As the Q1 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the construction and maintenance services industry, including APi (NYSE:APG) and its peers.
Construction and maintenance services companies not only boast technical know-how in specialized areas but also may hold special licenses and permits. Those who work in more regulated areas can enjoy more predictable revenue streams - for example, fire escapes need to be inspected every five years. More recently, services to address energy efficiency and labor availability are also creating incremental demand. But like the broader industrials sector, construction and maintenance services companies are at the whim of economic cycles as external factors like interest rates can greatly impact the new construction that drives incremental demand for these companies’ offerings.
The 12 construction and maintenance services stocks we track reported a very strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 5.9%.
Luckily, construction and maintenance services stocks have performed well with share prices up 21.3% on average since the latest earnings results.
APi (NYSE:APG)
Started in 1926 as an insulation contractor, APi (NYSE:APG) provides life safety solutions and specialty services for buildings and infrastructure.
APi reported revenues of $1.72 billion, up 7.4% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.7%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and full-year EBITDA guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations.
Russ Becker, APi’s President and Chief Executive Officer stated: “We are off to a strong start in 2025, with a return to traditional levels of organic growth after our thoughtful and selective pruning of certain customer accounts in 2024. We've also continued to expand margins and deploy capital on M&A and share repurchases to drive shareholder value. Our robust backlog, variable cost structure, the statutorily-driven demand for our services, and the diversity of the global end markets we serve combine to provide a protective moat around the business. We believe this positions us well to navigate the dynamic tariff variables in the marketplace.
The stock is up 24.5% since reporting and currently trades at $47.04.
Founded as Lydon & Drews dredging company, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (NASDAQ:GLDD) provides dredging services, land reclamation, and coastal protection projects in the United States and internationally.
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock reported revenues of $242.9 million, up 22.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 17.5%. The business had an incredible quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 19.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $11.40.
Founded in Oklahoma, Matrix Service (NASDAQ:MTRX) provides engineering, fabrication, construction, and maintenance services primarily to the energy and industrial markets.
Matrix Service reported revenues of $200.2 million, up 20.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 6.9%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Matrix Service delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and weakest full-year guidance update in the group. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $12.19.
Established in 1994, Orion (NYSE:ORN) provides construction services for marine infrastructure and industrial projects.
Orion reported revenues of $188.7 million, up 17.4% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 8.8%. It was an exceptional quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
The stock is up 30% since reporting and currently trades at $8.23.
Established in 1901, Limbach (NASDAQ: LMB) provides integrated building systems solutions, including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services.
Limbach reported revenues of $133.1 million, up 11.9% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 10%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
The stock is up 28.5% since reporting and currently trades at $132.51.
In response to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been gradually trending down from its post-pandemic peak, trending closer to the Fed’s 2% target. Despite higher borrowing costs, the economy has avoided flashing recessionary signals. This is the much-desired soft landing that many investors hoped for. The recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November 2024) have bolstered the stock market, making 2024 a strong year for equities. Donald Trump’s presidential win in November sparked additional market gains, sending indices to record highs in the days following his victory. However, debates continue over possible tariffs and corporate tax adjustments, raising questions about economic stability in 2025.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals?
Check out our Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
Join thousands of traders who make more informed decisions with our premium features.
Real-time quotes, advanced visualizations, backtesting, and much more.