Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

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Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Q2 Earnings Roundup: Interface (NASDAQ:TILE) And The Rest Of The Office & Commercial Furniture Segment

TILE Cover Image

The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how office & commercial furniture stocks fared in Q2, starting with Interface (NASDAQ: TILE).

The sector faces a tepid outlook as workplace dynamics continue to evolve. Hybrid work means that enterprise demand for office furniture is lower. Consumer demand for the same products likely will not offset the loss from enterprises, as individual workers tend to have less space and need for the sector's wares. The Trump administration also possesses a high willingness to impose tariffs on key partners, which could result in retaliatory actions, all of which could pressure those selling furniture that may feature components or labor from overseas. Lastly, the COVID-19 pandemic showed that there is always a risk that something disrupts supply chains, and companies need contingency plans for this.

The 4 office & commercial furniture stocks we track reported a very strong Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.9% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.7% above.

Luckily, office & commercial furniture stocks have performed well with share prices up 17.5% on average since the latest earnings results.

Interface (NASDAQ: TILE)

Pioneering carbon-neutral flooring since its founding in 1973, Interface (NASDAQ: TILE) is a global manufacturer of modular carpet tiles, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), and rubber flooring that specializes in carbon-neutral and sustainable flooring solutions.

Interface reported revenues of $375.5 million, up 8.3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.6%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and full-year revenue guidance topping analysts’ expectations.

“We delivered strong second quarter results ahead of our expectations with currency-neutral net sales growth of 7% and significantly expanded profitability. We continued to see strong momentum and market share gains in the Americas with currency-neutral net sales growth of 11% driven by our combined selling teams and expanded product offerings,” commented Laurel Hurd, CEO of Interface.

Interface Total Revenue

Interface achieved the fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 24.6% since reporting and currently trades at $25.70.

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

Best Q2: HNI (NYSE: HNI)

With roots dating back to 1944 and a significant acquisition of Kimball International in 2023, HNI (NYSE: HNI) manufactures and sells office furniture systems, seating, and storage solutions, as well as residential fireplaces and heating products.

HNI reported revenues of $667.1 million, up 7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3.2%. The business had a stunning quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

HNI Total Revenue

Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 16.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $43.83.

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

Slowest Q2: Steelcase (NYSE: SCS)

Founded in 1912 when metal office furniture was replacing wooden alternatives, Steelcase (NYSE: SCS) is a global office furniture manufacturer that designs and produces workplace solutions including desks, chairs, architectural products, and services.

Steelcase reported revenues of $779 million, up 7.1% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 2.5%. Still, it was a mixed quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.

Steelcase delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 51.5% since the results and currently trades at $16.10.

Read our full analysis of Steelcase’s results here.

MillerKnoll (NASDAQ: MLKN)

Created through the 2021 merger of industry icons Herman Miller and Knoll, MillerKnoll (NASDAQ: MLKN) designs, manufactures, and distributes interior furnishings for offices, healthcare facilities, educational settings, and homes worldwide.

MillerKnoll reported revenues of $961.8 million, up 8.2% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 5.3%. Overall, it was a stunning quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and revenue guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations.

MillerKnoll scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is up 10.6% since reporting and currently trades at $19.52.

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

Market Update

The Fed’s interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 have successfully cooled post-pandemic inflation, bringing it closer to the 2% target. Inflationary pressures have eased without tipping the economy into a recession, suggesting a soft landing. This stability, paired with recent rate cuts (0.5% in September 2024 and 0.25% in November 2024), fueled a strong year for the stock market in 2024. The markets surged further after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, with major indices reaching record highs in the days following the election. Still, questions remain about the direction of economic policy, as potential tariffs and corporate tax changes add uncertainty for 2025.

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

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