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Honeywell vs. 3M: Which Industrial Conglomerate Stock Should You Bet On?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 17:35
Core Viewpoint - Honeywell International Inc. and 3M Company are both positioned to benefit from growth in the aerospace and industrial sectors, but Honeywell appears to have stronger fundamentals and growth prospects for 2025 compared to 3M [2][28]. Honeywell's Performance - Honeywell's commercial aviation aftermarket business is a key growth driver, with a 7% year-over-year sales increase in Q2 2025 [3]. - The defense and space business saw a 13% year-over-year sales surge in Q2 2025, supported by robust defense spending [4]. - The Building Automation segment's organic sales increased by 8% year over year, with building products sales growing by 9% [5][6]. - Honeywell expects overall revenues for 2025 to be in the range of $40.8-$41.3 billion, with organic revenues anticipated to grow by 4-5% year over year [7]. - The company returned $5.08 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks in the first half of 2025 [8]. - However, the Industrial Automation segment faced a 5% decline in sales year over year, with expectations of low to mid-single-digit declines for 2025 [9]. - Honeywell's long-term debt increased to $30.2 billion, up from $25.5 billion at the end of 2024, raising concerns about its cash position of $10.3 billion [10]. 3M's Performance - 3M's Safety and Industrial segment experienced a 2.5% growth, while the Transportation and Electronics segment saw a 1% increase in Q2 2025 [11][13]. - The company expects total adjusted organic sales to grow by 2% year over year for 2025 [13]. - 3M is undergoing structural reorganization to streamline operations and expects annual pre-tax savings from these actions by 2025 [14]. - In the first half of 2025, 3M returned $3 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks [15]. - Weak demand in consumer retail markets and challenges in the automotive OEM business are concerns for 3M [16]. - 3M's long-term debt stood at $12.5 billion, with cash and cash equivalents at $3.7 billion, indicating a high debt level [17]. Financial Estimates and Valuation - Honeywell's 2025 sales and EPS estimates indicate year-over-year growth of 5.7% and 6.3%, respectively, with recent upward revisions [18]. - In contrast, 3M's sales estimates for 2025 imply an 8.8% decline, while EPS estimates show an 8.5% growth [18]. - Honeywell shares have gained 3.4% over the past six months, while 3M shares have increased by 6.4% [23]. - 3M trades at a forward P/E ratio of 18.89, while Honeywell's forward P/E ratio is 19.61 [24]. Final Assessment - Both companies hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), making it challenging to choose between them [27]. - 3M's momentum in key markets is hindered by consumer retail softness and ongoing litigation issues [27]. - Honeywell's diversified portfolio and strong growth prospects position it as a more favorable investment despite its higher valuation [28].
Is Grupo Mexico, S.A.B. de C.V. (GMBXF) Stock Outpacing Its Conglomerates Peers This Year?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 14:40
Group 1 - Grupo Mexico, S.A.B. de C.V. (GMBXF) has outperformed its peers in the Conglomerates sector with a year-to-date return of 40.9%, compared to the sector average of 0.9% [4] - The Zacks Rank for Grupo Mexico is currently 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on earnings estimates and revisions [3] - Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for GMBXF's full-year earnings has increased by 3%, reflecting improved analyst sentiment [4] Group 2 - Marubeni Corp. (MARUY) is another strong performer in the Conglomerates sector, with a year-to-date return of 48.3% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5] - Both Grupo Mexico and Marubeni Corp. are part of the Diversified Operations industry, which has an average return of 0.9% this year, indicating that both companies are performing well relative to their industry [6] - Investors should closely monitor Grupo Mexico and Marubeni Corp. for potential continued strong performance in the Conglomerates sector [7]
Carlisle Prices Senior Notes Offering Worth $1B in Aggregate
ZACKS· 2025-08-14 17:55
Core Insights - Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) has priced a $1 billion offering of senior notes, consisting of $500 million of 5.250% notes maturing on September 15, 2035, and $500 million of 5.550% notes maturing on September 15, 2040, expected to close on August 20, 2025 [1][9] Financial Details - The 2035 notes are priced at 99.655% of the principal amount, while the 2040 notes are priced at 99.299% of the principal amount [2] - Interest on the notes will be paid semi-annually starting March 15, 2026 [2] Use of Proceeds - The funds from the offering will be used for general corporate purposes, including debt repayment, capital spending, working capital additions, share repurchases, and acquisitions [3][9] Debt and Financial Obligations - The offering is expected to increase CSL's debts, potentially inflating financial obligations and impacting profitability, although prepaying some indebtedness may provide relief [4] - As of the end of Q2 2025, the company's long-term debt stood at $1.89 billion, remaining relatively stable [4] Business Performance - The Construction Materials segment is experiencing strong momentum, with a 0.6% year-over-year revenue increase in Q2 2025, driven by demand for reroofing products and healthy construction activity [5] - The company anticipates low single-digit revenue growth in the Construction Materials segment for 2025, supported by strong contractor backlogs and customer demand [6] Challenges in Other Segments - The Weatherproofing Technologies segment is facing challenges due to a slowdown in the residential construction market and project delays, resulting in a 2% year-over-year revenue decline in Q2 2025 [7] - CSL operates in a competitive roofing and waterproofing market, facing competition from companies like 3M, Armstrong World Industries, and Builders FirstSource [8]
3M Company Rises 22.3% YTD: Should You Buy the Stock Now or Wait?
ZACKS· 2025-08-13 17:56
Core Insights - 3M Company's stock has increased by 22.3% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500 and the Zacks Diversified Operations industry [1][2] - The stock closed at $157.85, below its 52-week high of $164.15 but above its low of $121.98, indicating positive market sentiment [3][7] - Strong performance is attributed to growth in the Safety and Industrial, and Transportation and Electronics segments [4][9] Stock Performance - 3M's stock is trading above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating solid upward momentum [3][5] - The company has outperformed peers like Carlisle Companies and Honeywell, which returned 4.3% and -3.9% respectively [1][7] Segment Performance - The Safety and Industrial segment has shown strong momentum, with organic sales improving by 2.5% year-over-year in the first half of 2025 [10] - The Transportation and Electronics segment's adjusted organic revenues grew by 1% in Q2 2025, supported by demand in aerospace and defense markets [11][12] Financial Health - 3M's long-term debt reached $12.5 billion in Q2 2025, with a debt-to-capital ratio of 74.1% [7][16] - The company has undertaken structural reorganization to streamline operations, which is expected to yield annual pre-tax savings [13] Shareholder Returns - In the first half of 2025, 3M paid out $786 million in dividends and repurchased $2.2 billion in shares [14] - The quarterly dividend was increased by 4% in February 2025 [14] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 3M's 2025 earnings has increased by 3.8% to $7.92 per share, indicating an 8.5% year-over-year growth [20] - The consensus for 2026 earnings has also risen by 2.2% to $8.35 per share, reflecting a 5.3% increase [20] Valuation - 3M is trading at a forward P/E multiple of 19.29X, above its five-year median of 15.98X and the broader industry's multiple of 16.40X [18]
Star Equity (STRR) Tops Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
ZACKS· 2025-08-13 14:46
Group 1 - Star Equity reported quarterly earnings of $1.86 per share, significantly beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.26 per share, and showing improvement from a loss of $0.29 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of +815.38% [1] - The company posted revenues of $23.71 million for the quarter ended June 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 35.47%, and up from $13.48 million in the same quarter last year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Star Equity has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped consensus revenue estimates three times as well [2] Group 2 - Star Equity shares have underperformed the market, losing about 11.1% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 9.6% [3] - The company's earnings outlook, including current consensus earnings expectations for upcoming quarters, will be crucial for investors [4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the coming quarter is -$0.22 on revenues of $18.5 million, and -$0.98 on revenues of $69.42 million for the current fiscal year [7] Group 3 - The Zacks Industry Rank indicates that the Diversified Operations industry is currently in the top 20% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook for stocks within this sector [8] - Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5] - The estimate revisions trend for Star Equity was mixed ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market [6]
Griffon (GFF) Q3 Earnings Meet Estimates
ZACKS· 2025-08-06 13:45
Financial Performance - Griffon reported quarterly earnings of $1.5 per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate, and an increase from $1.24 per share a year ago [1] - The company posted revenues of $613.63 million for the quarter ended June 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.61%, and down from $647.81 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Griffon has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times but has topped consensus revenue estimates only once [2] Stock Performance and Outlook - Griffon shares have increased approximately 15.5% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 7.1% [3] - The company's future stock performance will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and the earnings outlook [4][6] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.66 on revenues of $662.28 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $5.70 on revenues of $2.56 billion [7] Industry Context - The Diversified Operations industry, to which Griffon belongs, is currently ranked in the top 20% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact Griffon's stock performance [5]
What Makes ITT (ITT) a Strong Momentum Stock: Buy Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-05 17:01
Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1] Group 1: Momentum Style Score - ITT currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating strong momentum characteristics [2] - The Zacks Rank for ITT is 2 (Buy), suggesting a favorable outlook for the stock [3] - Stocks rated Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) with Style Scores of "A or B" tend to outperform the market over the following month [3] Group 2: Price Performance - ITT shares have increased by 1.57% over the past week, while the Zacks Diversified Operations industry has decreased by 3.45% [5] - Over the past month, ITT's price change is 5.11%, outperforming the industry's 1.56% [5] - In the last quarter, ITT shares rose by 11.73%, and over the past year, they increased by 33.5%, compared to the S&P 500's 11.71% and 19.86% respectively [6] Group 3: Trading Volume - ITT's average 20-day trading volume is 437,079 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7] Group 4: Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, three earnings estimates for ITT have been revised upwards, increasing the consensus estimate from $6.37 to $6.46 [9] - For the next fiscal year, four estimates have moved higher with no downward revisions [9] Group 5: Conclusion - Given the strong momentum indicators and positive earnings outlook, ITT is positioned as a 2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of A, making it a potential candidate for near-term investment [11]
IAC (IAC) Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates
ZACKS· 2025-08-04 22:26
Group 1: Earnings Performance - IAC reported quarterly earnings of $2.57 per share, significantly beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.3 per share, representing an earnings surprise of +956.67% [1] - The company posted revenues of $586.93 million for the quarter ended June 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.53%, and down from $949.53 million year-over-year [2] Group 2: Market Performance - IAC shares have declined approximately 10% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 6.1% [3] - The current Zacks Rank for IAC is 4 (Sell), indicating expectations of underperformance in the near future [6] Group 3: Future Outlook - The consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is breakeven on revenues of $615.9 million, while for the current fiscal year, it is -$2.47 on revenues of $2.48 billion [7] - The outlook for the industry, specifically the Diversified Operations sector, is currently in the top 21% of Zacks industries, suggesting potential positive impacts on stock performance [8]
Are You Looking for a Top Momentum Pick? Why Federal Signal (FSS) is a Great Choice
ZACKS· 2025-08-01 17:00
Company Overview - Federal Signal (FSS) currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B, indicating a positive momentum outlook [3] - The company is involved in manufacturing products such as street sweepers and toll booth technology for government, industrial, and commercial customers [4] Performance Metrics - FSS shares have increased by 41.28% over the past quarter and 30.39% over the last year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which moved 14.12% and 16.19% respectively during the same periods [7] - Over the past week, FSS shares are up 0.5%, matching the performance of the Zacks Diversified Operations industry [6] Trading Volume - The average 20-day trading volume for FSS is 825,709 shares, which is a useful indicator of market interest and can signal bullish or bearish trends [8] Earnings Outlook - In the last two months, four earnings estimates for FSS have been revised upwards, with no downward revisions, leading to an increase in the consensus estimate from $3.83 to $3.96 [10] - For the next fiscal year, four estimates have also moved upwards without any downward revisions [10] Investment Recommendation - Given the strong performance metrics and positive earnings outlook, FSS is rated as a 1 (Strong Buy) stock, making it a compelling option for investors seeking momentum picks [12]
Are Conglomerates Stocks Lagging Mitsubishi (MSBHF) This Year?
ZACKS· 2025-07-31 14:40
Group 1 - Mitsubishi Corp. is one of 16 companies in the Conglomerates group and currently ranks 5 within the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - The Zacks Rank system emphasizes earnings estimates and revisions, with Mitsubishi Corp. holding a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mitsubishi Corp.'s full-year earnings has increased by 7.1% in the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment [4] Group 2 - Mitsubishi Corp. has returned 24% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the average gain of 1.7% for Conglomerates stocks [4] - Another Conglomerates stock, Swire Pacific, has returned 2.4% year-to-date and has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5] - Both Mitsubishi Corp. and Swire Pacific belong to the Diversified Operations industry, which includes 16 companies and currently ranks 88 in the Zacks Industry Rank [6]