CARR Q1 Earnings Call: Management Prioritizes Product Innovation, Cost Controls, and Tariff Mitigation

Yahoo

15-05-2025

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration company Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales fell by 3.7% year on year to $5.22 billion. The company's full-year revenue guidance of $23 billion at the midpoint came in 1.5% above analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.65 per share was 10.9% above analysts' consensus estimates.
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Revenue: $5.22 billion vs analyst estimates of $5.2 billion (3.7% year-on-year decline, in line)
Adjusted EPS: $0.65 vs analyst estimates of $0.58 (10.9% beat)
Adjusted EBITDA: $1.15 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.06 billion (22% margin, 7.7% beat)
The company lifted its revenue guidance for the full year to $23 billion at the midpoint from $22.75 billion, a 1.1% increase
Management raised its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $3.05 at the midpoint, a 1.7% increase
Operating Margin: 12.1%, up from 7.1% in the same quarter last year
Free Cash Flow was $420 million, up from -$64 million in the same quarter last year
Organic Revenue rose 1.6% year on year, in line with the same quarter last year
Market Capitalization: $64 billion
Carrier Global's first quarter results reflected a combination of steady demand in core markets and management's focus on pricing actions, product mix benefits, and operational discipline. CEO David Gitlin emphasized the momentum in the Climate Solutions Americas segment, particularly in residential and commercial HVAC, along with notable progress in digital solutions and data center cooling. The quarter also saw continued growth in aftermarket services and new product introductions, offsetting softness in certain regional segments such as Asia and light commercial.
Looking ahead, management raised revenue and adjusted earnings guidance for the year, citing effective tariff mitigation, increased productivity, and strong order backlogs. Gitlin stated that tariff-related headwinds would be offset by a mix of supply chain actions and pricing, while strategic investments in heat pump technology and partnerships, such as with Google for grid resilience, are expected to support growth. CFO Patrick Goris highlighted that cost containment and operating margin expansion remain key levers for achieving higher profit targets in a dynamic macro environment.
Carrier's leadership attributed the quarter's results to product differentiation, aftermarket expansion, and successful execution of tariff mitigation strategies. Strategic partnerships and targeted investments in technology underpin the company's focus on margin growth and resilience against external pressures.
Residential and Commercial Strength: Climate Solutions Americas saw about 20% sales growth in both residential and commercial HVAC, supported by regulatory mix benefits and new product launches, especially those leveraging low-global-warming-potential refrigerants like 454B.
Aftermarket Momentum: The company's global aftermarket business grew at a double-digit pace, with attachment rates for service agreements on commercial chillers surpassing 60%, reflecting success in upselling value-added services.
Tariff Mitigation Actions: Management reported that nearly all tariff exposure was neutralized through supply chain adjustments and productivity, with the remaining cost offset by pricing increases, particularly in the Americas segment.
European Heat Pump Demand: Orders for heat pumps in Germany reached their highest first-quarter level in five years, driven by government subsidies and policy support for electrification, helping offset declines in legacy boiler sales.
Strategic Partnerships and Digital Solutions: Carrier introduced a partnership with Google to integrate its home energy management systems with Google's AI and cloud analytics, aiming to improve grid efficiency and provide smarter energy solutions for customers.
Carrier management expects mid-single-digit organic sales growth and continued margin improvement in the year ahead, driven by ongoing investments in differentiated products, digital solutions, and disciplined cost management.
Product and Technology Investments: Expansion in data center cooling and launch of new heat pump products are expected to drive market share gains, particularly in Europe and the Americas.
Tariff and Cost Management: The company's ability to offset tariff costs through supply chain actions and price increases is critical for maintaining operating margins, but continued volatility in input costs and trade policy remains a risk.
Aftermarket and Service Expansion: Growth in aftermarket services, including higher attachment rates for service agreements and digital monitoring solutions, is intended to provide a recurring revenue stream and support overall profitability.
Nigel Coe (Wolfe Research): Asked about the drivers and sustainability of mid-single-digit growth across segments; management pointed to strong Americas performance and tariff-related pricing, but flagged ongoing softness in light commercial and Asia.
Julian Mitchell (Barclays): Queried margin progression in the Americas; CFO Patrick Goris explained seasonal improvements in Q2 and Q3, with second-half headwinds from tariffs and lower residential volumes.
Andy Kaplowitz (Citigroup): Sought details on Viessmann's outlook and European margin recovery; management expects flat volumes but better product mix due to heat pump adoption, and sees margins rising to low-to-mid teens in coming years.
Joe Ritchie (Goldman Sachs): Inquired about distributor inventory levels and the impact of refrigerant transition; CEO Gitlin noted elevated inventories and emphasized careful channel management to avoid second-half risk.
Tommy Moll (Stephens): Requested specifics on the Google partnership and its monetization potential; management described early-stage projects focused on grid demand response and digital integration, with commercial details to be developed.
In upcoming quarters, the StockStory team will watch (1) the progression of heat pump adoption and related European policy updates, (2) execution on data center cooling and digital product rollouts, and (3) the effectiveness of tariff mitigation and pricing strategies as trade dynamics evolve. Monitoring order backlog conversion and the impact of strategic partnerships, such as the Google collaboration, will also be essential for assessing Carrier's path to sustained growth.
Carrier Global currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 23.9×. Should you load up, cash out, or stay put? Find out in our free research report.
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