
As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q4. Today, we are looking at hvac and water systems stocks, starting with Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT).
Many HVAC and water systems companies sell essential, non-discretionary infrastructure for buildings. Since the useful lives of these water heaters and vents are fairly standard, these companies have a portion of predictable replacement revenue. In the last decade, trends in energy efficiency and clean water are driving innovation that is leading to incremental demand. On the other hand, new installations for these companies are at the whim of residential and commercial construction volumes, which tend to be cyclical and can be impacted heavily by economic factors such as interest rates.
The 9 HVAC and water systems stocks we track reported a slower Q4. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.
Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 7.2% since the latest earnings results.
Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT)
With low-pressure heating systems as its first product, Trane (NYSE:TT) designs, manufactures, and sells HVAC and refrigeration systems, the former to commercial and residential building customers and the latter to commercial truck manufacturers.
Trane Technologies reported revenues of $5.14 billion, up 5.5% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.8%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with a miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
The stock is up 7.8% since reporting and currently trades at $424.80.
Is now the time to buy Trane Technologies? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q4: Northwest Pipe (NASDAQ:NWPX)
Playing a large role in the Integrated Pipeline (IPL) project in Texas to deliver ~350 million gallons of water per day, Northwest Pipe (NASDAQ:NWPX) is a manufacturer of pipeline systems for water infrastructure.
Northwest Pipe reported revenues of $125.6 million, up 5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.8%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and revenue estimates.
Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 3.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $71.57.
Is now the time to buy Northwest Pipe? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q4: CSW (NYSE:CSW)
With over two centuries of combined operations manufacturing and supplying, CSW (NYSE:CSW) offers special chemicals, coatings, sealants, and lubricants for various industries.
CSW reported revenues of $233 million, up 20.3% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 6%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.
CSW delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 12.4% since the results and currently trades at $262.82.
Read our full analysis of CSW’s results here.
Advanced Drainage (NYSE:WMS)
Originally started as a farm water drainage company, Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS) provides clean water management solutions to communities across America.
Advanced Drainage reported revenues of $693.4 million, flat year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. It was a very strong quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.
Advanced Drainage had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is down 12.9% since reporting and currently trades at $139.64.
Read our full, actionable report on Advanced Drainage here, it’s free.
Zurn Elkay (NYSE:ZWS)
Claiming to have saved more than 30 billion gallons of water, Zurn Elkay (NYSE:ZWS) provides water management solutions to various industries.
Zurn Elkay reported revenues of $407.2 million, up 9.8% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.
The stock is down 6.4% since reporting and currently trades at $44.03.
Read our full, actionable report on Zurn Elkay here, it’s free.
Market Update
Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?
These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.
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