Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR) and the best and worst performers in the gas and liquid handling industry.

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.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 7% since the latest earnings results.

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR)

Started with the invention of the steam drill, Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR) provides mission-critical air, gas, liquid, and solid flow creation solutions.

Ingersoll Rand reported revenues of $1.85 billion, up 7.6% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

“We began 2026 with solid momentum, delivering high single-digit Adjusted EPS1 growth and meeting our expectations for revenue and Adjusted EBITDA1,” said Vicente Reynal, chairman and chief executive officer of Ingersoll Rand.

The stock is down 13.6% since reporting and currently trades at $70.14.

Is now the time to buy Ingersoll Rand? 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 and EBITDA estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 10.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $73.33.

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 and adjusted operating income estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 11.5% since the results and currently trades at $75.73.

Read our full analysis of Graco’s results here.

Atmus Filtration Technologies (NYSE: ATMU)

Spun out of Cummins in 2023 after 65 years as part of the engine maker, Atmus Filtration Technologies (NYSE: ATMU) manufactures filters for trucks, construction equipment, and agriculture machinery to reduce emissions and protect engines.

Atmus Filtration Technologies reported revenues of $477.5 million, up 14.6% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 1.6%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is down 18.6% since reporting and currently trades at $51.64.

Read our full, actionable report on Atmus Filtration Technologies 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 recorded a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

ITT scored the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 10.1% since reporting and currently trades at $191.14.

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.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.