Acuity (AYI)
Market Price (7/24/2026): $326.98 | Market Cap: $10.0 BilSector: Industrials | Industry: Electrical Components & Equipment
Acuity (AYI)
Market Price (7/24/2026): $326.98Market Cap: $10.0 BilSector: IndustrialsIndustry: Electrical Components & Equipment
Investment Highlights Why It Matters Detailed financial logic regarding cash flow yields vs trend-riding momentum.
Strong revenue growthRev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 16% Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 14%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 12% Attractive yieldFCF Yield is 5.6% Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 38% Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Smart Buildings & Proptech, and Sustainable & Green Buildings. Themes include IoT for Buildings, Building Management Systems, Show more. | Key risksAYI key risks include [1] its struggle to achieve consistent long-term revenue growth, Show more. |
| Strong revenue growthRev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 16% |
| Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 14%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 12% |
| Attractive yieldFCF Yield is 5.6% |
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 38% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Smart Buildings & Proptech, and Sustainable & Green Buildings. Themes include IoT for Buildings, Building Management Systems, Show more. |
| Key risksAYI key risks include [1] its struggle to achieve consistent long-term revenue growth, Show more. |
Qualitative Assessment
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Acuity (AYI) stock has gained about 15% since 3/31/2026 because of the following key factors:
1. Acuity Brands (AYI) reported strong fiscal Q3 2026 results on June 25, 2026, significantly beating analyst expectations on both earnings and revenue, which directly triggered the stock's approximately 20% surge.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the fiscal quarter ending May 31, 2026, reached $5.31, surpassing consensus estimates by $0.12 and increasing 3.7% year-over-year. Concurrently, net sales grew by 1.6% to $1.2 billion, exceeding analyst forecasts by $20 million. This performance was coupled with an increase in operating profit by 38.3% to $193.3 million.
2. The Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS) segment demonstrated exceptional growth, serving as a key driver for the overall positive financial results.
In fiscal Q3 2026, the AIS segment's net sales jumped by 14.9% year-over-year to $303.5 million. The segment's operating profit saw an impressive increase of 106.2% to $56.5 million, with its operating profit margin expanding by 820 basis points to 18.6% of net sales. Management highlighted strong demand in Distech and QSC, specifically identifying data centers as a growing and predictable revenue stream, which resonated positively with investors.
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Acuity (AYI) stock has gained about 15% since 3/31/2026 because of the following key factors:
1. Acuity Brands (AYI) reported strong fiscal Q3 2026 results on June 25, 2026, significantly beating analyst expectations on both earnings and revenue, which directly triggered the stock's approximately 20% surge.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the fiscal quarter ending May 31, 2026, reached $5.31, surpassing consensus estimates by $0.12 and increasing 3.7% year-over-year. Concurrently, net sales grew by 1.6% to $1.2 billion, exceeding analyst forecasts by $20 million. This performance was coupled with an increase in operating profit by 38.3% to $193.3 million.
2. The Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS) segment demonstrated exceptional growth, serving as a key driver for the overall positive financial results.
In fiscal Q3 2026, the AIS segment's net sales jumped by 14.9% year-over-year to $303.5 million. The segment's operating profit saw an impressive increase of 106.2% to $56.5 million, with its operating profit margin expanding by 820 basis points to 18.6% of net sales. Management highlighted strong demand in Distech and QSC, specifically identifying data centers as a growing and predictable revenue stream, which resonated positively with investors.
3. Management provided an optimistic full-year fiscal 2026 guidance and demonstrated robust capital allocation strategies.
Acuity Brands issued an upbeat outlook for fiscal year 2026, projecting full-year revenue at the midpoint of $4.8 billion and non-GAAP EPS at the midpoint of $19.75, both exceeding consensus expectations. The company also reported strong cash generation, with $520.2 million in net cash from operating activities during the first nine months of fiscal 2026. Furthermore, Acuity repurchased approximately 766,000 shares for $230 million year-to-date and increased its quarterly dividend by 18%, signaling confidence and a commitment to shareholder returns.
4. Several analyst firms upgraded their ratings and increased price targets for Acuity Brands following the strong earnings report, bolstering investor confidence.
Post-earnings, Wall Street Zen upgraded Acuity from a "hold" to a "buy" rating on June 21, 2026. Oppenheimer set a new price target of $465.00 on June 26, 2026, and Morgan Stanley increased its price target from $400.00 to $410.00 on July 1, 2026, maintaining an "overweight" rating. Robert W. Baird also raised its price objective from $315.00 to $390.00. The consensus among analysts shifted to a "Moderate Buy" rating with an average 1-year target price of $397.17.
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Stock Movement Drivers
Fundamental Drivers
The 16.8% change in AYI stock from 3/31/2026 to 7/23/2026 was primarily driven by a 11.3% change in the company's P/E Multiple.| (LTM values as of) | 3312026 | 7232026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Price ($) | 279.86 | 326.97 | 16.8% |
| Change Contribution By: | |||
| Total Revenues ($ Mil) | 4,538 | 4,587 | 1.1% |
| Net Income Margin (%) | 9.0% | 9.4% | 3.6% |
| P/E Multiple | 20.9 | 23.3 | 11.3% |
| Shares Outstanding (Mil) | 31 | 31 | 0.2% |
| Cumulative Contribution | 16.8% |
Market Drivers
3/31/2026 to 7/23/2026| Return | Correlation | |
|---|---|---|
| AYI | 16.8% | |
| Market (SPY) | 13.5% | 42.4% |
| Sector (XLI) | 12.5% | 59.8% |
Fundamental Drivers
The -9.0% change in AYI stock from 12/31/2025 to 7/23/2026 was primarily driven by a -16.2% change in the company's P/E Multiple.| (LTM values as of) | 12312025 | 7232026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Price ($) | 359.34 | 326.97 | -9.0% |
| Change Contribution By: | |||
| Total Revenues ($ Mil) | 4,346 | 4,587 | 5.6% |
| Net Income Margin (%) | 9.1% | 9.4% | 2.6% |
| P/E Multiple | 27.8 | 23.3 | -16.2% |
| Shares Outstanding (Mil) | 31 | 31 | 0.2% |
| Cumulative Contribution | -9.0% |
Market Drivers
12/31/2025 to 7/23/2026| Return | Correlation | |
|---|---|---|
| AYI | -9.0% | |
| Market (SPY) | 8.5% | 44.0% |
| Sector (XLI) | 17.6% | 51.6% |
Fundamental Drivers
The 9.9% change in AYI stock from 6/30/2025 to 7/23/2026 was primarily driven by a 10.0% change in the company's Total Revenues ($ Mil).| (LTM values as of) | 6302025 | 7232026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Price ($) | 297.45 | 326.97 | 9.9% |
| Change Contribution By: | |||
| Total Revenues ($ Mil) | 4,169 | 4,587 | 10.0% |
| Net Income Margin (%) | 9.6% | 9.4% | -2.7% |
| P/E Multiple | 22.9 | 23.3 | 2.0% |
| Shares Outstanding (Mil) | 31 | 31 | 0.7% |
| Cumulative Contribution | 9.9% |
Market Drivers
6/30/2025 to 7/23/2026| Return | Correlation | |
|---|---|---|
| AYI | 9.9% | |
| Market (SPY) | 20.5% | 47.7% |
| Sector (XLI) | 24.6% | 54.1% |
Fundamental Drivers
The 102.1% change in AYI stock from 6/30/2023 to 7/23/2026 was primarily driven by a 72.1% change in the company's P/E Multiple.| (LTM values as of) | 6302023 | 7232026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Price ($) | 161.77 | 326.97 | 102.1% |
| Change Contribution By: | |||
| Total Revenues ($ Mil) | 4,052 | 4,587 | 13.2% |
| Net Income Margin (%) | 9.3% | 9.4% | 0.3% |
| P/E Multiple | 13.5 | 23.3 | 72.1% |
| Shares Outstanding (Mil) | 32 | 31 | 3.4% |
| Cumulative Contribution | 102.1% |
Market Drivers
6/30/2023 to 7/23/2026| Return | Correlation | |
|---|---|---|
| AYI | 102.1% | |
| Market (SPY) | 72.4% | 54.8% |
| Sector (XLI) | 76.6% | 62.2% |
Price Returns Compared
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Total [1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||
| AYI Return | 75% | -22% | 24% | 43% | 24% | -8% | 178% |
| Peers Return | 29% | -4% | 25% | 10% | 7% | 34% | 144% |
| S&P 500 Return | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 16% | 10% | 100% |
Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||
| AYI Win Rate | 67% | 42% | 58% | 75% | 67% | 43% | |
| Peers Win Rate | 70% | 38% | 60% | 48% | 58% | 60% | |
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 67% | 43% | |
Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||
| AYI Max Drawdown | -16% | -32% | -25% | -18% | -34% | -32% | |
| Peers Max Drawdown | -20% | -28% | -28% | -19% | -35% | -21% | |
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -5% | -25% | -10% | -8% | -19% | -9% | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2021
[2] Peers: LFUS, ENS, BDC, AIN, ETN. See AYI Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2026 data is for the year up to 7/23/2026 (YTD)
How Low Can It Go
| Event | AYI | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 US Tariff Shock | ||
| % Loss | -31.6% | -18.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 46.2% | 23.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | 127 days | 79 days |
| 2023 SVB Regional Banking Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -21.3% | -6.7% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 27.0% | 7.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | 196 days | 31 days |
| 2022 Inflation Shock & Fed Tightening | ||
| % Loss | -31.2% | -24.5% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 45.4% | 32.4% |
| Time to Breakeven | 565 days | 427 days |
| 2020 COVID-19 Crash | ||
| % Loss | -38.8% | -33.7% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 63.4% | 50.9% |
| Time to Breakeven | 246 days | 140 days |
| Q4 2018 Fed Policy Error / Growth Scare | ||
| % Loss | -21.6% | -19.2% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 27.5% | 23.8% |
| Time to Breakeven | 100 days | 105 days |
| 2016-2017 Trump Reflation Bond Selloff | ||
| % Loss | -38.0% | -3.7% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 61.2% | 3.9% |
| Time to Breakeven | 2470 days | 6 days |
In The Past
Acuity's stock fell -31.6% during the 2025 US Tariff Shock. Such a loss loss requires a 46.2% gain to breakeven.
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| Event | AYI | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 US Tariff Shock | ||
| % Loss | -31.6% | -18.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 46.2% | 23.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | 127 days | 79 days |
| 2023 SVB Regional Banking Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -21.3% | -6.7% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 27.0% | 7.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | 196 days | 31 days |
| 2022 Inflation Shock & Fed Tightening | ||
| % Loss | -31.2% | -24.5% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 45.4% | 32.4% |
| Time to Breakeven | 565 days | 427 days |
| 2020 COVID-19 Crash | ||
| % Loss | -38.8% | -33.7% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 63.4% | 50.9% |
| Time to Breakeven | 246 days | 140 days |
| Q4 2018 Fed Policy Error / Growth Scare | ||
| % Loss | -21.6% | -19.2% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 27.5% | 23.8% |
| Time to Breakeven | 100 days | 105 days |
| 2016-2017 Trump Reflation Bond Selloff | ||
| % Loss | -38.0% | -3.7% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 61.2% | 3.9% |
| Time to Breakeven | 2470 days | 6 days |
| 2011 US Debt Ceiling Crisis & European Contagion | ||
| % Loss | -34.3% | -17.9% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 52.3% | 21.8% |
| Time to Breakeven | 80 days | 123 days |
| 2010 Eurozone Sovereign Debt Crisis / Flash Crash | ||
| % Loss | -25.5% | -15.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 34.2% | 18.2% |
| Time to Breakeven | 97 days | 125 days |
| 2008-2009 Global Financial Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -54.5% | -53.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 120.0% | 114.4% |
| Time to Breakeven | 388 days | 1085 days |
| Summer 2007 Credit Crunch | ||
| % Loss | -23.8% | -8.6% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 31.3% | 9.5% |
| Time to Breakeven | 1210 days | 47 days |
In The Past
Acuity's stock fell -31.6% during the 2025 US Tariff Shock. Such a loss loss requires a 46.2% gain to breakeven.
Preserve Wealth
Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth.
Asset Allocation
Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.
About Acuity (AYI)
Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) is a leading technology company that provides comprehensive lighting and building management solutions. Operating through two primary segments, the company serves a wide array of customers across North America and internationally, focusing on creating intelligent and efficient spaces.
Its largest segment, Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (ABL), specializes in delivering commercial, architectural, and specialty lighting products, along with advanced lighting controls and components. Under well-known brands like Lithonia Lighting, Holophane, and nLight, ABL offers solutions for diverse indoor and outdoor applications. This segment primarily caters to electrical distributors, retail home improvement centers, electric utilities, national accounts, and digital retailers.
The Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG) segment focuses on cutting-edge building management systems and location-aware applications. Utilizing brands such as Distech Controls and Atrius, ISG helps optimize building operations and enhance user experiences within various environments. Its main customers include system integrators, as well as large-scale facilities like retail stores, airports, and enterprise campuses.
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The **Honeywell** of commercial lighting and smart building systems.
Like **Johnson Controls** for intelligent building lighting and automation.
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- Lighting Solutions: Provides commercial, architectural, and specialty lighting products for diverse indoor and outdoor applications.
- Lighting Controls: Offers advanced systems and components for managing and optimizing lighting usage and energy efficiency.
- Building Management Systems: Delivers integrated platforms for controlling and monitoring various building operations and environments.
- Location-Aware Applications: Develops software and systems that utilize location data to enhance space management and user experiences within facilities.
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Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) primarily sells its products and solutions to other companies (B2B). Based on the company description, its major customers include:
- Retail Home Improvement Centers: Acuity's lighting solutions are sold through major home improvement retailers.
- Digital Retailers: The company's products are available through online retail channels.
- Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN)
- Electrical Distributors: Acuity sells to major electrical distributors who then supply contractors and various businesses with lighting and control products. A prominent example of such a distributor is Wesco International, Inc. (WCC).
- General Retail Stores: Beyond home improvement, Acuity's building management systems and lighting solutions are utilized by large retail chains.
Additionally, Acuity serves various other categories of companies and organizations, including:
- System Integrators: Companies that design and implement complex building management and lighting systems.
- Electric Utilities: Providers of electricity services, often for outdoor lighting and smart city applications.
- National Accounts: Large corporations with multiple facilities requiring standardized lighting and building management solutions.
- Airports and Enterprise Campuses: Large institutional and corporate environments that require comprehensive lighting and building management solutions.
- Energy Service Companies (ESCOs): Firms that develop, install, and finance projects designed to improve energy efficiency for their clients.
- Lighting Showrooms: Specialty retailers focused on lighting products.
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Neil M. Ashe, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Neil M. Ashe became President and CEO of Acuity Brands in January 2020 and Chairman in January 2021. He has been instrumental in transforming Acuity from a traditional lighting company into an industrial technology company. Before joining Acuity, he served as CEO of Faster Horses LLC, an investment firm advising on digital transformation (2017-2019). He was also President and CEO of Global eCommerce & Technology at Walmart, Inc. (2012-2017), where he rebuilt the e-commerce business, and President of CBS Interactive (2008-2011) and CEO of CNET Networks, Inc. (2006-2008). He led CNET Networks through its $1.8 billion acquisition by CBS Corporation.
Karen J. Holcom, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Karen J. Holcom has more than 30 years of financial experience and has been with Acuity Brands since its inception in 2001. She leads the company's financial strategy, investor relations, and oversees the global financial organization. Prior to becoming CFO, she held various positions at Acuity, including controller and interim CFO, and previously served as Senior VP-Finance & Associate Engagement at Antique Street Lamps, Inc.
Sach Sankpal, President, Acuity Brands Lighting
Sach Sankpal has over 30 years of experience in leading turnarounds, accelerating digital transformation and innovation, and positioning global industrial technology organizations for growth.
Peter Han, President, Acuity Intelligent Spaces
Peter Han joined Acuity Brands in 2021 as President of the Intelligent Spaces Group, which includes the Atrius and Distech Controls brands. He has a track record of driving revenue growth and organizational change over 25 years in the technology industry. Prior to Acuity, he co-founded and was a Partner of Rockpile Ventures, an Edge AI accelerator (2019-2021), and served as Chief Marketing Officer at Supermicro (2018-2019). He also spent 15 years at Microsoft as Vice President, Partner Devices and Solutions.
Barry R. Goldman, Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Barry R. Goldman is a trusted legal strategist who supports all legal and transactional matters for Acuity's operations globally, including acquisitions, strategic alliances, government relations, and risk reduction. He joined Acuity in 2001 and has approximately 30 years of legal experience in the real estate, lighting, and building management industries. He also led the creation of Acuity's sustainability program, EarthLIGHT.
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The key risks to Acuity Brands, Inc.'s business include a challenging market for its traditional lighting segment, the complexities associated with its growth strategy through acquisitions, and emerging risks related to artificial intelligence.
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Navigating a 'Flat-to-Down' Lighting Market for its Core Business: Acuity Brands' largest segment, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL), is operating in a 'flat-to-down' lighting market. This external pressure forces the company to intensely compete for growth against rivals such as Signify and Hubbell. The need to aggressively fight for every dollar of growth in its foundational business represents a significant ongoing challenge for the company.
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Complexity and Integration Risk of Growth Strategy through Acquisitions: While Acuity Brands is strategically pivoting and growing its Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG) segment, largely through acquisitions like QSC, this strategy carries inherent risks. Integrating large acquisitions can lead to operational complexities, potential "hiccups," and one-time financial charges, such as non-cash pension-settlement charges. Successfully executing this growth strategy while managing integration challenges is critical for the company's future performance.
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Emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) Related Risks: Acuity Brands has explicitly identified AI-related risks in its annual filings. These concerns include potential issues with bias in AI applications, cybersecurity vulnerabilities related to AI systems, and the need to comply with evolving U.S. and EU regulations governing AI. As AI becomes more integral to its Intelligent Spaces offerings, managing these nascent risks becomes increasingly important for Acuity Brands.
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The increasing consolidation and dominance of large technology and industrial platform companies (e.g., Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Siemens, Honeywell) in the smart building and enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) space. These companies are investing heavily in comprehensive building management systems, cloud-based analytics, and integrated IoT platforms that could marginalize specialized providers of building management systems and location-aware applications, directly impacting Acuity's Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG) segment (Distech Controls, Atrius, Rockpile Ventures).
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Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) operates in the lighting and building management solutions sectors, serving markets primarily in North America.
Addressable Markets for Main Products and Services:
Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (ABL) Segment:
- Commercial Lighting Control Market (North America): This market was estimated at USD 8 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 13 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.23%.
- Lighting Control System Market (North America): The market generated USD 9,017.3 million (approximately USD 9.02 billion) in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 19,040.1 million (approximately USD 19.04 billion) by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.3% from 2024 to 2030.
- Commercial Lighting Market (North America): North America held a 36.8% market share in 2023. The U.S. Commercial Lighting Market was estimated at USD 4.25 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 21.18%.
- Industrial and Commercial LED Lighting Market (North America): The North America commercial LED lighting market is projected to expand from USD 8.58 billion in 2025 to USD 19.72 billion by 2031.
- Architectural Lighting Market (North America): This market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.44%. The U.S. architectural lighting market is projected to grow from USD 3.01 billion in 2025 to USD 5.56 billion by 2033. Another estimate indicates the U.S. architectural lighting market generated USD 1,581.1 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 2,099.4 million by 2030.
- Specialty Lighting Market (North America): North America held the largest regional market share at approximately 40% in 2024. The global specialty lighting market was valued at USD 6.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 11.73 billion by 2032.
Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG) Segment:
- Building Management Systems (North America): The North America Building Automation System Market was valued at USD 27.02 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 59.52 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 12.93% from 2025 to 2032. Another source projects the North American Building Automation System Market to grow from USD 34.69 billion in 2025 to USD 65.10 billion by 2030. The U.S. building management system market size reached USD 5.58 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 20.41 billion in 2032.
- Smart Space Market (North America): The smart space market in North America is expected to reach a projected revenue of US$ 10,484.2 million (approximately USD 10.48 billion) by 2030, with a CAGR of 10.2% from 2024 to 2030. North America dominated the global smart space market with a 47.90% share in 2025. The Smart spaces market in North America commanded 36.40% of 2025 revenue and is expected to grow from USD 16.70 billion in 2025 to USD 32.86 billion by 2031.
- Smart Building Solutions Market (North America): This market in North America is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast period, reaching a valuation of USD 35.2 billion by 2033. North America accounted for over 35% of the global smart building market revenue share in 2025. The U.S. smart building market dominated with a share of over 74% in 2025.
- Smart Lighting Market (North America): The North America smart lighting market size was valued at USD 7.96 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 26.52 billion by 2034.
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Acuity (AYI) is expected to drive future revenue growth over the next 2-3 years through several key strategies:
- Expansion of the Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS) Segment and Integration of QSC: The transformative acquisition of QSC in early fiscal 2025 significantly accelerated Acuity's shift from a lighting manufacturer to an integrated industrial technology leader, combining AV&C cloud platforms with building management to create higher-margin, software-driven ecosystems. This segment is consistently highlighted as the company's high-growth engine, with expectations for organic sales growth in the low to mid-teens. The QSC integration is particularly noted for granting immediate access to corporate, cinema, and large-venue customers worldwide.
- Product Innovation and Vitality in Smart Building Solutions: Acuity focuses heavily on "product vitality," which measures revenue from products launched within the last three years. The company consistently allocates 3-4% of net sales to research and development to sustain innovation in IoT and automation platforms. This includes developing software-enabled hardware where luminaires act as data nodes for real-time building optimization, and deploying AI through brands like Distech Controls and Atrius for adaptive HVAC and lighting systems. Recent launches, such as the EAX Area Luminaire product family, further enhance its portfolio.
- Strategic Expansion into New Markets and Verticals: Acuity is actively diversifying its market reach by targeting the professional AV and building automation markets, combining lighting, controls, and AV to increase market share per project. The company is also pursuing geographic expansion with Distech Controls in Europe and Asia to capitalize on energy-efficiency regulations and retrofit demand. Furthermore, Acuity is focusing on specialized verticals, including data center infrastructure, healthcare-tailored lighting, and the convenience store and gas station market, which offer specific compliance and uptime requirements. The retrofit segment already contributes roughly 60% of sales.
- Strategic Pricing Actions and Productivity Improvements: Acuity employs strategic pricing to manage and offset inflationary pressures and tariff-related costs, which is crucial for maintaining and improving gross margins. Alongside pricing, the company emphasizes ongoing productivity efforts and disciplined cost management across its operations, particularly in the Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) segment, to enhance profitability and operating profit margins. These profitability improvements provide capital for further growth investments.
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Share Repurchases
- Acuity Brands made significant share repurchases, with annual amounts of $266.6 million in 2023, $88.7 million in 2024, and $118.5 million in 2025.
- Over the last five years, the company's share count has shrunk by 16.5% due to these repurchases.
- The Board of Directors authorized an additional repurchase of up to 3 million shares in January 2024, bringing the total outstanding authorization to approximately 3.9 million shares.
Share Issuance
- Shares outstanding for Acuity Brands generally declined over the last few years, reflecting the impact of share repurchase programs.
- Specifically, shares outstanding declined by 7.16% from 2022 to 2023, and by 2.24% from 2023 to 2024.
- A slight increase of 0.62% in shares outstanding was noted from 2024 to 2025, reaching 0.032 billion shares in 2025.
Outbound Investments
- Acuity Brands completed the strategic acquisition of QSC for $1.115 billion in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024), significantly bolstering its Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG) segment with cloud-first audio, video, and control technologies.
- The company acquired Arize Grow in November 2023 and KE2 Therm Solutions in April 2023, with undisclosed transaction amounts.
- In May 2021, Acuity Brands acquired Rockpile Ventures, further expanding its strategic investments.
Capital Expenditures
- Capital expenditures in the last 12 months totaled -$75.50 million.
- The company incurred capital expenditures of $9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2022.
- Acuity Brands is described as becoming a less capital-intensive business over the last five years, with a rising free cash flow profitability.
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Peer Comparisons
| Peers to compare with: |
Financials
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Price | 263.51 |
| Mkt Cap | 8.7 |
| Rev LTM | 3,269 |
| Op Inc LTM | 432 |
| FCF LTM | 429 |
| FCF 3Y Avg | 341 |
| CFO LTM | 498 |
| CFO 3Y Avg | 425 |
Growth & Margins
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Rev Chg LTM | 11.0% |
| Rev Chg 3Y Avg | 3.1% |
| Rev Chg Q | 9.6% |
| QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM | 2.3% |
| Op Inc Chg LTM | 9.7% |
| Op Inc Chg 3Y Avg | 3.6% |
| Op Mgn LTM | 13.4% |
| Op Mgn 3Y Avg | 13.1% |
| QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM | -0.1% |
| CFO/Rev LTM | 14.3% |
| CFO/Rev 3Y Avg | 14.5% |
| FCF/Rev LTM | 12.3% |
| FCF/Rev 3Y Avg | 10.6% |
Valuation
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Cap | 8.7 |
| P/S | 2.1 |
| P/Op Inc | 15.4 |
| P/EBIT | 17.8 |
| P/E | 20.1 |
| P/CFO | 14.6 |
| Total Yield | 4.0% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.6% |
| FCF Yield 3Y Avg | 4.9% |
| D/E | 0.1 |
| Net D/E | 0.1 |
Returns
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| 1M Rtn | -4.0% |
| 3M Rtn | 0.8% |
| 6M Rtn | 19.5% |
| 12M Rtn | 9.4% |
| 3Y Rtn | 67.1% |
| 1M Excs Rtn | - |
| 3M Excs Rtn | - |
| 6M Excs Rtn | - |
| 12M Excs Rtn | - |
| 3Y Excs Rtn | - |
Comparison Analyses
Segment Financials
Revenue by Segment| $ Mil | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) | 3,612 | 3,573 | 3,723 | 3,810 | 3,287 |
| Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS) | 764 | 292 | 253 | 216 | 190 |
| Corporate | 0 | ||||
| Eliminations | -31 | -24 | -23 | -20 | -16 |
| Total | 4,346 | 3,841 | 3,952 | 4,006 | 3,461 |
| $ Mil | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) | 591 | 583 | 510 | 546 | 476 |
| Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS) | 76 | 44 | 32 | 23 | 10 |
| Eliminations | 0 | ||||
| Corporate | -103 | -73 | -68 | -59 | -58 |
| Total | 564 | 553 | 473 | 510 | 428 |
| $ Mil | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate | 3,635 | 2,485 | 2,329 | ||
| Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) | 906 | 870 | 1,098 | ||
| Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS) | 214 | 68 | 54 | 54 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 0 | 846 | |||
| Accounts receivable and Inventories | 883 | ||||
| Deferred income taxes | 2 | ||||
| Goodwill | 1,099 | ||||
| Intangible assets, net | 440 | ||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 66 | ||||
| Other long-term assets | 32 | ||||
| Prepayments and other current assets | 75 | ||||
| Property, plant, and equipment, net | 304 | ||||
| ABL | 1,157 | ||||
| ASP | 234 | ||||
| Total | 4,755 | 3,815 | 3,408 | 3,480 | 1,391 |
Price Behavior
| Market Price | $326.97 | |
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 10.0 | |
| First Trading Date | 12/03/2001 | |
| Distance from 52W High | -13.1% | |
| 50 Days | 200 Days | |
| DMA Price | $315.10 | $321.39 |
| DMA Trend | indeterminate | up |
| Distance from DMA | 3.8% | 1.7% |
| 3M | 1YR | |
| Volatility | 50.1% | 38.2% |
| Downside Capture | 199.91 | 159.98 |
| Upside Capture | 219.73 | 139.45 |
| Correlation (SPY) | 43.8% | 48.2% |
| 1M | 2M | 3M | 6M | 1Y | 3Y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta | 1.75 | 1.71 | 1.44 | 1.45 | 1.42 | 1.18 |
| Up Beta | -1.25 | -0.23 | 0.86 | 1.16 | 1.45 | 1.11 |
| Down Beta | 2.90 | 2.30 | 2.29 | 1.43 | 1.46 | 1.25 |
| Up Capture | 404% | 310% | 183% | 161% | 161% | 195% |
| Bmk +ve Days | 11 | 24 | 40 | 67 | 140 | 429 |
| Stock +ve Days | 15 | 25 | 40 | 69 | 137 | 402 |
| Down Capture | 94% | 137% | 127% | 151% | 127% | 104% |
| Bmk -ve Days | 10 | 17 | 23 | 58 | 112 | 321 |
| Stock -ve Days | 6 | 16 | 23 | 56 | 115 | 347 |
[1] Upside and downside betas calculated using positive and negative benchmark daily returns respectively
Based On 1-Year Data
| Annualized Return | Annualized Volatility | Sharpe Ratio | Correlation with AYI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AYI | 10.8% | 38.2% | 0.35 | - |
| Sector ETF (XLI) | 21.8% | 16.7% | 1.01 | 54.4% |
| Equity (SPY) | 18.5% | 12.7% | 1.06 | 48.3% |
| Gold (GLD) | 17.6% | 28.1% | 0.57 | 16.6% |
| Commodities (DBC) | 35.2% | 19.1% | 1.45 | -17.0% |
| Real Estate (VNQ) | 11.6% | 13.9% | 0.55 | 13.6% |
| Bitcoin (BTCUSD) | -45.1% | 42.9% | -1.28 | 21.0% |
Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 5-Year Data
| Annualized Return | Annualized Volatility | Sharpe Ratio | Correlation with AYI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AYI | 14.6% | 32.9% | 0.47 | - |
| Sector ETF (XLI) | 13.8% | 17.6% | 0.61 | 66.1% |
| Equity (SPY) | 12.6% | 17.1% | 0.57 | 57.7% |
| Gold (GLD) | 16.8% | 18.4% | 0.74 | 10.0% |
| Commodities (DBC) | 9.8% | 19.5% | 0.39 | 9.5% |
| Real Estate (VNQ) | 2.6% | 18.9% | 0.03 | 43.3% |
| Bitcoin (BTCUSD) | 15.8% | 53.4% | 0.47 | 22.9% |
Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 10-Year Data
| Annualized Return | Annualized Volatility | Sharpe Ratio | Correlation with AYI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AYI | 2.6% | 37.3% | 0.18 | - |
| Sector ETF (XLI) | 14.0% | 20.0% | 0.61 | 63.0% |
| Equity (SPY) | 14.9% | 17.9% | 0.71 | 55.5% |
| Gold (GLD) | 11.2% | 16.1% | 0.57 | 4.9% |
| Commodities (DBC) | 7.4% | 17.9% | 0.33 | 17.6% |
| Real Estate (VNQ) | 4.9% | 20.7% | 0.20 | 45.6% |
| Bitcoin (BTCUSD) | 58.7% | 66.2% | 0.99 | 13.5% |
Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Returns Analyses
Earnings Returns History
Updated 7/7/2026| Forward Returns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Date | 1D Returns | 5D Returns | 21D Returns |
| 6/25/2026 | 17.6% | 20.3% | |
| 4/2/2026 | -7.5% | -3.6% | 0.9% |
| 1/8/2026 | -12.9% | -13.7% | -11.1% |
| 10/1/2025 | 5.4% | 0.7% | 5.0% |
| 6/26/2025 | 5.8% | 6.4% | 8.8% |
| 4/3/2025 | -3.4% | -7.7% | -5.1% |
| 1/8/2025 | 3.2% | 7.3% | 6.6% |
| 10/1/2024 | 8.7% | 11.8% | 10.3% |
| ... | |||
| SUMMARY STATS | |||
| # Positive | 16 | 15 | 14 |
| # Negative | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Median Positive | 5.6% | 6.4% | 12.6% |
| Median Negative | -7.5% | -8.9% | -6.1% |
| Max Positive | 17.6% | 20.3% | 31.8% |
| Max Negative | -12.9% | -14.5% | -15.9% |
| Forward Returns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Date | 1D Returns | 5D Returns | 21D Returns |
| 6/25/2026 | 17.6% | 20.3% | |
| 4/2/2026 | -7.5% | -3.6% | 0.9% |
| 1/8/2026 | -12.9% | -13.7% | -11.1% |
| 10/1/2025 | 5.4% | 0.7% | 5.0% |
| 6/26/2025 | 5.8% | 6.4% | 8.8% |
| 4/3/2025 | -3.4% | -7.7% | -5.1% |
| 1/8/2025 | 3.2% | 7.3% | 6.6% |
| 10/1/2024 | 8.7% | 11.8% | 10.3% |
| 6/27/2024 | 1.1% | 1.5% | 3.6% |
| 4/3/2024 | 1.1% | 1.7% | -6.0% |
| 1/9/2024 | 11.5% | 9.6% | 15.6% |
| 10/4/2023 | 6.9% | 6.8% | -3.0% |
| 6/29/2023 | 1.1% | -2.3% | 3.5% |
| 4/4/2023 | -11.0% | -13.3% | -12.3% |
| 1/9/2023 | 2.9% | 2.4% | 14.9% |
| 10/4/2022 | 4.9% | 1.0% | 16.2% |
| 6/30/2022 | -1.1% | 1.3% | 17.2% |
| 4/5/2022 | -8.1% | -9.0% | -3.9% |
| 1/7/2022 | 1.9% | -1.8% | -11.4% |
| 10/6/2021 | 10.9% | 17.5% | 20.4% |
| 7/1/2021 | -5.8% | -9.4% | -6.2% |
| 3/31/2021 | 13.3% | 14.7% | 31.8% |
| 1/7/2021 | -5.5% | -8.9% | -5.5% |
| 10/8/2020 | -10.3% | -14.5% | -15.9% |
| 6/30/2020 | 7.2% | 2.0% | 15.1% |
| SUMMARY STATS | |||
| # Positive | 16 | 15 | 14 |
| # Negative | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Median Positive | 5.6% | 6.4% | 12.6% |
| Median Negative | -7.5% | -8.9% | -6.1% |
| Max Positive | 17.6% | 20.3% | 31.8% |
| Max Negative | -12.9% | -14.5% | -15.9% |
SEC Filings
Expand for More| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 02/28/2026 | 04/02/2026 | 10-Q |
| 11/30/2025 | 01/08/2026 | 10-Q |
| 08/31/2025 | 10/27/2025 | 10-K |
| 05/31/2025 | 06/26/2025 | 10-Q |
| 02/28/2025 | 04/03/2025 | 10-Q |
| 11/30/2024 | 01/08/2025 | 10-Q |
| 08/31/2024 | 10/28/2024 | 10-K |
| 05/31/2024 | 06/27/2024 | 10-Q |
| 02/29/2024 | 04/03/2024 | 10-Q |
| 11/30/2023 | 01/09/2024 | 10-Q |
| 08/31/2023 | 10/26/2023 | 10-K |
| 05/31/2023 | 06/29/2023 | 10-Q |
| 02/28/2023 | 04/04/2023 | 10-Q |
| 11/30/2022 | 01/09/2023 | 10-Q |
| 08/31/2022 | 10/26/2022 | 10-K |
| 05/31/2022 | 06/30/2022 | 10-Q |
| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 02/28/2026 | 04/02/2026 | 10-Q |
| 11/30/2025 | 01/08/2026 | 10-Q |
| 08/31/2025 | 10/27/2025 | 10-K |
| 05/31/2025 | 06/26/2025 | 10-Q |
| 02/28/2025 | 04/03/2025 | 10-Q |
| 11/30/2024 | 01/08/2025 | 10-Q |
| 08/31/2024 | 10/28/2024 | 10-K |
| 05/31/2024 | 06/27/2024 | 10-Q |
| 02/29/2024 | 04/03/2024 | 10-Q |
| 11/30/2023 | 01/09/2024 | 10-Q |
| 08/31/2023 | 10/26/2023 | 10-K |
| 05/31/2023 | 06/29/2023 | 10-Q |
| 02/28/2023 | 04/04/2023 | 10-Q |
| 11/30/2022 | 01/09/2023 | 10-Q |
| 08/31/2022 | 10/26/2022 | 10-K |
| 05/31/2022 | 06/30/2022 | 10-Q |
| 02/28/2022 | 04/05/2022 | 10-Q |
| 11/30/2021 | 01/07/2022 | 10-Q |
| 08/31/2021 | 10/27/2021 | 10-K |
| 05/31/2021 | 07/01/2021 | 10-Q |
| 02/28/2021 | 03/31/2021 | 10-Q |
| 11/30/2020 | 01/07/2021 | 10-Q |
| 08/31/2020 | 10/23/2020 | 10-K |
| 05/31/2020 | 06/30/2020 | 10-Q |
| 02/29/2020 | 04/02/2020 | 10-Q |
| 11/30/2019 | 01/09/2020 | 10-Q |
| 08/31/2019 | 10/29/2019 | 10-K |
| 05/31/2019 | 07/02/2019 | 10-Q |
Insider Activity
Updated 7/6/2026| # | Owner | Title | Holding | Action | Filing Date | Price | Shares | Transacted Value | Value of Held Shares | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goldman, Barry R | SVP & General Counsel | Direct | Sell | 7062026 | 365.65 | 1,200 | 438,780 | 1,775,596 | Form |
| 2 | Holcom, Karen J | SVP & Chief Financial Officer | Direct | Sell | 6032026 | 303.14 | 2,076 | 629,319 | 5,895,164 | Form |
| 3 | Leibman, Maya | by Trust | Buy | 5042026 | 288.83 | 200 | 57,766 | 115,532 | Form | |
| 4 | O'Shaughnessy, Laura | Direct | Buy | 4102026 | 282.98 | 1,000 | 282,980 | 880,351 | Form | |
| 5 | Holcom, Karen J | SVP & Chief Financial Officer | Direct | Sell | 1302026 | 309.23 | 4,974 | 1,538,110 | 6,655,557 | Form |
| # | Owner | Title | Holding | Action | Filing Date | Price | Shares | Transacted Value | Value of Held Shares | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goldman, Barry R | SVP & General Counsel | Direct | Sell | 7062026 | 365.65 | 1,200 | 438,780 | 1,775,596 | Form |
| 2 | Holcom, Karen J | SVP & Chief Financial Officer | Direct | Sell | 6032026 | 303.14 | 2,076 | 629,319 | 5,895,164 | Form |
| 3 | Leibman, Maya | by Trust | Buy | 5042026 | 288.83 | 200 | 57,766 | 115,532 | Form | |
| 4 | O'Shaughnessy, Laura | Direct | Buy | 4102026 | 282.98 | 1,000 | 282,980 | 880,351 | Form | |
| 5 | Holcom, Karen J | SVP & Chief Financial Officer | Direct | Sell | 1302026 | 309.23 | 4,974 | 1,538,110 | 6,655,557 | Form |
| 6 | Goldman, Barry R | SVP & General Counsel | Direct | Sell | 10302025 | 365.11 | 4,489 | 1,638,989 | 2,211,120 | Form |
| 7 | Goldman, Barry R | SVP & General Counsel | Direct | Sell | 10272025 | 368.01 | 4,687 | 1,724,881 | 3,880,707 | Form |
| 8 | Goldman, Barry R | SVP & General Counsel | Direct | Sell | 7032025 | 298.30 | 4,125 | 1,230,504 | 1,980,142 | Form |
| 9 | Holcom, Karen J | SVP & Chief Financial Officer | Direct | Sell | 7012025 | 301.04 | 6,000 | 1,806,240 | 5,628,244 | Form |
Investor Activity (13F)
Updated Jul 24, 2026Active managers (13F portfolio over $250M, at least 3 holdings) with a position over $5M that is either over 10% of their portfolio or held in a concentrated book of 50 or fewer total positions. Index/ETF, sovereign, bank, community-bank and charitable/donor-advised filers are excluded.
| Active Manager | Value | % of Portfolio | Total Positions | QoQ | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Operations LLC | $96.4 Mil | 14.4% | 36 | Hold | 13F |
| Greenstone Partners & Co., LLC | $50.4 Mil | 12.7% | 9 | TRIM -6.8% | 13F |
| Alua Capital Management LP | $63.4 Mil | 6.9% | 14 | New | 13F |
| Lightrock Netherlands B.V. | $12.6 Mil | 2.7% | 39 | ADD +176.5% | 13F |
| Schwerin Boyle Capital Management Inc | $20.8 Mil | 2.6% | 47 | TRIM -7.3% | 13F |
| Triodos Investment Management BV | $26.1 Mil | 2.0% | 49 | ADD +27.4% | 13F |
| Durable Capital Partners LP | $99.7 Mil | 1.0% | 37 | TRIM -56.4% | 13F |
| Active Manager | Value | % of Portfolio | Total Positions | QoQ | As Of | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palestra Capital Management LLC | $133.4 Mil | 4.7% | 28 | Exited | Dec 31, 2025 | 13F |
| 140 Summer Partners LP | $81.3 Mil | 6.3% | 19 | Exited | Dec 31, 2025 | 13F |
| Bayberry Capital Partners LP | $9.8 Mil | 3.2% | 24 | Exited | Dec 31, 2025 | 13F |
| Durable Capital Partners LP | $99.7 Mil | 1.0% | 37 | TRIM -56.4% | Mar 31, 2026 | 13F |
| Schwerin Boyle Capital Management Inc | $20.8 Mil | 2.6% | 47 | TRIM -7.3% | Mar 31, 2026 | 13F |
| Greenstone Partners & Co., LLC | $50.4 Mil | 12.7% | 9 | TRIM -6.8% | Mar 31, 2026 | 13F |
| Active Manager | Value | % of Portfolio | Total Positions | QoQ | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durable Capital Partners LP | $99.7 Mil | 1.0% | 37 | TRIM -56.4% | 13F |
| Allen Operations LLC | $96.4 Mil | 14.4% | 36 | Hold | 13F |
| Alua Capital Management LP | $63.4 Mil | 6.9% | 14 | New | 13F |
| Greenstone Partners & Co., LLC | $50.4 Mil | 12.7% | 9 | TRIM -6.8% | 13F |
| Triodos Investment Management BV | $26.1 Mil | 2.0% | 49 | ADD +27.4% | 13F |
| Schwerin Boyle Capital Management Inc | $20.8 Mil | 2.6% | 47 | TRIM -7.3% | 13F |
| Lightrock Netherlands B.V. | $12.6 Mil | 2.7% | 39 | ADD +176.5% | 13F |
Acuity — Investor Video Playlist
Industry Resources
| Industrials Resources |
| IndustryWeek |
| Manufacturing.net |
| Aviation Week |
| Electrical Components & Equipment Resources |
| EC&M (Electrical Construction & Maintenance) |
| Electrical Contracting News (ECN) |
| EE Times |
External Quote Links
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| TradingView | Morningstar |
| SeekingAlpha | ValueLine |
| Motley Fool | Robinhood |
| CNBC | Etrade |
| MarketWatch | Unusual Whales |
| YCharts | Perplexity Finance |
| FinViz |
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