Spotting Winners: Kadant (NYSE:KAI) And General Industrial Machinery Stocks In Q1

May 26, 2025 at 23:32 PM EDT

KAI Cover Image

As the Q1 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the general industrial machinery industry, including Kadant (NYSE: KAI) and its peers.

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 mixed Q1. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.5% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 1.5% below.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 4.8% on average since the latest earnings results.

Kadant (NYSE: KAI)

Headquartered in Massachusetts, Kadant (NYSE: KAI) is a global supplier of high-value, critical components and engineered systems used in process industries worldwide.

Kadant reported revenues of $239.2 million, down 3.9% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

Management Commentary“Our first quarter results were in line with expectations across most financial metrics despite the increasing geopolitical and trade uncertainties,” said Jeffrey L. Powell, president and chief executive officer of Kadant Inc.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 3.2% since reporting and currently trades at $305.08.

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

Best Q1: Luxfer (NYSE: LXFR)

With its magnesium alloys used in the construction of the famous Spirit of St. Louis aircraft, Luxfer (NYSE: LXFR) offers specialized materials, components, and gas containment devices to various industries.

Luxfer reported revenues of $97 million, up 8.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 11.9%. The business had an incredible quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Luxfer scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 11.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $11.18.

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

Weakest Q1: 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 $1.87 billion, down 24.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 29%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Icahn Enterprises delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 1.5% since the results and currently trades at $8.60.

Read our full analysis of Icahn Enterprises’s results here.

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 $3.35 billion, down 2.5% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations. More broadly, it was a slower quarter as it recorded a miss of analysts’ organic revenue and EBITDA estimates.

The stock is down 2.1% since reporting and currently trades at $96.78.

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

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 $9.94 billion, up 10.9% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 1.7%. It was a very strong quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is up 31.8% since reporting and currently trades at $235.10.

Read our full, actionable report on GE Aerospace 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 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, 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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