Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q2 behind us, let’s have a look at Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT) and its peers.

Many HVAC and water systems companies sell essential, non-discretionary infrastructure for buildings. Since the useful lives of these water heaters and vents are fairly standard, these companies have a portion of predictable replacement revenue. In the last decade, trends in energy efficiency and clean water are driving innovation that is leading to incremental demand. On the other hand, new installations for these companies are at the whim of residential and commercial construction volumes, which tend to be cyclical and can be impacted heavily by economic factors such as interest rates.

The 9 hvac and water systems stocks we track reported a strong Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.4% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 14.3% below.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 1.5% on average since the latest earnings results.

Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT)

With low-pressure heating systems as its first product, Trane (NYSE: TT) designs, manufactures, and sells HVAC and refrigeration systems, the former to commercial and residential building customers and the latter to commercial truck manufacturers.

Trane Technologies reported revenues of $5.75 billion, up 8.3% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, and overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a decent beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 13.9% since reporting and currently trades at $405.50.

Is now the time to buy Trane Technologies? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q2: Northwest Pipe (NASDAQ: NWPX)

Playing a large role in the Integrated Pipeline (IPL) project in Texas to deliver ~350 million gallons of water per day, Northwest Pipe (NASDAQ: NWPX) is a manufacturer of pipeline systems for water infrastructure.

Northwest Pipe reported revenues of $133.2 million, up 2.8% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 10.1%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and EBITDA estimates.

Northwest Pipe delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 21.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $52.04.

Is now the time to buy Northwest Pipe? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q2: CSW (NASDAQ: CSW)

With over two centuries of combined operations manufacturing and supplying, CSW (NASDAQ: CSW) offers special chemicals, coatings, sealants, and lubricants for various industries.

CSW reported revenues of $263.6 million, up 16.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 5.2%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

CSW delivered the fastest revenue growth but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 8.4% since the results and currently trades at $246.14.

Read our full analysis of CSW’s results here.

AAON (NASDAQ: AAON)

Backed by two million square feet of lab testing space, AAON (NASDAQ: AAON) makes heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment for different types of buildings.

AAON reported revenues of $311.6 million, flat year on year. This result missed analysts’ expectations by 4.1%. It was a disappointing quarter as it also logged revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is up 11% since reporting and currently trades at $89.42.

Read our full, actionable report on AAON here, it’s free.

Zurn Elkay (NYSE: ZWS)

Claiming to have saved more than 30 billion gallons of water, Zurn Elkay (NYSE: ZWS) provides water management solutions to various industries.

Zurn Elkay reported revenues of $444.5 million, up 7.9% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 4.5%. Overall, it was a stunning quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is up 20% since reporting and currently trades at $45.99.

Read our full, actionable report on Zurn Elkay 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.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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