The end of an earnings season can be a great time to discover new stocks and assess how companies are handling the current business environment. Let’s take a look at how Crane (NYSE: CR) and the rest of the general industrial machinery stocks fared in Q4.

Automation that increases efficiency and connected equipment that collects analyzable data have been trending, creating new demand for general industrial machinery companies. Those who innovate and create digitized solutions can spur sales and speed up replacement cycles, but all general industrial machinery companies are still at the whim of economic cycles. Consumer spending and interest rates, for example, can greatly impact the industrial production that drives demand for these companies’ offerings.

The 14 general industrial machinery stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.3% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 5.6% since the latest earnings results.

Crane (NYSE: CR)

Based in Connecticut, Crane (NYSE: CR) is a diversified manufacturer of engineered industrial products, including fluid handling, and aerospace technologies.

Crane reported revenues of $581 million, up 6.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 9.4% since reporting and currently trades at $190.04.

Is now the time to buy Crane? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ: CMCO)

With 19 different brands across the globe, Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ: CMCO) offers material handling equipment for the construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries.

Columbus McKinnon reported revenues of $258.7 million, up 10.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5.3%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 27% since reporting. It currently trades at $16.72.

Is now the time to buy Columbus McKinnon? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: Albany (NYSE: AIN)

Founded in 1895, Albany (NYSE: AIN) is a global textiles and materials processing company, specializing in machine clothing for paper mills and engineered composite structures for aerospace and other industries.

Albany reported revenues of $321.2 million, up 12% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 16%. Still, it was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 3.2% since the results and currently trades at $56.11.

Read our full analysis of Albany’s results here.

Dover (NYSE: DOV)

A company that manufactured critical equipment for the United States military during World War II, Dover (NYSE: DOV) manufactures engineered components and specialized equipment for numerous industries.

Dover reported revenues of $2.10 billion, up 8.8% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced a narrow beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is up 2.3% since reporting and currently trades at $210.80.

Read our full, actionable report on Dover here, it’s free.

L.B. Foster (NASDAQ: FSTR)

Founded with a $2,500 loan, L.B. Foster (NASDAQ: FSTR) is a provider of products and services for the transportation and energy infrastructure sectors, including rail products, construction materials, and coating solutions.

L.B. Foster reported revenues of $160.4 million, up 25.1% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 1%. Zooming out, it was a slower quarter as it logged a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

L.B. Foster delivered the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The stock is down 11.3% since reporting and currently trades at $28.56.

Read our full, actionable report on L.B. Foster here, it’s free.

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