Crane Co Reports Q4 Earnings Beat Despite Weak Core Orders
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 26 2026
0mins
Should l Buy CR?
Source: seekingalpha
Crane Co's shares fell 8.53% as it hit a 5-day low amid broader market gains.
Despite reporting a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.53, exceeding expectations by $0.12, and a revenue of $581 million, a 6.8% year-over-year increase, the stock declined due to concerns over weak core orders, which only grew 2.4%. The company also initiated a cautious adjusted EPS outlook for 2026 at $6.55 to $6.75, reflecting limited upside potential without stronger order momentum. Additionally, a leadership transition was announced, with COO Alex Alcala set to become CEO in April.
The market reaction indicates that while the earnings report was strong, investor confidence is shaken by the sluggish demand signals, suggesting that Crane Co may face challenges in maintaining growth momentum moving forward.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy CR?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on CR
Wall Street analysts forecast CR stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CR is 218.75 USD with a low forecast of 200.00 USD and a high forecast of 235.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
4 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 196.220
Low
200.00
Averages
218.75
High
235.00
Current: 196.220
Low
200.00
Averages
218.75
High
235.00
About CR
Crane Company is a manufacturer of highly engineered components for mission-critical applications focused on aerospace, defense, space and process industry end markets. Its segments include Aerospace & Electronics and Process Flow Technologies. The Aerospace & Electronics segment supplies critical components and systems, including original equipment and aftermarket parts, primarily for commercial aerospace, and the military aerospace, defense and space markets. The Aerospace & Electronics segment’s products and services are organized into various integrated solutions, including sensing components & systems, electrical power solutions, fluid management solutions, landing & control systems, and microwave solutions. The Process Flow Technologies segment is a provider of highly engineered fluid handling equipment for mission critical applications that require high reliability. The segment is comprised of process valves and related products, commercial valves, and pumps and systems.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
NRG Energy Appoints Sanjay Kapoor to Board of Directors
- New Board Appointment: NRG Energy announced the appointment of Sanjay Kapoor to its Board of Directors effective February 3, 2026, enhancing the board's expertise in industrial, financial, and operational leadership, thereby improving corporate governance.
- Extensive Industry Experience: Kapoor brings over 30 years of financial and operational management experience, having served as Executive Vice President and CFO of Spirit AeroSystems, where he demonstrated exceptional judgment and leadership in overseeing complex public companies.
- Performance Enhancement Contribution: During his tenure at Raytheon, Kapoor led the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Systems, successfully doubling the company's revenue in his last three years, showcasing his capability in driving business growth.
- Diverse Board Composition: Kapoor's addition increases NRG's Board to 11 members, further strengthening the company's leadership in electricity, natural gas, and smart home solutions, enabling better service for its 8 million customers.
See More
Crane Company Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights
- Performance Growth: Crane Company achieved a 5.4% core sales growth in Q4 2025, reflecting strong performance in the Aerospace & Advanced Technologies segment, with adjusted operating profit rising 16%, indicating positive impacts from productivity improvements and favorable pricing.
- Acquisition Integration: The company closed acquisitions of Druck, Panametrics, and Reuter-Stokes, with the latter doubling the size of its nuclear business, expected to provide slight accretion to 2026 earnings and enhance market competitiveness.
- Future Outlook: Management projects adjusted EPS for 2026 to be between $6.55 and $6.75, representing approximately 10% growth, although they maintain a cautious view on demand for Process Flow Technologies, expecting core sales growth to remain in low single digits.
- Leadership Transition: Crane announced a CEO succession plan with Alex Alcala set to take over on April 27, 2026, marking a significant strategic shift aimed at sustaining long-term value creation and effective execution of corporate strategies.
See More
Crane Company Announces 10.9% Increase in Quarterly Dividend
- Dividend Increase: Crane Company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.255 per share, marking a 10.9% increase from the previous $0.230, demonstrating the company's commitment to shareholder returns amid current economic conditions.
- Yield Context: The forward yield stands at 0.49%, which, while relatively low, reflects the company's ongoing efforts to provide dividends, potentially attracting income-seeking investors looking for stability.
- Payment Details: The dividend is payable on March 11, with a record date of February 27 and an ex-dividend date also on February 27, ensuring shareholders receive their returns promptly and bolstering investor confidence.
- Market Reaction: Despite the dividend increase, Crane's shares dipped in after-hours trading, primarily due to sluggish orders impacting Q4 results, indicating market concerns regarding the company's future growth prospects.
See More
Crane Company Q4 2023 Earnings Beat Expectations
- Earnings Beat: Crane Company's Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.53 exceeded expectations by $0.12, indicating significant improvements in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Revenue Growth: The company reported Q4 revenue of $581 million, a 6.8% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $9.01 million, demonstrating strong performance amid recovering market demand.
- Future Outlook: Crane initiated its adjusted EPS outlook for 2026 at $6.55 to $6.75, reflecting a 10% growth at the midpoint compared to 2025, showcasing management's confidence in future performance.
- Accounting Adjustments Impact: The outlook excludes after-tax acquisition-related intangible amortization and hurricane-related insurance recoveries in 2025, ensuring comparability of performance data and enhancing investor confidence in the company's financial health.
See More
Crane Reports Q4 Results Exceeding Expectations Amid Cautionary Signals
- Earnings Beat: Crane reported adjusted earnings of $1.53 per share for Q4, surpassing Wall Street's expectation of $1.41, with revenue reaching $581 million, exceeding analyst forecasts of $572 million, indicating robust performance in core operations.
- Weak Core Orders: Despite a 6.8% year-over-year sales increase, core orders grew only 2.4%, with the process flow technologies segment experiencing a 1.5% decline in core sales, suggesting sluggish market demand that may impact future performance.
- Cautious 2026 Outlook: The company initiated adjusted earnings guidance for 2026 at $6.55 to $6.75 per share, reflecting about 10% growth, but closely aligns with Wall Street's estimate of $6.67, indicating limited upside without stronger order momentum or faster synergy realization.
- Leadership Transition: Crane announced a leadership change, with current COO Alex Alcala set to become CEO on April 27, while current CEO Max Mitchell transitions to executive chairman, aimed at ensuring continuity in the company's strategic execution.
See More
U.S. Stocks Face Second Week of Losses, Nasdaq Dips 0.1%
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 index barely rose 0.03% this week but fell 0.4% overall, indicating investors' insufficient capacity to digest geopolitical news, leaving market sentiment unsettled.
- Natural Gas Surge: Natural gas futures spiked 75% over five trading days due to Winter Storm Fern, reflecting the impact of extreme weather on energy demand and potentially raising profit expectations for related companies.
- Dollar Depreciation Trend: Over the past five days, the EUR/USD rose nearly 2%, while the dollar fell over 2.7% against the Swiss franc, indicating a shift in investor sentiment away from the dollar, which may affect future forex market dynamics.
- Fed Policy Expectations: The market widely anticipates that the Federal Reserve will maintain interest rates in the 3.5%-3.75% range at next week's meeting, with investors closely watching Trump's nomination for the new Fed chair, which could influence future monetary policy direction.
See More
NRG Energy Appoints Sanjay Kapoor to Board of Directors
- New Board Appointment: NRG Energy announced the appointment of Sanjay Kapoor to its Board of Directors effective February 3, 2026, enhancing the board's expertise in industrial, financial, and operational leadership, thereby improving corporate governance.
- Extensive Industry Experience: Kapoor brings over 30 years of financial and operational management experience, having served as Executive Vice President and CFO of Spirit AeroSystems, where he demonstrated exceptional judgment and leadership in overseeing complex public companies.
- Performance Enhancement Contribution: During his tenure at Raytheon, Kapoor led the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Systems, successfully doubling the company's revenue in his last three years, showcasing his capability in driving business growth.
- Diverse Board Composition: Kapoor's addition increases NRG's Board to 11 members, further strengthening the company's leadership in electricity, natural gas, and smart home solutions, enabling better service for its 8 million customers.
See More
Crane Company Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights
- Performance Growth: Crane Company achieved a 5.4% core sales growth in Q4 2025, reflecting strong performance in the Aerospace & Advanced Technologies segment, with adjusted operating profit rising 16%, indicating positive impacts from productivity improvements and favorable pricing.
- Acquisition Integration: The company closed acquisitions of Druck, Panametrics, and Reuter-Stokes, with the latter doubling the size of its nuclear business, expected to provide slight accretion to 2026 earnings and enhance market competitiveness.
- Future Outlook: Management projects adjusted EPS for 2026 to be between $6.55 and $6.75, representing approximately 10% growth, although they maintain a cautious view on demand for Process Flow Technologies, expecting core sales growth to remain in low single digits.
- Leadership Transition: Crane announced a CEO succession plan with Alex Alcala set to take over on April 27, 2026, marking a significant strategic shift aimed at sustaining long-term value creation and effective execution of corporate strategies.
See More
Crane Company Announces 10.9% Increase in Quarterly Dividend
- Dividend Increase: Crane Company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.255 per share, marking a 10.9% increase from the previous $0.230, demonstrating the company's commitment to shareholder returns amid current economic conditions.
- Yield Context: The forward yield stands at 0.49%, which, while relatively low, reflects the company's ongoing efforts to provide dividends, potentially attracting income-seeking investors looking for stability.
- Payment Details: The dividend is payable on March 11, with a record date of February 27 and an ex-dividend date also on February 27, ensuring shareholders receive their returns promptly and bolstering investor confidence.
- Market Reaction: Despite the dividend increase, Crane's shares dipped in after-hours trading, primarily due to sluggish orders impacting Q4 results, indicating market concerns regarding the company's future growth prospects.
See More
Crane Company Q4 2023 Earnings Beat Expectations
- Earnings Beat: Crane Company's Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.53 exceeded expectations by $0.12, indicating significant improvements in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Revenue Growth: The company reported Q4 revenue of $581 million, a 6.8% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $9.01 million, demonstrating strong performance amid recovering market demand.
- Future Outlook: Crane initiated its adjusted EPS outlook for 2026 at $6.55 to $6.75, reflecting a 10% growth at the midpoint compared to 2025, showcasing management's confidence in future performance.
- Accounting Adjustments Impact: The outlook excludes after-tax acquisition-related intangible amortization and hurricane-related insurance recoveries in 2025, ensuring comparability of performance data and enhancing investor confidence in the company's financial health.
See More
Crane Reports Q4 Results Exceeding Expectations Amid Cautionary Signals
- Earnings Beat: Crane reported adjusted earnings of $1.53 per share for Q4, surpassing Wall Street's expectation of $1.41, with revenue reaching $581 million, exceeding analyst forecasts of $572 million, indicating robust performance in core operations.
- Weak Core Orders: Despite a 6.8% year-over-year sales increase, core orders grew only 2.4%, with the process flow technologies segment experiencing a 1.5% decline in core sales, suggesting sluggish market demand that may impact future performance.
- Cautious 2026 Outlook: The company initiated adjusted earnings guidance for 2026 at $6.55 to $6.75 per share, reflecting about 10% growth, but closely aligns with Wall Street's estimate of $6.67, indicating limited upside without stronger order momentum or faster synergy realization.
- Leadership Transition: Crane announced a leadership change, with current COO Alex Alcala set to become CEO on April 27, while current CEO Max Mitchell transitions to executive chairman, aimed at ensuring continuity in the company's strategic execution.
See More
U.S. Stocks Face Second Week of Losses, Nasdaq Dips 0.1%
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 index barely rose 0.03% this week but fell 0.4% overall, indicating investors' insufficient capacity to digest geopolitical news, leaving market sentiment unsettled.
- Natural Gas Surge: Natural gas futures spiked 75% over five trading days due to Winter Storm Fern, reflecting the impact of extreme weather on energy demand and potentially raising profit expectations for related companies.
- Dollar Depreciation Trend: Over the past five days, the EUR/USD rose nearly 2%, while the dollar fell over 2.7% against the Swiss franc, indicating a shift in investor sentiment away from the dollar, which may affect future forex market dynamics.
- Fed Policy Expectations: The market widely anticipates that the Federal Reserve will maintain interest rates in the 3.5%-3.75% range at next week's meeting, with investors closely watching Trump's nomination for the new Fed chair, which could influence future monetary policy direction.
See More
