As the Q1 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the gas and liquid handling industry, including Standex (NYSE: SXI) and its peers.

Gas and liquid handling companies possess the technical know-how and specialized equipment to handle valuable (and sometimes dangerous) substances. Lately, water conservation and carbon capture–which requires hydrogen and other gasses as well as specialized infrastructure–have been trending up, creating new demand for products such as filters, pumps, and valves. On the other hand, gas and liquid handling companies are 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 11 gas and liquid handling stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.3% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.8% below.

While some gas and liquid handling stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 3.7% since the latest earnings results.

Standex (NYSE: SXI)

Holding over 500 patents globally, Standex (NYSE: SXI) is a manufacturer and distributor of industrial components for various sectors.

Standex reported revenues of $224.6 million, up 8.1% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Commenting on the quarter's results, President and Chief Executive Officer David Dunbar said, "We delivered another quarter with year-on-year organic growth and strong operating performance. Our sales increased 8.1% year-on-year to $224.6 million driven by 8% contribution from new products and more than 30% contribution from sales into fast growth markets. We realized 6.5% organic growth with a book to bill of 1.05. Our Electronics segment grew 6.8% organically with a book to bill of 1.14. We are well positioned to deliver mid-to-high single-digit organic growth again in the fiscal fourth quarter, primarily driven by new product launches, and strong tailwinds in the electrical grid, space, defense and aviation end markets. Sales from fast growth markets totaled approximately $69 million in the fiscal third quarter and are expected to reach approximately $270 million for the full fiscal year 2026.

Interestingly, the stock is up 1.6% since reporting and currently trades at $277.30.

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

Best Q1: Gorman-Rupp (NYSE: GRC)

Powering fluid dynamics since 1934, Gorman-Rupp (NYSE: GRC) has evolved from its Ohio origins into a global manufacturer and seller of pumps and pump systems.

Gorman-Rupp reported revenues of $176.6 million, up 7.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3.5%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 13.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $75.01.

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

Weakest Q1: Graco (NYSE: GGG)

Founded in 1926, Graco (NYSE: GGG) is an industrial company specializing in the development and manufacturing of fluid-handling systems and products.

Graco reported revenues of $540.1 million, up 2.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 3.9%. 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.

As expected, the stock is down 11.8% since the results and currently trades at $75.48.

Read our full analysis of Graco’s results here.

Helios (NYSE: HLIO)

Founded on the principle of treating others as one wants to be treated, Helios (NYSE: HLIO) designs, manufactures, and sells motion and electronic control components for various sectors.

Helios reported revenues of $228.4 million, up 16.8% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 3.7%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also recorded EPS guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Helios had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is up 22.2% since reporting and currently trades at $83.11.

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

ITT (NYSE: ITT)

Playing a crucial role in the development of the first transatlantic television transmission in 1956, ITT (NYSE: ITT) provides motion and fluid handling equipment for various industries

ITT reported revenues of $1.21 billion, up 32.7% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 9.8%. It was an exceptional quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

ITT pulled off the biggest analyst estimate beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 8.3% since reporting and currently trades at $195.06.

Read our full, actionable report on ITT 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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