controls which resulted in an 8.4% reduction in operating expenses versus last year, partially mitigating the impact of lower gross profit from the Rail Distribution sales decline. We also stepped up our stock buybacks to 168,911 shares in the first quarter, or 1.5% of outstanding common stock."
L.B. Foster pulled off the highest full-year guidance raise of the whole group. Still, the market seems discontent with the results. The stock is down 13.3% since reporting and currently trades at $18.98.
Read our full report on L.B. Foster here, it’s free.
Best Q1: Luxfer (NYSE:LXFR)
With its magnesium alloys used in the construction of the famous Spirit of St. Louis aircraft, Luxfer (NYSE:LXFR) offers specialized materials, components, and gas containment devices to various industries.
Luxfer reported revenues of $97 million, up 8.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 11.9%. The business had an incredible quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Luxfer delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 13.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $11.32.
Is now the time to buy Luxfer? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q1: Icahn Enterprises (NASDAQ:IEP)
Founded in 1987, Icahn Enterprises (NASDAQ: IEP) is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in investment and asset management across various sectors.
Icahn Enterprises reported revenues of $1.87 billion, down 24.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 29%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Icahn Enterprises delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 3.8% since the results and currently trades at $8.40.
Read our full analysis of Icahn Enterprises’s results here.
Crane (NYSE:CR)
Based in Connecticut, Crane (NYSE:CR) is a diversified manufacturer of engineered industrial products, including fluid handling, and aerospace technologies.
Crane reported revenues of $557.6 million, up 9.3% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.5%. It was a strong quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is up 15% since reporting and currently trades at $170.82.
Read our full, actionable report on Crane here, it’s free.
John Bean (NYSE:JBTM)
Tracing back to its invention of the mechanical milk bottle filler in 1884, John Bean (NYSE:JBT) designs, manufactures, and sells equipment used for food processing and aviation.
John Bean reported revenues of $854.1 million, up 118% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 2.6%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and EPS guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations.
John Bean scored the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 5.3% since reporting and currently trades at $112.80.
Read our full, actionable report on John Bean here, it’s free.
Market Update
Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there’s still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.
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