Ferguson Enterprises released Q1 2026 results this week, and the read for the HVACR channel is more interesting than the headline beat suggests. The Ferguson HVAC strategy is performing in a mixed environment. Residential demand is weak. Nonresidential is strong. Data centers continue to drive specialty growth. Pricing is firming up faster than the company's own guidance … [Read more...] about Ferguson HVAC Strategy and the Q1 2026 Channel Read
HVAC distribution
HVAC Market Stabilization: Watsco’s Q1 Signals
Watsco's first-quarter 2026 results point to early HVAC market stabilization after two years of post-spike turbulence, even as unit volumes remain soft and macro pressures keep the recovery uneven. The largest HVAC distributor in North America reported flat revenue at $1.53 billion, with a 2% gain in the US offset by an 11% decline internationally. Gross margin held at 27.9%, … [Read more...] about HVAC Market Stabilization: Watsco’s Q1 Signals
Mingledorff’s Sale: HVAC Distribution Consolidation Risks
Announced earlier this week, the acquisition of Mingledorff’s by The Home Depot via its SRS Distribution platform is another step in HVAC distribution consolidation, and a significant one. This is not just another deal. It signals a structural shift in how the channel may function going forward. The strategic rationale is straightforward: greater scale, expanded “Pro” reach, … [Read more...] about Mingledorff’s Sale: HVAC Distribution Consolidation Risks
Watsco Q4 Earnings Miss Masks a Bigger Story
Watsco Q4 earnings tell two stories, and neither one cancels the other out. On the surface, Watsco Q4 earnings paint a rough picture. Revenue fell 10%. HVAC equipment sales dropped 13%. Earnings per share declined 29%. When you back out the 11% domestic pricing increase, implied equipment volumes were down more than 20%. That is not a soft patch. But Watsco's own framing … [Read more...] about Watsco Q4 Earnings Miss Masks a Bigger Story
AI for HVAC Distributors: A Practical Field Guide from Pilot to Profit
For HVAC-R distributors dealing with margin pressure, labor constraints, and increasingly complex quoting environments, AI is rapidly moving from curiosity to operational necessity. After nearly a year of research, interviews, and vendor evaluations, I am pleased to announce the release of The AI-Enabled Distributor: From Pilot to Profit: A Field Guide written specifically for … [Read more...] about AI for HVAC Distributors: A Practical Field Guide from Pilot to Profit
New York HVAC Refrigerant Rules Are Triggering Supply Chain Alarm
For much of the HVAC industry, New York HVAC refrigerant rules have hovered in an uncomfortable middle ground for several years. Not hypothetical, but not yet fully operational. Something people flagged in conference hallways, side conversations, and breakout sessions, including more than a few discussions at last year’s HARDI conference, but rarely addressed head-on. That … [Read more...] about New York HVAC Refrigerant Rules Are Triggering Supply Chain Alarm
A Conversation with Richard Boothman, North American Sales Director for Modine Manufacturing
Richard Boothman serves as North American Sales Director for Modine Manufacturing's Heating Division, where he is responsible for commercial strategy, sales, channel relationships, and market development across the company’s heating vertical within the Climate Solutions portfolio. He has spent decades in HVAC, with experience spanning unitary equipment, engineered systems, and … [Read more...] about A Conversation with Richard Boothman, North American Sales Director for Modine Manufacturing
