DXPE Q1 Earnings Call: End Market Diversification and Acquisitions Underpin Growth Amid Tariff Uncertainty

June 12, 2025 at 05:44 AM EDT

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Industrial distributor DXP Enterprises (NASDAQ: DXPE) met Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 15.5% year on year to $476.6 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.26 per share was 5% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

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DXP (DXPE) Q1 CY2025 Highlights:

Revenue: $476.6 million vs analyst estimates of $477 million (15.5% year-on-year growth, in line)
Adjusted EPS: $1.26 vs analyst estimates of $1.20 (5% beat)
Adjusted EBITDA: $52.52 million vs analyst estimates of $52 million (11% margin, 1% beat)
Operating Margin: 8.5%, up from 7.1% in the same quarter last year
Market Capitalization: $1.26 billion

StockStory’s Take

DXP’s first quarter results were shaped by continued organic growth, successful integration of recent acquisitions, and broad-based demand across key industrial segments. Management highlighted that Innovative Pumping Solutions led segment growth, with CEO David Little attributing the 38.5% sales increase in this area to both energy and water project momentum. The company’s Service Centers also set a new sales high, supported by strength in regions such as Alaska, North Central, and the Texas Gulf Coast. Little described the company’s operating environment as resilient, noting that “DXP’s broad-based industrial end market, which are 77% of our business today, continue to show resilience primarily due to the diversification of end markets and in DXP’s case, continued growth in demand or market share gains.”

Looking ahead, management emphasized a continued focus on organic expansion, further acquisitions, and navigating evolving macroeconomic headwinds, particularly tariffs. CEO David Little acknowledged that the announced tariff increases introduced unpredictability but stated, “We are working closely with our suppliers and channel partners to understand the full impact that announced tariffs will have on our business.” The company believes its end market and product diversification provide a buffer against volatility, and management expects the ongoing backlog in its energy and water businesses to support sales growth over the next several quarters. CFO Kent Yee noted that the acquisition pipeline remains active, and DXP plans to close additional deals by mid-year, reinforcing its strategy to build a more resilient, diversified portfolio.

Key Insights from Management’s Remarks

Management credited first quarter performance to both organic and inorganic growth, segment diversification, and operational execution, while noting tariff uncertainty as an emerging risk.

Strong Innovative Pumping Solutions momentum: The company’s Innovative Pumping Solutions segment saw significant year-over-year sales growth, driven by increased bookings and backlog in both energy and water projects. Management cited the 10th consecutive quarter of sequential sales growth in the DXP Water platform, pointing to ongoing infrastructure investment needs in municipal and industrial water systems.
Service Centers reach new highs: DXP’s Service Centers set a sales record, aided by demand for maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products across multiple U.S. regions. Management emphasized the segment’s exposure to a wide range of industries, which helps to smooth out cyclical volatility and underpins steady growth.
Acquisition activity fuels diversification: The acquisition of Arroyo Process Equipment in the quarter expanded DXP’s rotating equipment offering and presence in Florida. Management reiterated its strategy to leverage acquisitions to access new markets, products, and customer segments, with additional deals expected in the coming months.
Tariff environment introduces uncertainty: Management highlighted rising tariff levels as a source of unpredictability, particularly for imported products. The company’s experience in both manufacturing and distribution enables it to mitigate some tariff impacts by shifting sourcing and passing through costs, but the final effect on demand remains unclear.
Margin expansion from mix and execution: Operating margin improved year-over-year, benefiting from gross margin strength in higher-value segments and contribution from acquired businesses. Management noted that most pricing agreements are flexible, allowing for margin protection as cost structures evolve with external policy changes.

Drivers of Future Performance

DXP’s outlook for the remainder of the year is shaped by acquisition execution, end-market diversification, and the evolving impact of tariffs on both costs and demand.

Acquisition pipeline remains active: Management expects to close two to three additional acquisitions by mid-year, with a focus on expanding both geographic reach and product capabilities. The company views M&A as central to its long-term growth and diversification strategy.
Tariff policy and demand response: The company is closely monitoring the effect of newly announced tariffs on customer purchasing behavior and supply chain costs. Management believes it can pass on most cost increases but acknowledged that demand may stall temporarily as customers assess the outcome of tariff negotiations.
End-market and product diversification: DXP’s broad exposure to industrial, energy, and water infrastructure markets is expected to mitigate the impact of sector-specific downturns. Management sees ongoing infrastructure and utility project activity as a key driver for continued backlog and sales growth, especially in water and energy projects.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In the upcoming quarters, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the pace and integration of additional acquisitions, (2) any signs of demand softening or project delays as customers respond to tariff changes, and (3) whether the company continues to achieve margin expansion through operational improvements and product mix. Progress in converting backlog to revenue, especially in energy and water projects, will also be an important indicator of execution.

DXP currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 14.6×. Is the company at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

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