As the Q2 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the construction and maintenance services industry, including Orion (NYSE: ORN) and its peers.
Construction and maintenance services companies not only boast technical know-how in specialized areas but also may hold special licenses and permits. Those who work in more regulated areas can enjoy more predictable revenue streams - for example, fire escapes need to be inspected every five years. More recently, services to address energy efficiency and labor availability are also creating incremental demand. But like the broader industrials sector, construction and maintenance services companies are at the whim of economic cycles as external factors like interest rates can greatly impact the new construction that drives incremental demand for these companies’ offerings.
The 13 construction and maintenance services stocks we track reported a strong Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.5% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.
Luckily, construction and maintenance services stocks have performed well with share prices up 11% on average since the latest earnings results.
Orion (NYSE: ORN)
Established in 1994, Orion (NYSE: ORN) provides construction services for marine infrastructure and industrial projects.
Orion reported revenues of $205.3 million, up 6.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.5%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS and EBITDA estimates.
“We delivered another strong performance in the second quarter with revenue increasing 7% to $205 million and Adjusted EBITDA doubling to $11 million from the second quarter last year. Sequentially, results were also strong with revenue up 9% over the first quarter and Adjusted EBITDA up 34%. Our results were primarily driven by new contract awards in both segments and reflect our commitment to disciplined, profitable growth,” said Travis Boone, Chief Executive Officer of Orion Group Holdings.
Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 5.1% since reporting and currently trades at $8.90.
Is now the time to buy Orion? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Best Q2: Comfort Systems (NYSE: FIX)
Formed through the merger of 12 companies, Comfort Systems (NYSE: FIX) provides mechanical and electrical contracting services.
Comfort Systems reported revenues of $2.17 billion, up 20.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 10.6%. The business had an incredible quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ backlog and EPS estimates.
The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 50.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $849.
Is now the time to buy Comfort Systems? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Weakest Q2: Matrix Service (NASDAQ: MTRX)
Founded in Oklahoma, Matrix Service (NASDAQ: MTRX) provides engineering, fabrication, construction, and maintenance services primarily to the energy and industrial markets.
Matrix Service reported revenues of $216.4 million, up 14.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 6.8%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations and a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.
Matrix Service delivered the highest full-year guidance raise but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 8.7% since the results and currently trades at $13.
Read our full analysis of Matrix Service’s results here.
APi (NYSE: APG)
Started in 1926 as an insulation contractor, APi (NYSE: APG) provides life safety solutions and specialty services for buildings and infrastructure.
APi reported revenues of $1.99 billion, up 15.1% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 5.1%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.
The stock is up 2.6% since reporting and currently trades at $35.36.
Read our full, actionable report on APi here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Limbach (NASDAQ: LMB)
Established in 1901, Limbach (NASDAQ: LMB) provides integrated building systems solutions, including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services.
Limbach reported revenues of $142.2 million, up 16.4% year on year. This number lagged analysts' expectations by 1.4%. In spite of that, it was an exceptional quarter as it recorded full-year EBITDA guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations.
The stock is down 29.3% since reporting and currently trades at $94.43.
Read our full, actionable report on Limbach here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Market Update
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.
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