Roper Technologies Earnings Analysis

Sometimes the headline numbers don't tell you everything about a company's earnings, and that was definitely the case with diversified industrial Roper Technologies' (NYSE:ROP) first quarter. A revenue increase of just 4.4% accompanied by flat operating income isn't usually anything to write home about, but the figures mask a lot of moving parts under the surface, and the underlying picture is a bit brighter.

Let's take a closer look.

Exposure to upstream oil and gas proved a drag on first-quarter results. Image source: Roper Technologies. 

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

AZZ Incorporated Earnings Review

AZZ Incorporated stock has had a strong year, with notable outperformance compared to the S&P 500 index. It's in large part due to the successful resolution of operating inefficiencies plus completing previously delayed shipments in its energy segment and the positive effects of acquisitions in the galvanizing segment. All of these themes came up in the company's recent fourth-quarter earnings. Let's take a closer look at the numbers and what management outlined for its fiscal year 2017.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Why Dassault Systemes Earnings Will Get More Volatile

Having previously outlined that growth would be back-end-loaded in 2016, France-based 3D software company Dassault Systemes was under pressure to deliver in its first-quarter results. Any kind of revenue or earnings miss and the market would have fretted over the company's prospects in the second half. Fast-forward to the results, and management delivered what they said they would; however, they may not have delivered exactly what the market wanted.
Let's take a look at the details.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Illionois Tool Works Helps Itself

In the last three months, the market has significantly bid up industrial stocks like Illinois Tool Works  and 3M Company , possibly in the belief that a recovery in industrial conditions would occur in the second half of 2016. Indeed, if a cyclical pickup occurs, then both companies are well placed to benefit. If they can generate margin expansion during bad times, then they are surely well situated for any upturn. That said, let's take a look at the tale of Illinois Tool Works' first-quarter results.

ITW data by YCharts.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd Gives Earnings

Did Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. have a good quarter? The initial downward stock market reaction after the company reported this morning would indicate no, but given the moving parts in its numbers and how its near-term earnings are being affected by long-term strategic decisions, the answer might not be so simple to discern. Let's take a closer look at what went on with Check Point's first-quarter results and its guidance.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Honeywell International Earnings Review

Earnings season has kicked off, and industrial bellwether Honeywell International (NYSE:HON) is set to join the party on Friday. Following its aborted bid for United Technologies (NYSE:UTX), investors will be eagerly following Honeywell's results to see if its ongoing plans are on track. Let's take a look at three key things to look out for in the results.
Honeywell reports out of three segments, the relative importance of which can be seen by looking at last year's segment profits. (ACS stands for Automation and Control Solutions, and PMT for Performance, Materials, and Technologies.)

DATA SOURCE: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Wells Fargo Earnings Review

In a week when coal miner Peabody Energy filed for bankruptcy and rival bank JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its provision for credit losses by 46% largely because of pressure on its energy, metals and mining clients, investors' focus was naturally on Wells Fargo's energy portfolio. Let's take a look at how credit loss provisions hit income at Wells Fargo, and the other key takeaways from the first-quarter report.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Alcoa's Management Gives its Outlook

Earnings season has kicked off, and Alcoa's  results are already in. The aluminum and alumina producer's earnings are useful for their predictive qualities, so let's take a closer look at the company's end market guidance. Which sectors of the industrial economy are trending better, or worse, and why?

Aerospace and automotive are two key markets for Alcoa. Image source: Alcoa.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

General Electric's Most Important Product

Power matters to General Electric Company . In fact, the segment is the company's largest industrial business, contributing 25% of industrial segmental profit in 2015. Within the power segment, gas turbines -- traditionally the company's most important product -- are a key part of its future prospects. But what can investors expect in the next five to 10 years from end demand from bulk power spending, and how is General Electric Company positioned in this market?

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Emerson Electric or Rockwell Automation Stock?

Emerson Electric and Rockwell Automation have both outperformed the S&P 500 year to date. As with Cognex Corp. , both companies have substantive exposure to industrial automation. It's somewhat surprising to see such share price outperformance during a period of weak economic growth, but clearly, the market is pricing in a second-half recovery. The question is, which stock is a better buy now?

EMR data by YCharts

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

CSX and Union Pacific Earnings Preview

CSX Corp. (NASDAQ:CSX) will present its first-quarter results in mid-April, followed by fellow railroad company Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) a week later. Both sets of results are eagerly anticipated, not least because the transportation sector is viewed as a leading economic indicator. While the reports will likely have lots of useful data points, investors should keep an eye on one key metric when both companies give results -- a piece of information that could indicate the start of a recovery in industrial conditions.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Is 3M Company Stock a Buy?

On Tuesday, 3M Company (NYSE: MMM) reaffirmed its 2016 outlook and gave investors its five-year outlook. Following this announcement, the big question investors need to ask is this: How exactly are these companies supposed to generate strong earnings growth in a moderate economic environment? It's a particularly pertinent question, because 3M Company's new guidance calls for 8% to 11% annualized EPS growth from 2016 through 2020. Let's take a look at the company's new guidance and whether it makes the stock worth buying or not.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

MSC Industrial Direct. Co. Earnings Analysis

MSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc.'s second-quarter results were a mix of positives and negatives, and there is something in them for glass-half-full and -empty proponents. Its end markets aren't improving, but they aren't getting much worse. The company continues to execute well and maintain gross margin, but sales growth is disappointing. It was truly a mixed quarter, so let's take a closer look at the details and what to expect going forward.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

3 Industrial Internet of Things Stocks

In a world getting used to global growth rates at far lower levels than in previous decades, large industrial companies can't simply rely on revenue growth in order to increase earnings significantly. Something more is needed. One of those "somethings" is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and there are three early adopters set to win out. Let's take a closer look at them.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Why Caterpillar Stock Can Rise Further

Almost every oil related stock got beaten up in 2015, but as you can see below, Caterpillar, Inc (NYSE:CAT) has bounced back strongly in recent weeks. Moreover, other industrial stocks with heavy energy exposure, such as Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV) and Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR), have followed suit. Can the rally continue? Let's take a look at three reasons why it can.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Time to Buy Triumph Group, inc Stock?

Shareholders in Triump Group, Inc  have a tough decision on their hands today. To buy shares, or to sell them? There are reasons to cut and run. Revenue and profits for FY 2016 are now expected to come in at the bottom end of the company's own guidance. Moreoever, analysts expect revenue and profits to decline again in FY 2017 - not what any shareholder wants to see. Despite these issues, there maybe a case for value investors buying the stock, particularly as a turnaround could be on the cards. Let's take a closer look.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Amazon.Com Isn't Really a Threat to UPS and FedEx

First it was Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) drones that were set to destroy the businesses of FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) and United Parcel Service, Inc (NYSE:UPS). Now it's the online retailer's expansion of its air-cargo network. It all sounds dramatic, but in reality Amazon's moves don't present a significant threat to the two mega-logistics players. Here are five reasons why.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

FedEx Corporation Gives Results, What it Means to United Parcel Service

The market gave a warm welcome to FedEx Corp.'s (NYSE:FDX) recent estimate-busting quarterly results, but does that imply that United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) is also set to deliver strong numbers when it reports next month? It's always interesting to compare the rivals -- not least because they report in the middle of each others' quarters -- so let's take a look at what FedEx's results imply about UPS' business trends.

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

Dassault Systemes's Big Risk

3D software maker Dassault Systemes SA (NASDAQOTH: DASTY) is an unusual stock in many ways. It's European and reports in euros, so, unlike most companies U.S. investors are familiar with, the stronger U.S. dollar has been a boon to its earnings in the last year or so. Moreover, its fourth quarter of 2015 surprised on the upside in terms of revenue and earnings -- not an easy thing to do when economic growth is slowing. With all this positive news out there, what exactly is the problem with Dassault Systemes stock?

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED

5 Industrial Stocks With Minimal Oil & Gas Exposure

Falling oil prices have pressured industrial companies with significant exposure to the sector, and investors would have been best advised to steer clear of such companies in the past year. That said, not all industrial companies have significant energy exposure. For those looking to avoid energy here are five industrial names for you to look at.

Aerospace and construction
United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) has negligible direct energy exposure. Its four segments consist of Pratt & Whitney (aircraft engines); Otis elevators; a climate, controls, and security (construction) business; and aerospace systems. You could argue that low oil prices might reduce demand for newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft, but Boeing and Airbus orders have held up well, and increased airline profitability is supportive of future aerospace growth.  
United Technologies' stock prospects are more tied to its ability to deliver on three key objectives in 2016:

READ THE FULL EQUITY RESEARCH ARTICLE LINKED