As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q4. Today, we are looking at general industrial machinery stocks, starting with Dover (NYSE: DOV).

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 14 general industrial machinery stocks we track reported a slower Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.6% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 2.5% below.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 10.6% since the latest earnings results.

Dover (NYSE: DOV)

A company that manufactured critical equipment for the United States military during World War II, Dover (NYSE: DOV) manufactures engineered components and specialized equipment for numerous industries.

Dover reported revenues of $1.93 billion, up 1.3% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a slight miss of analysts’ organic revenue estimates.

Dover's President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard J. Tobin, said, "Dover's fourth quarter results were very encouraging as we move into 2025, with broad-based top line strength across the portfolio and particularly robust performances within the Clean Energy & Fueling and Pumps & Process Solutions segments. Order trends continued their positive trajectory in the quarter with book-to-bill above one, driven by robust bookings in our secular-growth-exposed markets in single-use biopharma components, thermal connectors, and CO2 systems."

The stock is down 11.2% since reporting and currently trades at $175.07.

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

Best Q4: GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE)

One of the original 12 companies on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, General Electric (NYSE: GE) is a multinational conglomerate providing technologies for various sectors including aviation, power, renewable energy, and healthcare.

GE Aerospace reported revenues of $10.81 billion, up 14.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 13.7%. The business had a stunning quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

GE Aerospace delivered the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 5.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $198.78.

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

Weakest Q4: Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ: CMCO)

With 19 different brands across the globe, Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ: CMCO) offers material handling equipment for the construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries.

Columbus McKinnon reported revenues of $234.1 million, down 7.9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 7%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

Columbus McKinnon delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 52.6% since the results and currently trades at $16.80.

Read our full analysis of Columbus McKinnon’s results here.

Hillenbrand (NYSE: HI)

Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE: HI) is an industrial company that designs, manufactures, and sells highly engineered processing equipment and solutions for various industries.

Hillenbrand reported revenues of $706.9 million, down 8.6% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 1.6%. Zooming out, it was a softer quarter as it recorded full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

Hillenbrand had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is down 25.5% since reporting and currently trades at $25.27.

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

3M (NYSE: MMM)

Producers of the first asthma inhaler, 3M Company (NYSE: MMM) is a global conglomerate known for products in industries like healthcare, safety, electronics, and consumer goods.

3M reported revenues of $6.01 billion, flat year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 4.5%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded a decent beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 3.7% since reporting and currently trades at $146.27.

Read our full, actionable report on 3M here, it’s free.

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