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 Hudson Technologies (NASDAQ: HDSN) and the best and worst performers in the specialty equipment distributors industry.

Historically, specialty equipment distributors have boasted deep selection and expertise in sometimes narrow areas like single-use packaging or unique lighting equipment. Additionally, the industry has evolved to include more automated industrial equipment and machinery over the last decade, driving efficiencies and enabling valuable data collection. Specialty equipment distributors whose offerings keep up with these trends can take share in a still-fragmented market, but like the broader industrials sector, this space is at the whim of economic cycles that impact the capital spending and manufacturing propelling industry volumes.

The 8 specialty equipment distributors stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.4% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 2.2% on average since the latest earnings results.

Hudson Technologies (NASDAQ: HDSN)

Founded in 1991, Hudson Technologies (NASDAQ: HDSN) specializes in refrigerant services and solutions, providing refrigerant sales, reclamation, and recycling.

Hudson Technologies reported revenues of $44.41 million, up 28.2% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 16.5%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Kenneth Gaglione, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hudson Technologies commented, “Hudson delivered a strong finish to 2025 with fourth quarter results that included revenue growth of 28% and the successful execution of our accretive acquisition of Refrigerants Inc.

Hudson Technologies scored the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Still, the market seems discontent with the results. The stock is down 13.9% since reporting and currently trades at $6.42.

Read our full report on Hudson Technologies here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Richardson Electronics (NASDAQ: RELL)

Founded in 1947, Richardson Electronics (NASDAQ: RELL) is a distributor of power grid and microwave tubes as well as consumables related to those products.

Richardson Electronics reported revenues of $55.47 million, up 3.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 4.4%. 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 13.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $13.66.

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

Weakest Q4: Herc (NYSE: HRI)

Formerly a subsidiary of Hertz Corporation and with a logo that still bears some similarities to its former parent, Herc Holdings (NYSE: HRI) provides equipment rental and related services to a wide range of industries.

Herc reported revenues of $1.21 billion, up 27.1% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 3.8%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted full-year revenue and EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly.

Herc delivered the weakest full-year guidance update in the group. As expected, the stock is down 36.4% since the results and currently trades at $110.78.

Read our full analysis of Herc’s results here.

Alta (NYSE: ALTG)

Founded in 1984, Alta Equipment Group (NYSE: ALTG) is a provider of industrial and construction equipment and services across the Midwest and Northeast United States.

Alta reported revenues of $509.1 million, up 2.2% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 3.1%. Zooming out, it was a slower quarter as it produced a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is up 7.8% since reporting and currently trades at $7.01.

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

SiteOne (NYSE: SITE)

Known for distributing John Deere tractors and LESCO turf care products, SiteOne Landscape Supply (NYSE: SITE) provides landscaping products and services to professionals, including irrigation, lighting, and nursery supplies.

SiteOne reported revenues of $1.05 billion, up 3.2% year on year. This result came in 0.9% below analysts' expectations. Taking a step back, it was still a strong quarter as it put up a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is down 3% since reporting and currently trades at $144.36.

Read our full, actionable report on SiteOne 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 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.