2 Air Conditioner & Heating Stocks to Watch Despite Industry Headwinds

Industry Overview - The Zacks Building Products - Air Conditioner & Heating industry is facing challenges such as housing softness, elevated interest rates, tariff pressures, and geopolitical uncertainty, which may impact residential new-build activity and demand volatility [1][4][5] - Despite these challenges, the long-term growth trajectory remains positive, driven by demand for energy-efficient systems and advanced climate-control technologies [2][10] Market Trends - The industry is experiencing volatility due to macroeconomic uncertainty, labor shortages, supply chain constraints, and regulatory pressures, which are tightening margins and complicating execution [7][11] - The data center boom, fueled by AI and cloud computing, is increasing demand for specialized HVAC solutions, presenting high-margin opportunities for companies [8][9] Company Performance - SPX Technologies has shown strong organic momentum, benefiting from rising demand in data centers and healthcare markets, with a 71.8% stock price increase over the past year and an upward earnings estimate revision for 2026 [25][26] - Comfort Systems has gained 277.4% over the past year, supported by strong backlog visibility and a growing service business, with an unchanged EPS estimate for 2026 indicating 16.4% year-over-year growth [29][30] Financial Metrics - The industry is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of 29.86X, higher than the S&P 500's 22.59X and the sector's 22.11X, indicating a premium valuation compared to broader markets [19]