How a 50% duty on semifinished copper drifts past consumers and lands squarely on coil makers, lineset extruders, and the distributors who serve them. The drama that wasn’t, at least for homeowners When the White House dropped its Section 232 tariff proclamation on July 31, slapping a 50% duty on copper pipe, tube, wire, rod, and sheet effective August 1, it sounded dire … [Read more...] about Copper Tariffs: Minor Home-Buyer Bump, Major OEM Headache
Industry Insights
Pentagon Pricing Series – A Pricing Reset is the Most High-Risk and High-Reward Activity in B2B Distribution
As a former pricing leader for three billion-dollar distributors in North America, I can share from experience that a major pricing reset is simultaneously a dangerous activity, yet when done right, the best driver of top-line sales growth in this industry. Earlier this year, I wrote a Case Study for Modern Distribution Management (MDM) on the pricing reset MSC … [Read more...] about Pentagon Pricing Series – A Pricing Reset is the Most High-Risk and High-Reward Activity in B2B Distribution
EARNINGS Analysis: WATSCO Q2 2025 results some headwinds and tailwinds
A slow Q2 for the largest HVAC distributor, Watsco, but record gross profits and climbing GM% helped offset some of the headwinds. Watsco – Watsco, headquartered in Miami, Florida, is the largest distributor in the North American market for HVAC products, with over 375,000 contractors, technicians, and installers visiting or calling one of its 701 locations each year, … [Read more...] about EARNINGS Analysis: WATSCO Q2 2025 results some headwinds and tailwinds
Wholesale HVAC Equipment Costs Just Jumped
Prices are moving again. Quietly, but steadily. The Producer Price Index for HVAC equipment has ticked up for eleven months in a row. It’s not necessarily making headlines, but it’s worth your attention. Undoubtedly, you’ve already raised prices due to tariffs or manufacturer increases, but are you sure you’re keeping pace? Every month, something is going up. Are you … [Read more...] about Wholesale HVAC Equipment Costs Just Jumped
Masco Q2 Earnings: Plumbing Holds Strong as Paint Softens What It Signals for Residential HVAC
Masco’s Q2 2025 earnings report was a study in contrasts. For those of us watching the residential HVAC space, it offered a few clear signals. Headline numbers: Adjusted gross margin improved to 37.7%, up 10 basis points. Revenue was $2.05 billion, down 2% year-over-year. Adjusted for currency and divestitures, it was flat. Adjusted operating margin rose to … [Read more...] about Masco Q2 Earnings: Plumbing Holds Strong as Paint Softens What It Signals for Residential HVAC
Honeywell Q2 2025 results beat revenue forecasts
Honeywell – Honeywell, the multinational conglomerate known for its building technologies, aerospace systems, materials, and safety and productivity solutions, reported Q2 CY2025 results on July 24. Honeywell topped revenue expectations, with sales up 8.1% year-over-year, achieving $10.35 billion. The company raised full-year revenue guidance to $40.8 billion. Operating … [Read more...] about Honeywell Q2 2025 results beat revenue forecasts
Lennox Q2 2025 Results Deep Dive – HVACR Trends
We’re taking a deep dive on the latest earnings results from HVAC manufacturer Lennox in this column. There was little discussion on tariffs, with Lennox baking tariffs into their 2H 2025 guidance and stating that the tariff impact is expected to be half of what it looked like in 1Q, which was $50 million. A substantial portion of the surcharges from April tariffs were … [Read more...] about Lennox Q2 2025 Results Deep Dive – HVACR Trends
Talent Isn’t a Trait. It’s a Trajectory.
If you were to ask ten people what “entrepreneurial talent” looks like, there is a very good chance that you’d get ten different answers. Some focus on mindset, others on past results. Some consider traits like curiosity and drive. Dr. Jeff Magee’s “Player Capability Index” takes a structured run at defining entrepreneurial talent by mixing elements of motivation, personal … [Read more...] about Talent Isn’t a Trait. It’s a Trajectory.
Pentagon Pricing Series – Part 1 – Sell Side Pricing
For the past number of months, David Gordon and I have been talking non-stop about pricing and have been busy helping many distributors and manufacturers with their "buy side" and "sell side" programs. As a former pricing leader for two of the largest distributors in North America, I have been remiss in writing as much as we should about buy-side and sell-side pricing. So, … [Read more...] about Pentagon Pricing Series – Part 1 – Sell Side Pricing
Mingledorffs Podcast delivers insight into HVACR opportunities
Last year, I started a series on Mingledorff's after following their content and meeting the team in person at one of their Atlanta locations. I follow the Mingledorff's podcast - Caffeine and Coils hosted by Jenny Brown and Deanna Lassiter as it is one of the only HVACR Distributor podcasts in the channel; … [Read more...] about Mingledorffs Podcast delivers insight into HVACR opportunities
