As the Q1 earnings season wraps, let's dig into this quarter's best and worst performers in the infrastructure distributors industry, including NOW (NYSE:DNOW) and its peers.
Focusing on narrow product categories that can lead to economies of scale, infrastructure distributors sell essential goods that often enjoy more predictable revenue streams. For example, the ongoing inspection, maintenance, and replacement of pipes and water pumps are critical to a functioning society, rendering them non-discretionary. Lately, innovation to address trends like water conservation has driven incremental sales. But like the broader industrials sector, infrastructure distributors are also at the whim of economic cycles as external factors like interest rates can greatly impact commercial and residential construction projects that drive demand for infrastructure products.
The 4 infrastructure distributors stocks we track reported a weaker Q1; on average, revenues beat analyst consensus estimates by 1%. Stocks, especially growth stocks where cash flows further in the future are more important to the story, had a good end of 2023. But the beginning of 2024 has seen more volatile stock performance due to mixed inflation data, but infrastructure distributors stocks have performed well, with the share prices up 10.3% on average since the previous earnings results.
NOW (NYSE:DNOW) Spun off from National Oilwell Varco (NYSE:NOV), NOW Inc. (NYSE:DNOW) provides distribution and supply chain solutions for the energy and industrial end markets.
NOW reported revenues of $563 million, down 3.6% year on year, falling short of analysts' expectations by 1.1%. Overall, it was a weak quarter for the company with a miss of analysts' earnings estimates.
The stock is down 3.2% since reporting and currently trades at $14.40.
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Best Q1: MRC Global (NYSE:MRC) Producing bomb casings and tracks for vehicles during WWII, MRC (NYSE:MRC) offers pipes, valves, and fitting products for various industries.
MRC Global reported revenues of $806 million, down 8.9% year on year, outperforming analysts' expectations by 6%. It was a very strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts' earnings estimates.
MRC Global scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 22.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $14.33.
Watsco (NYSE:WSO) Originally a manufacturing company, Watsco (NYSE:WSO) today only distributes air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment, as well as related parts and supplies.
Watsco reported revenues of $1.56 billion, flat year on year, falling short of analysts' expectations by 2%. It was a weak quarter for the company with a miss of analysts' earnings estimates.
Watsco had the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 25.8% since the results and currently trades at $519.89.
Core & Main (NYSE:CNM) Formerly a division of industrial distributor HD Supply, Core & Main (NYSE:CNM) is a provider of water, wastewater, and fire protection products and services.
Core & Main reported revenues of $1.74 billion, up 10.6% year on year, surpassing analysts' expectations by 1.1%. Revenue aside, it was an ok quarter for the company with a decent beat of analysts' organic revenue estimates but a miss of analysts' earnings estimates.
Core & Main delivered the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 3.5% since reporting and currently trades at $54.22.
This content was originally published on Stock Story
