Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q3 behind us, let’s have a look at SiteOne (NYSE: SITE) and its peers.

Historically, specialty equipment distributors have boasted deep selection and expertise in sometimes narrow areas like single-use packaging or unique lighting equipment. Additionally, the industry has evolved to include more automated industrial equipment and machinery over the last decade, driving efficiencies and enabling valuable data collection. Specialty equipment distributors whose offerings keep up with these trends can take share in a still-fragmented market, but like the broader industrials sector, this space is at the whim of economic cycles that impact the capital spending and manufacturing propelling industry volumes.

The 10 specialty equipment distributors stocks we track reported a slower Q3. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 9% on average since the latest earnings results.

SiteOne (NYSE: SITE)

Known for distributing John Deere tractors and LESCO turf care products, SiteOne Landscape Supply (NYSE: SITE) provides landscaping products and services to professionals, including irrigation, lighting, and nursery supplies.

SiteOne reported revenues of $1.21 billion, up 5.6% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

“During the quarter we continued to face market headwinds with 3% price deflation and a softer repair and remodel market. Given these, we were pleased to achieve 2% Organic Daily Sales volume growth to partially offset the price decline,” said Doug Black, SiteOne’s Chairman and CEO.

Interestingly, the stock is up 3.9% since reporting and currently trades at $148.55.

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

Best Q3: Richardson Electronics (NASDAQ: RELL)

Founded in 1947, Richardson Electronics (NASDAQ: RELL) is a distributor of power grid and microwave tubes as well as consumables related to those products.

Richardson Electronics reported revenues of $53.73 million, up 2.2% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 8.7%. The business had an incredible quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS and EBITDA estimates.

Richardson Electronics 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 $14.60.

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

Weakest Q3: Alta (NYSE: ALTG)

Founded in 1984, Alta Equipment Group (NYSE: ALTG) is a provider of industrial and construction equipment and services across the Midwest and Northeast United States.

Alta reported revenues of $448.8 million, down 3.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 6.5%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted and a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Alta delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $8.06.

Read our full analysis of Alta’s results here.

Herc (NYSE: HRI)

Formerly a subsidiary of Hertz Corporation and with a logo that still bears some similarities to its former parent, Herc Holdings (NYSE: HRI) provides equipment rental and related services to a wide range of industries.

Herc reported revenues of $965 million, up 6.3% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 3.6%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ Equipment rentals revenue estimates and full-year EBITDA guidance slightly topping analysts’ expectations.

The stock is up 35.5% since reporting and currently trades at $229.29.

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

Titan Machinery (NASDAQ: TITN)

Founded in 1980, Titan Machinery (NASDAQ: TITN) is a distributor of agricultural and construction equipment across the United States and Europe.

Titan Machinery reported revenues of $679.8 million, down 2.1% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. It was a strong quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 2.5% since reporting and currently trades at $15.03.

Read our full, actionable report on Titan Machinery 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, a quarter in November) have kept 2024 stock markets frothy, 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 Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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