General Industrial Machinery Stocks Q4 Results: Benchmarking Otis (NYSE:OTIS)

April 11, 2025 at 05:15 AM EDT

OTIS Cover Image

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 Otis (NYSE: OTIS).

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 15 general industrial machinery stocks we track reported a slower Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.2% 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 17.6% since the latest earnings results.

Otis (NYSE: OTIS)

Credited with inventing the first hydraulic passenger elevator, Otis Worldwide (NYSE: OTIS) is an elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company.

Otis reported revenues of $3.68 billion, up 1.5% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with a miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

Otis pulled off the highest full-year guidance raise of the whole group. Still, the market seems discontent with the results. The stock is down 4.1% since reporting and currently trades at $94.

Read our full report on Otis 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 pulled off the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 4.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $180.53.

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 65.1% since the results and currently trades at $12.37.

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

L.B. Foster (NASDAQ: FSTR)

Founded with a $2,500 loan, L.B. Foster (NASDAQ: FSTR) is a provider of products and services for the transportation and energy infrastructure sectors, including rail products, construction materials, and coating solutions.

L.B. Foster reported revenues of $128.2 million, down 5% year on year. This number missed analysts’ expectations by 2%. It was a softer quarter as it also recorded a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

The stock is down 25.4% since reporting and currently trades at $19.31.

Read our full, actionable report on L.B. Foster here, it’s free.

Icahn Enterprises (NASDAQ: IEP)

Founded in 1987, Icahn Enterprises (NASDAQ: IEP) is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in investment and asset management across various sectors.

Icahn Enterprises reported revenues of $2.56 billion, down 3.9% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 12.5%. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it produced a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 21.1% since reporting and currently trades at $8.11.

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

Market Update

In response to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been gradually trending down from its post-pandemic peak, trending closer to the Fed’s 2% target. Despite higher borrowing costs, the economy has avoided flashing recessionary signals. This is the much-desired soft landing that many investors hoped for. The recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November 2024) have bolstered the stock market, making 2024 a strong year for equities. Donald Trump’s presidential win in November sparked additional market gains, sending indices to record highs in the days following his victory. However, debates continue over possible tariffs and corporate tax adjustments, raising questions about economic stability in 2025.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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