Zacks.com Spotlights Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, Armstrong World, Ralph Lauren, Celestica, and Canadian Natural Resources
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 28 2025
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Stock Selection: The article highlights five stocks that have passed efficiency screening: Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, Armstrong World Industries, Ralph Lauren, Celestica, and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.
Efficiency Ratios: Key efficiency ratios discussed include Receivables Turnover, Asset Utilization, Inventory Turnover, and Operating Margin, which help gauge a company's ability to convert inputs into outputs and manage expenses effectively.
Company Profiles: Each selected company is briefly described, noting their industry roles and average earnings surprises, indicating their potential for profitability.
Investment Tools: The article promotes the Research Wizard tool for investors to screen stocks based on efficiency metrics and develop personalized investment strategies.
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Analyst Views on ZWS
Wall Street analysts forecast ZWS stock price to fall
7 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 51.380
Low
45.00
Averages
51.33
High
58.00
Current: 51.380
Low
45.00
Averages
51.33
High
58.00
About ZWS
Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a pure-play water management company. The Company designs, procures, manufactures, and markets a sustainable product portfolio of specification-driven water management solutions to improve health, human safety and the environment. The Company's product portfolio includes professional grade water safety and control products, flow system products, hygienic and environmental products, and filtered drinking water products for public and private spaces. Its products are marketed and sold under various brand names, including Zurn, Elkay, Wilkins, Green Turtle, World Dryer, StainlessDrains.com, JUST, Hadrian, Wade, and Halsey Taylor. It serves various range of institutional and commercial end markets, and waterworks and residential end markets. The institutional construction end users include education, healthcare, and government segments. The commercial construction end users include retail, office, lodging, warehouse, and sports arena segments.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
RBC Raises Zurn Elkay Price Target to $55 Amid Strong Q4 Performance
- Price Target Increase: RBC Capital raised Zurn Elkay Water's price target from $49 to $55 while maintaining a Sector Perform rating, reflecting confidence in the company's future performance.
- Earnings Beat: The company reported a solid Q4 with adjusted EBITDA approximately 2% above consensus and robust organic sales growth of 10%, indicating strong market demand and operational efficiency.
- Conservative Guidance: Zurn Elkay's guidance for 2026 suggests mid-single-digit sales growth, indicating a cautious approach to future market conditions.
- Positive Sales Outlook: The company anticipates core sales growth of 7%-8% in Q1, demonstrating ongoing market demand and growth potential, which bolsters investor confidence in its long-term development.
See More
Goldman Sachs Raises Zurn Elkay Price Target to $50
- Price Target Increase: Goldman Sachs analyst Joe Ritchie raised the price target for Zurn Elkay Water from $45 to $50 while maintaining a Neutral rating, reflecting a cautiously optimistic outlook on the company's future performance.
- Strong Financial Performance: Zurn Elkay Water reported adjusted EBITDA of $104 million, a 3% increase year-over-year, exceeding market expectations, with a core growth rate of 10%, indicating robust market performance.
- Positive Future Guidance: The company anticipates core sales growth of 7%-8% for Q1, with EBITDA margins projected between 25.5%-26.0%, demonstrating confidence in effective margin management and market share gains.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: Analysts noted that Zurn Elkay Water's FY26 core growth expectation is in the mid-single digits, reflecting the company's potential in diversified market performance and strong share gains, suggesting that its guidance may be conservative.
See More
Zurn Elkay Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings Growth
- Significant Sales Growth: Zurn Elkay achieved $407 million in sales for Q4 2025, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase, indicating sustained competitiveness in the market and potential for enhanced profitability moving forward.
- Strong Free Cash Flow: The company generated $83 million in free cash flow during the fourth quarter, bringing the annual total to $317 million, which is a 17% improvement year-over-year, providing a solid foundation for future investments and shareholder returns.
- New Strategic Planning Cycle: Management has initiated a three-year strategic planning cycle focusing on organic growth opportunities, particularly in underserved verticals, which will lay the groundwork for future expansion.
- Reduced Leverage: The company's leverage has decreased to 0.4x, the lowest since going public, indicating improved financial health and enhancing its ability to execute on potential M&A opportunities.
See More
Zurn Elkay Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations with Positive 2026 Outlook
- Strong Earnings: Zurn Elkay Water Solutions reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.36, beating expectations by $0.02, indicating a sustained improvement in profitability.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenues of $407 million, a 9.7% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $6.22 million, reflecting robust demand for its products.
- Positive Outlook: Zurn Elkay maintains an optimistic guidance framework for 2026, projecting mid-single-digit core sales growth and adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 35%, showcasing confidence in future growth.
- Quarterly Expectations: For Q1 2026, Zurn Elkay anticipates core sales growth of 7% to 8%, with adjusted EBITDA margins expected to range from 25.5% to 26.0%, further solidifying its market position.
See More
Zurn Elkay Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.11
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Zurn Elkay's Board of Directors declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.11 per share, payable on March 6, 2026, to stockholders of record as of February 20, 2026, demonstrating the company's commitment to shareholder returns.
- Sustainability Recognition: Zurn Elkay has been named one of America's Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek and one of the World's Best Companies for Sustainable Growth by TIME, highlighting its leadership and social responsibility in the water management sector.
- Diverse Product Portfolio: The company offers a broad range of water management solutions, including water safety, flow systems, hygienic and environmental products, and filtered drinking water products for public and private spaces, addressing market demand for sustainable offerings.
- Forward-Looking Statements: The company noted that all forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the release date, acknowledging risks and uncertainties while expressing confidence in future performance.
See More
Zacks Industry Outlook Spotlights Xylem, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, and Republic Services
Industry Growth: The Waste Management industry is projected to grow from $1.2 trillion in 2024 to $1.6 trillion by 2029, driven by improved waste collection methods and rising waste volumes in emerging markets.
Key Players: Notable companies in the Waste Removal Services market include Xylem, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corp., and Republic Services, all of which are positioned for growth due to their innovative solutions and operational efficiencies.
Technological Advancements: The integration of technology, such as AI and Waste-to-Energy innovations, is enhancing waste management practices, promoting sustainability, and addressing environmental challenges.
Market Performance: The Zacks Waste Removal Services industry holds a favorable ranking, indicating potential outperformance in the near term, despite recent underperformance compared to the broader sector and S&P 500.
See More
RBC Raises Zurn Elkay Price Target to $55 Amid Strong Q4 Performance
- Price Target Increase: RBC Capital raised Zurn Elkay Water's price target from $49 to $55 while maintaining a Sector Perform rating, reflecting confidence in the company's future performance.
- Earnings Beat: The company reported a solid Q4 with adjusted EBITDA approximately 2% above consensus and robust organic sales growth of 10%, indicating strong market demand and operational efficiency.
- Conservative Guidance: Zurn Elkay's guidance for 2026 suggests mid-single-digit sales growth, indicating a cautious approach to future market conditions.
- Positive Sales Outlook: The company anticipates core sales growth of 7%-8% in Q1, demonstrating ongoing market demand and growth potential, which bolsters investor confidence in its long-term development.
See More
Goldman Sachs Raises Zurn Elkay Price Target to $50
- Price Target Increase: Goldman Sachs analyst Joe Ritchie raised the price target for Zurn Elkay Water from $45 to $50 while maintaining a Neutral rating, reflecting a cautiously optimistic outlook on the company's future performance.
- Strong Financial Performance: Zurn Elkay Water reported adjusted EBITDA of $104 million, a 3% increase year-over-year, exceeding market expectations, with a core growth rate of 10%, indicating robust market performance.
- Positive Future Guidance: The company anticipates core sales growth of 7%-8% for Q1, with EBITDA margins projected between 25.5%-26.0%, demonstrating confidence in effective margin management and market share gains.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: Analysts noted that Zurn Elkay Water's FY26 core growth expectation is in the mid-single digits, reflecting the company's potential in diversified market performance and strong share gains, suggesting that its guidance may be conservative.
See More
Zurn Elkay Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings Growth
- Significant Sales Growth: Zurn Elkay achieved $407 million in sales for Q4 2025, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase, indicating sustained competitiveness in the market and potential for enhanced profitability moving forward.
- Strong Free Cash Flow: The company generated $83 million in free cash flow during the fourth quarter, bringing the annual total to $317 million, which is a 17% improvement year-over-year, providing a solid foundation for future investments and shareholder returns.
- New Strategic Planning Cycle: Management has initiated a three-year strategic planning cycle focusing on organic growth opportunities, particularly in underserved verticals, which will lay the groundwork for future expansion.
- Reduced Leverage: The company's leverage has decreased to 0.4x, the lowest since going public, indicating improved financial health and enhancing its ability to execute on potential M&A opportunities.
See More
Zurn Elkay Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations with Positive 2026 Outlook
- Strong Earnings: Zurn Elkay Water Solutions reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.36, beating expectations by $0.02, indicating a sustained improvement in profitability.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenues of $407 million, a 9.7% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $6.22 million, reflecting robust demand for its products.
- Positive Outlook: Zurn Elkay maintains an optimistic guidance framework for 2026, projecting mid-single-digit core sales growth and adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 35%, showcasing confidence in future growth.
- Quarterly Expectations: For Q1 2026, Zurn Elkay anticipates core sales growth of 7% to 8%, with adjusted EBITDA margins expected to range from 25.5% to 26.0%, further solidifying its market position.
See More
Zurn Elkay Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.11
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Zurn Elkay's Board of Directors declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.11 per share, payable on March 6, 2026, to stockholders of record as of February 20, 2026, demonstrating the company's commitment to shareholder returns.
- Sustainability Recognition: Zurn Elkay has been named one of America's Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek and one of the World's Best Companies for Sustainable Growth by TIME, highlighting its leadership and social responsibility in the water management sector.
- Diverse Product Portfolio: The company offers a broad range of water management solutions, including water safety, flow systems, hygienic and environmental products, and filtered drinking water products for public and private spaces, addressing market demand for sustainable offerings.
- Forward-Looking Statements: The company noted that all forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the release date, acknowledging risks and uncertainties while expressing confidence in future performance.
See More
Zacks Industry Outlook Spotlights Xylem, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, and Republic Services
Industry Growth: The Waste Management industry is projected to grow from $1.2 trillion in 2024 to $1.6 trillion by 2029, driven by improved waste collection methods and rising waste volumes in emerging markets.
Key Players: Notable companies in the Waste Removal Services market include Xylem, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corp., and Republic Services, all of which are positioned for growth due to their innovative solutions and operational efficiencies.
Technological Advancements: The integration of technology, such as AI and Waste-to-Energy innovations, is enhancing waste management practices, promoting sustainability, and addressing environmental challenges.
Market Performance: The Zacks Waste Removal Services industry holds a favorable ranking, indicating potential outperformance in the near term, despite recent underperformance compared to the broader sector and S&P 500.
See More
