The end of an earnings season can be a great time to discover new stocks and assess how companies are handling the current business environment. Let’s take a look at how L.B. Foster (NASDAQ: FSTR) and the rest of the general industrial machinery stocks fared in Q2.

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 satisfactory Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.3% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.

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 $143.6 million, up 2% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, and overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with full-year EBITDA guidance beating analysts’ expectations but a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

John Kasel, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "In line with our expectations, we achieved a strong, broad recovery in our business in the second quarter, with 2.0% organic sales growth delivering 51.4% higher Adjusted EBITDA. The improved results in the quarter were realized primarily in our Infrastructure segment with organic sales up 22.4%, led by 36.0% higher Precast Concrete sales. Rail sales remained soft in the quarter, down 11.2% versus last year. However, Rail backlog increased 42.5% during the quarter and was up 13.9% over last year, which sets a solid foundation for expected robust sales growth in the 2025 second half. We also realized significant operating expense leverage in the quarter, with the SG&A percentage of sales of 15.6% improving 200 bps versus last year. We're very pleased with our team's accomplishments in the quarter and the improving track we're on."

Interestingly, the stock is up 6.7% since reporting and currently trades at $23.57.

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

Best Q2: 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 $104 million, up 4.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5.9%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 2% since reporting. It currently trades at $12.59.

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

Weakest Q2: 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 $2.32 billion, up 5.3% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 3%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Icahn Enterprises delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 4.8% since the results and currently trades at $9.41.

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

Albany (NYSE: AIN)

Founded in 1895, Albany (NYSE: AIN) is a global textiles and materials processing company, specializing in machine clothing for paper mills and engineered composite structures for aerospace and other industries.

Albany reported revenues of $311.4 million, down 6.2% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 2.6%. Taking a step back, it was a slower quarter as it produced a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is down 10.3% since reporting and currently trades at $63.71.

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

Crane (NYSE: CR)

Based in Connecticut, Crane (NYSE: CR) is a diversified manufacturer of engineered industrial products, including fluid handling, and aerospace technologies.

Crane reported revenues of $577.2 million, up 9.2% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. It was a strong quarter as it also produced full-year EPS guidance beating analysts’ expectations and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $190.98.

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

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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