Company Overview - Energy Services of America Corporation, headquartered in Huntington, West Virginia, operates primarily in the mid-Atlantic and Central regions of the United States, providing services across various industries including natural gas, petroleum, water distribution, automotive, chemical, and power [4]. - Nitro Construction Services, a subsidiary of Energy Services, has over 60 years of experience in industrial construction, fabrication, and maintenance services, emphasizing safety, craftsmanship, and long-term client partnerships [5]. Acquisition Details - Nitro Construction has completed the acquisition of Rigney Digital Systems Ltd Co., a regional leader in HVAC control systems based in Hurricane, West Virginia [1][2]. - Rigney Digital Systems, founded in 2000, is known for designing, installing, and servicing advanced HVAC control systems that enhance efficiency, comfort, and reliability [2][6]. - The acquisition allows Rigney to maintain its brand identity, staff, and client relationships while benefiting from Nitro Construction's resources and support [2][3]. Strategic Fit - The acquisition is described as a natural fit for Nitro Construction, as Rigney's HVAC control expertise complements existing services, enabling the provision of smarter and more efficient building solutions [3]. - Rigney Digital Systems will continue to operate as a distinct entity within Nitro Construction, ensuring continuity for existing customers and supporting future growth in HVAC controls and building technology [3].

Group 1 - Gen Z has the potential to benefit from long-term investments, as they have more time to navigate market uncertainties [1][2] - Individual risk tolerance is crucial for Gen Z when considering investment options [2] - Index funds, such as the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), are recommended for Gen Z investors seeking lower-risk exposure to the stock market [3][4] Group 2 - Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to be a significant technological advancement in the coming decade, with companies already generating profits from AI [5] - Established chipmakers like Nvidia and Broadcom are leading the AI boom, though they carry risks [6] - Companies in adjacent industries, such as crypto miners and nuclear energy firms, are also benefiting from the AI trend, but require more research due to higher risks [7] Group 3 - Dividend stocks can be categorized into income stocks and growth stocks, with income stocks being more suitable for middle-aged or near-retirement investors [8]

Group 1: AI and Market Trends - The AI-driven bull run of 2023 and 2024 is continuing into 2025, with stock prices of AI-centric companies increasing by 200-300% [1] - Hyperscalers are increasingly opting for data center installations to support the growth of cloud computing [1] Group 2: Old Economy Stocks - Several old economy stocks from sectors such as industrials, finance, auto, materials, and construction have shown significant year-to-date gains [2] - Investing in these stocks with a favorable Zacks Rank is expected to lead to profits and offers opportunities for portfolio diversification [2] Group 3: Selected Old Economy Stocks - Five old economy stocks have rallied more than 30% year to date and have favorable Zacks Ranks indicating further upside potential: Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX), MasTec Inc. (MTZ), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), GE Aerospace (GE), and Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) [3] Group 4: Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX) - Comfort Systems USA is a national provider of HVAC services, primarily in commercial and industrial markets [6] - The demand for specialized HVAC solutions is driven by the data center boom, particularly for AI and cloud computing [7] - FIX has an expected revenue growth rate of 15.5% and earnings growth rate of 52.4% for the current year [10] Group 5: MasTec Inc. (MTZ) - MasTec is an infrastructure construction company benefiting from the AI data center boom and trends in electrification and reshoring [11][14] - MTZ operates in multiple segments, including communications, power delivery, pipeline infrastructure, and clean energy [13] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 13.6% and earnings growth rate of 60% for the current year [14] Group 6: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) - JPMorgan Chase's net interest income growth is projected to witness a CAGR of 2.9% by 2027, driven by business expansion initiatives and loan demand [15] - The company emphasizes the importance of AI in boosting efficiency, with a technology budget of $18 billion for the year [16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for JPM are -0.2% and -0.6%, respectively, for the current year [17] Group 7: GE Aerospace (GE) - GE Aerospace is experiencing strong demand for commercial engines and defense-related products, supported by rising defense budgets and geopolitical tensions [18] - The company plans to invest over $1 billion in MRO facilities globally over the next five years [19] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for GE are -4.4% and 27.6%, respectively, for the current year [20] Group 8: Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) - Howmet Aerospace is benefiting from robust momentum in the commercial aerospace market and rising defense budgets [21] - The company has a strong liquidity position that supports shareholder-friendly policies [22] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for HWM are 9.4% and 32.7%, respectively, for the current year [22]

Financial Performance - Consolidated net sales increased by 18% year-over-year to $304 million, driven by higher volumes in Building Products and contributions from Elgen[5] - Gross margin expanded to 27.1% from 24.3%, and Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 21.4% from 18.8% in the prior year quarter[5] - Adjusted EPS increased from $0.50 to $0.74[8] - Free cash flow for Q1 was $28 million, with $13 million in capex spend, including $9 million related to facility modernization projects[7] Segment Performance - Building Products Adjusted EBITDA increased from $40 million to $58 million, with Adjusted EBITDA margin improving from 28.4% to 31.3%[5] - Building Products net sales increased from $140 million to $185 million[8] - Consumer Products Adjusted EBITDA decreased slightly from $18 million to $16 million, with Adjusted EBITDA margin decreasing from 15.1% to 13.6%[5] - Consumer Products net sales increased slightly from $118 million to $119 million[8] Capital Allocation - The company repurchased 100 thousand shares of common stock during Q1 for $6 million, at an average purchase price of $62.59, leaving 5.3 million shares remaining on the share repurchase authorization[7] - A dividend of $0.19 per share was declared, payable in December 2025[7] - Elgen Manufacturing was acquired for approximately $91 million, net of cash acquired, on June 18, 2025[7] Overall Financial Position - Net sales of $1.2 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of $280 million[87] - The company has ample liquidity of $667 million, including $167 million in cash and cash equivalents and $500 million of capacity from undrawn revolver as of 08/31/25[80]

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Seasoned leader brings deep technical and commercial expertise to accelerate company's growth strategy CORK, Ireland, Sept. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), a global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today announced the appointment of Todd Grabowski as vice president and president, Americas, effective Oct. 1, 2025. Grabowski will be responsible for strategy and execution in the Americas, focused on driving organic growth throug ...

Group 1: AI and Data Center Growth - The demand for data center capacity is surging due to the growth of AI and cloud computing, with global AI-powered data center infrastructure capex projected to reach around $7 trillion by 2030 [1] - Data centers are expected to increase from 4% of total U.S. power demand in 2023 to over 12% by 2030, necessitating a significant expansion of electricity supply [10] Group 2: Company Recommendations - Three non-technology U.S. companies are recommended for investment due to their potential benefits from the AI-driven data center boom: MasTec Inc. (MTZ), Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX), and Talen Energy Corp. (TLN) [2] Group 3: Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX) - Comfort Systems USA is a national provider of HVAC services, primarily in commercial and industrial markets, and is well-positioned to benefit from the demand for specialized HVAC solutions in data centers [3][4] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 15.5% and an earnings growth rate of 52.4% for the current year, with a recent 2% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings [5] Group 4: Talen Energy Corp. (TLN) - Talen Energy is an independent power producer that operates various types of power plants and is developing battery storage projects [6] - The company has expanded its nuclear energy partnership with Amazon to supply 1,920 megawatts of carbon-free power to AWS data centers through 2042, benefiting from the demand for reliable and clean energy [7][8] - Talen Energy has an expected revenue growth rate of 11.7% but a negative earnings growth rate of -38.8% for the current year, with a recent 0.9% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings [11] Group 5: MasTec Inc. (MTZ) - MasTec is an infrastructure construction company that provides services for communications, energy, and utility infrastructure, benefiting from the expansion of the energy industry to support AI and reshoring [12] - The company is a leading provider of design, construction, and maintenance services in the wireless network space, which is crucial for AI-driven products [13] - MasTec has an expected revenue growth rate of 13.6% and an earnings growth rate of 58% for the current year, with a recent 2.6% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings [15]

Group 1 - Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE:JCI) has successfully expanded into the data center market, which has positively impacted its stock performance [1] - The company specializes in HVAC, refrigeration, fire, security, and smart building technologies, along with energy efficiency solutions and maintenance services for various clients [1] - Jim Cramer noted that Johnson Controls' stock has been strong for an extended period, attributing part of its success to the demand for cooling systems in data centers [1] Group 2 - While Johnson Controls is recognized as a solid investment, there are AI stocks that may offer greater upside potential and lower downside risk [1] - The article suggests that certain AI stocks could benefit from Trump-era tariffs and the trend of onshoring, indicating a shift in investment focus [1]

Core Insights - Trane Technologies has announced two significant advancements: AI Control and ARIA, aimed at enhancing building optimization and energy management [1] Group 1: Company Developments - The introduction of AI Control and ARIA reflects Trane Technologies' commitment to leveraging advanced technology for customer benefit [1] - The company has conducted hundreds of thousands of energy audits in commercial buildings, revealing that most operate approximately 30% inefficiently [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales for the fourth quarter reached $8.5 billion, a 6.9% increase year-over-year, driven by organic growth of 5.8% and acquisition growth of 1.1% [3][4][15] - Gross margin improved to 31.7%, up 70 basis points from the previous year [4][15] - Operating profit for the quarter was $972 million, reflecting a 13.4% increase year-over-year, with an operating margin of 11.4% [4][16] - Diluted EPS increased by 16.8% to $3.48 [4][16] - Full-year revenue was $30.8 billion, a 3.8% increase from the previous year, with operating profit of $2.84 billion, up 0.6% [8][9] Performance by Business Lines - HVAC revenue decreased slightly due to market conditions, but overall HVAC revenue for the year increased by 8% [10][11] - Waterworks revenue grew by 10% for the fiscal year, driven by diversification efforts [12] - Commercial mechanical revenue increased by 21%, while waterworks revenues rose by 15% [8][12] - Residential trade plumbing revenues decreased by 2% due to headwinds in new construction and ongoing PVC price deflation [7][10] Performance by Markets - In the U.S. market, net sales increased by 7.1%, with non-residential revenue growth of approximately 15% [6][16] - Residential end markets remained subdued, with flat revenue due to weakened new construction starts and soft demand in repair, maintenance, and improvement [6][10] - Canada saw net sales increase by 4.8%, with a 4.9% contribution from acquisitions [16] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is focused on HVAC expansion, waterworks diversification, and large capital projects as key growth areas [11][23] - The merger of residential building and remodel with residential digital commerce into Ferguson Home aims to enhance customer experience and drive growth [8][14] - The company continues to consolidate fragmented markets through acquisitions, completing nine acquisitions in the fiscal year [19][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in medium-term market conditions despite current uncertainties, leveraging multi-year tailwinds in both residential and non-residential markets [5][23] - The company anticipates mid-single-digit revenue growth for calendar year 2025, with an operating margin range of 9.2% to 9.6% [22] - Management acknowledged challenges in the residential market, particularly in new construction and repair, maintenance, and improvement [28][81] Other Important Information - The company plans to change its fiscal year-end from July 31 to December 31, allowing for better focus during peak seasons [20][21] - The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.83 per share, reflecting a 5% increase over the prior year [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Growth and end market outlook - Analyst inquired about growth assumptions and market trends, particularly regarding residential and non-residential sectors [26] - Management noted that while residential markets are expected to remain weak, non-residential markets are showing resilience, particularly in large capital projects [27][28] Question: Non-residential bidding activity - Analyst asked for details on bidding activity and momentum in non-residential markets [41] - Management confirmed healthy backlogs across various segments, including commercial mechanical and waterworks, with strong bidding activity [42][44] Question: Pricing and margin expectations - Analyst sought clarification on pricing trends and gross margin expectations [45] - Management indicated that while pricing has improved, commodity prices remain volatile, and gross margins are expected to normalize [46][49] Question: Residential remodel demand - Analyst questioned the demand trends in the residential remodel market [71] - Management acknowledged continued pressure in the remodel market but noted positive growth in the higher-end segment [72] Question: New residential construction market - Analyst asked about trends in new residential construction and expectations for the second half of the year [80] - Management anticipated a slight decline in new residential construction activity but did not foresee a dramatic drop [81]

Core Insights - Carrier Global Corporation is expanding its commitment to developing future HVAC technicians through a collaboration with TechForce Foundation, which includes scholarships, recognition programs, and training initiatives [1][2][3] Group 1: Collaboration and Workforce Development - The partnership with TechForce Foundation aims to address the projected 400,000 HVAC technician job openings in the U.S. over the next decade, driven by retirements and increasing demand for skilled talent [2] - Carrier's TechVantage Initiative plans to hire 1,000 U.S. service technicians and train over 100,000 across its ecosystem, reinforcing its long-term growth strategy and operational resilience [1][2] Group 2: Educational Support and Resources - The collaboration will provide scholarships for financially disadvantaged students in HVAC programs and free access to Carrier's online training resources [6] - More than 70,000 students and working technicians will be engaged through TechForce Foundation's online network, which serves as a resource hub for career exploration, scholarships, and job opportunities [6] Group 3: Industry Recognition - A new HVAC, Homes & Buildings category will be established within the Techs Rock Awards Program to recognize and inspire top technicians in the field [6][4]