Wrapping up Q2 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the research tools & consumables stocks, including Thermo Fisher (NYSE: TMO) and its peers.

The life sciences subsector specializing in research tools and consumables enables scientific discoveries across academia, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. These firms supply a wide range of essential laboratory products, ensuring a recurring revenue stream through repeat purchases and replenishment. Their business models benefit from strong customer loyalty, a diversified product portfolio, and exposure to both the research and clinical markets. However, challenges include high R&D investment to maintain technological leadership, pricing pressures from budget-conscious institutions, and vulnerability to fluctuations in research funding cycles. Looking ahead, this subsector stands to benefit from tailwinds such as growing demand for tools supporting emerging fields like synthetic biology and personalized medicine. There is also a rise in automation and AI-driven solutions in laboratories that could create new opportunities to sell tools and consumables. Nevertheless, headwinds exist. These companies tend to be at the mercy of supply chain disruptions and sensitivity to macroeconomic conditions that impact funding for research initiatives.

The 9 research tools & consumables stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.9% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.7% below.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 6.4% on average since the latest earnings results.

Thermo Fisher (NYSE: TMO)

With over 14,000 sales personnel and a portfolio spanning more than 2,500 technology manufacturers, Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) provides scientific equipment, reagents, consumables, software, and laboratory services to pharmaceutical, biotech, academic, and healthcare customers worldwide.

Thermo Fisher reported revenues of $10.86 billion, up 3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.6%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a narrow beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ operating income estimates.

“Our exceptional team continues to execute at a high level, enabling customer success while navigating the macroenvironment. The agility of our organization, powered by the PPI Business System, allowed us to effectively adapt to current market conditions, actively manage our cost base, and deliver strong operational results in the second quarter,” said Marc N. Casper, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Interestingly, the stock is up 16.4% since reporting and currently trades at $497.

Is now the time to buy Thermo Fisher? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q2: Sotera Health Company (NASDAQ: SHC)

With a critical role in ensuring the safety of millions of patients worldwide, Sotera Health (NASDAQGS:SHC) provides sterilization services, lab testing, and advisory services to ensure medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and food products are safe for use.

Sotera Health Company reported revenues of $294.3 million, up 6.4% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 6.8%. The business had a stunning quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

Sotera Health Company scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 45.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $16.31.

Is now the time to buy Sotera Health Company? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q2: Bruker (NASDAQ: BRKR)

With roots dating back to the pioneering days of nuclear magnetic resonance technology, Bruker (NASDAQ: BRKR) develops and manufactures high-performance scientific instruments that enable researchers and industrial analysts to explore materials at microscopic, molecular, and cellular levels.

Bruker reported revenues of $797.4 million, flat year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.5%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Bruker delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and weakest full-year guidance update in the group. As expected, the stock is down 10.2% since the results and currently trades at $34.10.

Read our full analysis of Bruker’s results here.

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT)

Founded in 1958 and pioneering innovations in laboratory analysis for over six decades, Waters (NYSE: WAT) develops and manufactures analytical instruments, software, and consumables for liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis used in scientific research and quality testing.

Waters Corporation reported revenues of $771.3 million, up 8.9% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 3.3%. Zooming out, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates but revenue guidance for next quarter meeting analysts’ expectations.

Waters Corporation achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 2.4% since reporting and currently trades at $297.75.

Read our full, actionable report on Waters Corporation here, it’s free.

Danaher (NYSE: DHR)

Born from a real estate investment trust that transformed into a manufacturing powerhouse, Danaher (NYSE: DHR) is a global science and technology company that provides specialized equipment, software, and services for biotechnology, life sciences, and diagnostics.

Danaher reported revenues of $5.94 billion, up 3.4% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.7%. Taking a step back, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but revenue guidance for next quarter slightly missing analysts’ expectations.

The stock is up 13% since reporting and currently trades at $212.51.

Read our full, actionable report on Danaher here, it’s free.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump’s presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.

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