Stanley Black & Decker Inc

Stanley Black & Decker has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Excel Industries, the unit that includes the Hustler Turf Equipment brand, to Bad Boy Mowers. Excel Industries is expected to generate approximately $300 million of fiscal 2026 revenue, though the purchase price and expected proceeds were not disclosed. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, and until closing Excel Industries will remain in continuing operations rather than being classified as a discontinued operation. Stanley Black & Decker said it does not expect the deal to dilute adjusted EPS, a company-defined non-GAAP measure that excludes certain gains and charges including divestiture-related items, restructuring, footprint actions, and gains or losses on business sales. The sale advances the company's portfolio-simplification strategy, following the second-quarter sale of Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing that reduced debt by $1.7 billion, and Stanley Black & Decker acquired Excel Industries for approximately $373.7 million, net of cash acquired, in November 2021. The company plans to keep investing in its Outdoor business, with a remaining portfolio that includes DEWALT, CRAFTSMAN, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt and BLACK+DECKER.

Stanley Black & Decker reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.57 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.20 by 30.8% and up from $1.08 a year ago, while net sales of $3.96 billion edged past expectations and rose 0.4% year over year. The company raised its full-year 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to $5.20-$5.80 per share from $4.90-$5.70 and lifted its free cash flow forecast to $600-$800 million from $500-$700 million, citing tariff refunds and productivity gains. Within its segments, Tools & Outdoor revenues grew 3% to $3.56 billion, while Engineered Fastening revenues fell 18% to $396.4 million due to the divestiture of the Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing business, though organic revenues rose 3% excluding that impact. Gross margin expanded 600 basis points to 33.0%, and adjusted EBITDA jumped 40.1% to $445.7 million, with free cash flow surging to $698.2 million from $134.7 million. The company also repurchased about $250 million of shares and paid $124.3 million in dividends during the quarter.

Stanley Black & Decker announced plans to invest US$1.00 billion in the U.S. through 2028, splitting funds between research and development for next-generation tools and strengthening domestic manufacturing, while also committing US$60.00 million to its DEWALT Grow the Trades workforce training initiative through 2030. The investment supports the innovation and manufacturing side of the company's narrative, but does not remove near-term risk of flat organic revenue and pressure in big retail channels. The company completed a multi-year cost reduction program in late 2025, delivering US$2.10 billion in pre-tax run-rate savings. Stanley Black & Decker's narrative projects $16.4 billion revenue and $1.1 billion earnings by 2029, requiring 2.5% yearly revenue growth and about a $479.5 million earnings increase from $620.5 million today.

Stanley Black & Decker's Engineered Fastening segment posted 3% organic revenue growth in the second quarter of 2026, driven by strength in automotive and industrial markets. The automotive market generated 2% organic growth on healthy global fastener system sales, while the industrial market grew 7% year over year. For 2026, the company expects segment revenues to grow in the low-to-mid single-digit range, supported by volume leverage and operational improvements. SWK completed its multi-year global cost-reduction program in the fourth quarter of 2025, achieving roughly $2.1 billion in pre-tax run-rate savings, including $120 million in incremental savings in that quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SWK's 2026 earnings has increased 4.3% over the past 60 days, and the stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Stanley Black & Decker has raised its dividend for 58 consecutive years, putting it one increase away from Dividend King status. The latest hike took the quarterly payout to $0.84 per share, or $3.36 annually. In the second quarter of 2026, sales reached $4 billion, organic revenue increased 3%, gross margin rose to 33% from 27%, and the company generated $763 million in operating cash flow. Management raised its 2026 outlook to adjusted EPS of $5.20 to $5.80 and free cash flow of $600 million to $800 million. The company paid down $1.7 billion of debt during the quarter and spent $250 million on stock buybacks.

Professional tools and equipment stocks reported a very strong second quarter, with the eight companies tracked beating analysts' revenue consensus estimates by 1.8% and next quarter's revenue guidance coming in 14.3% above expectations. Stanley Black & Decker reported revenues of $3.96 billion, flat year over year and in line with expectations, while beating EPS and EBITDA estimates. Kennametal delivered the fastest revenue growth, up 42.6% year over year to $736.6 million, and raised full-year guidance the most. Lincoln Electric posted revenues of $1.22 billion, up 12% year over year, but missed organic revenue estimates. Hyster-Yale Materials Handling saw revenues decline 15% year over year to $812.9 million, the slowest growth among peers, while Hillman grew revenues 9.8% to $442.3 million and beat full-year revenue and EBITDA guidance.

Five Dividend Aristocrats posted better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and raised full-year guidance, according to 24/7 Wall St. American States Water crushed Q2 estimates and rewarded shareholders with an 8% dividend hike, extending its 70-year streak of consecutive increases. Coca-Cola reported $13.37 billion in revenue and $0.97 in comparable EPS, beating consensus and raising its full-year earnings growth forecast to 8% to 9%. Dover's adjusted EPS climbed 12% to $2.74, and the company raised full-year guidance for both organic revenue and adjusted earnings. Federal Realty Investment Trust posted a 96% occupancy rate and extended its record 59-year streak of annual dividend increases. Stanley Black & Decker delivered a massive earnings beat, reporting $1.57 adjusted EPS versus the $1.21 consensus.

DEWALT announced a major expansion of its cordless carpentry lineup with new tools engineered for professional carpenters, remodelers, and general contractors. The new offerings include a 20V MAX XR 6-1/2 inch Plunge Track Saw, 5-inch and 6-inch Random Orbital Sanders, an Oscillating Multi-Tool, a 16GA Straight Finish Nailer, and an 18GA Brad Nailer. The 5-inch sander offers the best control with fastest material removal in its class, while the 6-inch model provides the fastest material removal with lowest vibration among cordless 6-inch random orbit sanders. The Oscillating Multi-Tool delivers the fastest cutting speed with lowest vibration versus leading competitors, and the 16GA Straight Finish Nailer is DEWALT's most compact 20V MAX 16GA straight finish nailer, capable of driving up to five nails per second. All products are now available where DEWALT products are sold.

Stanley Black & Decker reported second-quarter earnings that surpassed analyst expectations and raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance. Revenue was flat year over year at $3.96 billion, meeting Wall Street estimates, while adjusted EPS of $1.57 beat the consensus of $1.21 by 29.9%. Adjusted EBITDA reached $466.4 million, exceeding the $414.8 million estimate, and operating margin expanded to 9% from 4.9% a year ago. Organic revenue rose 3%, driven by an 8% increase in power tools and positive growth across the DEWALT, STANLEY, and CRAFTSMAN brands. Management attributed the margin improvement to productivity gains, favorable product mix, and tariff refunds that added approximately 250 basis points to adjusted gross margin. The company raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $5.50 at the midpoint, a 3.8% increase, and plans to accelerate investments in brand activation and product innovation using the tariff-related funds.

Stanley Black & Decker announced that its Board of Directors approved a $0.01 increase in its quarterly cash dividend, bringing it to $0.84 per common share. The dividend is payable on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The company, a global leader in tools and outdoor solutions, employs approximately 43,500 people and owns brands including DEWALT, CRAFTSMAN, STANLEY, BLACK+DECKER, and Cub Cadet.

Bank of America says the Federal Reserve should start raising interest rates soon because underlying inflation remains meaningfully above the 2% target. The bank's Global Research Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that even after excluding temporary factors, core PCE inflation would still be 2.5%, little changed from a year ago. The team argues that persistently elevated core inflation and a stable labor market call for tighter monetary policy rather than an extended pause. The report highlights four dividend-paying stocks that could benefit if rates rise: U.S. Bancorp in financials, Enterprise Products Partners in energy, Bristol Myers Squibb in healthcare, and Stanley Black & Decker in industrials.

Stanley Black & Decker reported 31% organic growth in its aerospace business during the first quarter of 2026, driving a 7% organic revenue increase in its Engineered Fastening segment. The company completed the sale of its Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing business to Howmet Aerospace for $1.8 billion, generating approximately $1.57 billion in net proceeds used to reduce debt. Stanley Black also approved a new $500 million share repurchase program and paid $126 million in dividends. However, soft retail demand for power tools and a highly leveraged balance sheet with $4.7 billion in long-term debt remain concerns.

Professional tools and equipment stocks delivered a strong first quarter, with the 10 companies tracked by this publication collectively beating revenue estimates by 1.9% and issuing next-quarter guidance 1% above expectations. Nordson reported revenues of $740.8 million, up 8.5% year on year and exceeding estimates by 1.8%, while achieving the highest guidance raise among its peers despite a significant miss on organic revenue estimates. Kennametal posted the fastest revenue growth, with sales of $592.6 million up 21.8% year on year and beating estimates by 4.8%, though its stock fell 6.5% after the results. Stanley Black & Decker topped expectations with revenues of $3.85 billion, up 2.7% year on year, and its shares rose 18.5%. Hillman was the weakest performer, with revenues of $370.1 million missing estimates by 0.7% and its stock declining 3.8%.