Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q4 behind us, let’s have a look at Chart (NYSE: GTLS) and its peers.

Gas and liquid handling companies possess the technical know-how and specialized equipment to handle valuable (and sometimes dangerous) substances. Lately, water conservation and carbon capture–which requires hydrogen and other gasses as well as specialized infrastructure–have been trending up, creating new demand for products such as filters, pumps, and valves. On the other hand, gas and liquid handling companies are 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 12 gas and liquid handling stocks we track reported a slower Q4. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 1%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 9.1% since the latest earnings results.

Chart (NYSE: GTLS)

Installing the first bulk Co2 tank for McDonalds’s sodas, Chart (NYSE: GTLS) provides equipment to store and transport gasses.

Chart reported revenues of $1.11 billion, up 9% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 4.5%, but it was still a satisfactory quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ backlog estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

“Increasing demand for energy globally and a renewed focus on U.S. LNG contributed to record orders in the fourth quarter 2024 of $1.55 billion, setting up 2025 with strong backlog to achieve our reiterated full year 2025 outlook,” stated Jill Evanko, Chart Industries’ CEO and President.

Chart achieved the highest full-year guidance raise but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates of the whole group. Even though it had a relatively good quarter, the market seems discontent with the results. The stock is down 1.5% since reporting and currently trades at $155.09.

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

Best Q4: SPX Technologies (NYSE: SPXC)

SPX Technologies (NYSE: SPXC) is an industrial conglomerate catering to the energy, manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace sectors.

SPX Technologies reported revenues of $533.7 million, up 13.7% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. The business had a very strong quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA and organic revenue estimates.

SPX Technologies scored the fastest revenue growth among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 1.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $134.35.

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

Weakest Q4: Graco (NYSE: GGG)

Founded in 1926, Graco (NYSE: GGG) is an industrial company specializing in the development and manufacturing of fluid-handling systems and products.

Graco reported revenues of $548.7 million, down 3.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 3.4% since the results and currently trades at $83.14.

Read our full analysis of Graco’s results here.

Donaldson (NYSE: DCI)

Playing a vital role in the historic Apollo 11 mission, Donaldson (NYSE: DCI) manufacturers and sells filtration equipment for various industries.

Donaldson reported revenues of $870 million, flat year on year. This print lagged analysts' expectations by 4.2%. Overall, it was a softer quarter as it also logged a significant miss of analysts’ constant currency revenue and adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is down 3.2% since reporting and currently trades at $67.01.

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

ITT (NYSE: ITT)

Playing a crucial role in the development of the first transatlantic television transmission in 1956, ITT (NYSE: ITT) provides motion and fluid handling equipment for various industries

ITT reported revenues of $929 million, up 12% year on year. This result met analysts’ expectations. Aside from that, it was a slower quarter as it recorded full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

The stock is down 10% since reporting and currently trades at $134.89.

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

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