Looking back on general industrial machinery stocks’ Q3 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including 3M (NYSE: MMM) and its peers.

Automation that increases efficiency and connected equipment that collects analyzable data have been trending, creating new demand for general industrial machinery companies. Those who innovate and create digitized solutions can spur sales and speed up replacement cycles, but all general industrial machinery companies are still 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 general industrial machinery stocks we track reported a favorable Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.6% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 2.6% below.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 7% on average since the latest earnings results.

3M (NYSE: MMM)

Producers of the first asthma inhaler, 3M Company (NYSE: MMM) is a global conglomerate known for products in industries like healthcare, safety, electronics, and consumer goods.

3M reported revenues of $6.58 billion, up 4.2% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, and overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with full-year EPS guidance beating analysts’ expectations but organic revenue in line with analysts’ estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 15.2% since reporting and currently trades at $186.58.

Is now the time to buy 3M? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q3: Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ: CMCO)

With 19 different brands across the globe, Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ: CMCO) offers material handling equipment for the construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries.

Columbus McKinnon reported revenues of $539.3 million, up 107% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 4%. The business had an impressive quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Columbus McKinnon achieved the fastest revenue growth of the whole group. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 11.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $17.63.

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

Slowest Q3: JBT Marel (NYSE: JBTM)

Tracing back to its invention of the mechanical milk bottle filler in 1884, JBT Marel (NYSE: JBTM) designs, manufactures, and sells equipment used for food processing and aviation.

JBT Marel reported revenues of $994 million, flat year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 3.3%. It was a softer quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance slightly missing analysts’ expectations.

JBT Marel delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates, slowest revenue growth, and weakest full-year guidance update in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 11.1% since the results and currently trades at $127.49.

Read our full analysis of JBT Marel’s results here.

Otis (NYSE: OTIS)

Credited with inventing the first hydraulic passenger elevator, Otis Worldwide (NYSE: OTIS) is an elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company.

Otis reported revenues of $3.91 billion, up 6.1% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. Aside from that, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates but full-year revenue guidance slightly missing analysts’ expectations.

The stock is up 5.8% since reporting and currently trades at $78.50.

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

Kadant (NYSE: KAI)

Headquartered in Massachusetts, Kadant (NYSE: KAI) is a global supplier of high-value, critical components and engineered systems used in process industries worldwide.

Kadant reported revenues of $313.2 million, up 15.3% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 3.6%. It was a favorable quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is up 5% since reporting and currently trades at $297.01.

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

Market update

Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.

Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.

By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.

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.