4 Pollution Control Stocks to Monitor Amid Strong Industry Trends
Industry Outlook: The Zacks Pollution Control industry is experiencing strong demand for air pollution control products due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions and stringent government regulations, although the rise of renewable energy sources poses challenges.
Key Players: Companies like Donaldson Company, Atmus Filtration Technologies, Energy Recovery, and Fuel Tech are well-positioned to benefit from the growing market for pollution control technologies and services.
Market Trends: Rapid urbanization and heightened public awareness of health risks from air pollution are driving demand, while strict emission standards globally are further supporting the industry.
Performance Metrics: Despite a solid Zacks Industry Rank indicating positive near-term prospects, the pollution control industry has underperformed compared to the broader Industrial Products sector and the S&P 500 over the past year.
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Company Performance: Atmus Filtration shares increased by 2.1% following a strong performance in Q4.
Financial Results: The company reported a profit and exceeded revenue expectations for the quarter.
- Acquisition Success: Atmus completed the acquisition of Koch Filter, establishing a new Industrial Solutions segment that is expected to accelerate growth, with plans to report two business segments in 2026: Power Solutions and Industrial Solutions.
- Sales Growth: Fourth-quarter sales reached $447 million, a 9.8% increase year-over-year, primarily driven by a 5% price increase and 4% higher volumes, demonstrating the company's strong market performance.
- Shareholder Returns: In 2025, Atmus returned $78 million to shareholders, including $61 million in share buybacks and $17 million in dividends, with plans for an additional $20 million to $40 million in buybacks in 2026.
- Future Outlook: Management projects total revenue for 2026 to range from $1.945 billion to $2.015 billion, reflecting an expected growth of 10% to 14%, while adjusted EBITDA margins are anticipated to be between 19.5% and 20.5%, indicating confidence in future performance.
- 2026 Financial Guidance: Atmus Filtration Technologies has initiated guidance for fiscal 2026, projecting adjusted earnings per share between $2.75 and $3, with revenues expected to range from $1.945 billion to $2.015 billion, indicating strong confidence in future growth.
- EBITDA Margin Expectations: The company anticipates an adjusted EBITDA margin of 19.5% to 20.5% for 2026, slightly lower than the 20% margin reported for 2025, reflecting potential pressures on profitability due to increased market competition.
- 2025 Performance Review: For fiscal 2025, Atmus reported adjusted earnings of $2.73 per share and revenues of $1.764 billion, demonstrating stable performance in the market despite facing challenges, which may enhance investor confidence.
- Stock Price Reaction: Atmus's stock rose by 3.37% to $64.19 in pre-market trading on the New York Stock Exchange, indicating a positive market reaction to its financial guidance, which could attract more investor interest.
- Strong Earnings Report: Atmus Filtration reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.66, beating expectations by $0.09, indicating a sustained enhancement in profitability and reflecting its competitive position in the market.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenue of $447 million, a 9.8% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $24.94 million, demonstrating robust product demand and steady market share growth.
- Acquisition Strategy: Atmus Filtration acquired Koch Filter for $450 million, aiming to accelerate growth through mergers and acquisitions, which is expected to positively impact future performance and strengthen its market position in the filtration industry.
- Analyst Rating Upgrade: Following the acquisition, J.P. Morgan upgraded Atmus Filtration's rating, reflecting market confidence in its future growth potential, which may further drive stock price appreciation.
- Significant Sales Growth: Atmus reported net sales of $447 million in Q4 2025, a 9.8% increase from Q4 2024, primarily driven by price increases and higher volumes, indicating strong demand in global markets.
- Improved Gross Margin: The gross margin for Q4 was 28.5%, up from 26.3% in the same period last year, reflecting successful pricing and volume strategies despite rising logistics and manufacturing costs.
- Strong Cash Flow Performance: Cash provided by operating activities reached $48 million in Q4 2025, significantly up from $20 million in Q4 2024, demonstrating improvements in operational efficiency and profitability.
- Acquisition of Koch Filter: Atmus completed the acquisition of Koch Filter on January 7, 2026, further expanding its Industrial Solutions segment, which is expected to enhance its competitiveness in high-growth markets, particularly in commercial and industrial HVAC sectors.







