The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how research tools & consumables stocks fared in Q3, starting with Danaher (NYSE: DHR).

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 10 research tools & consumables stocks we track reported a mixed Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.1% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 1.3% below.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 7.3% on average since the latest earnings results.

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 $6.05 billion, up 4.4% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a mixed quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations significantly.

Rainer M. Blair, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are encouraged by our third quarter results. DBS-driven execution paired with continued momentum in our bioprocessing business and better-than-anticipated respiratory revenue at Cepheid enabled us to exceed our revenue, earnings and cash flow expectations."

Interestingly, the stock is up 13.9% since reporting and currently trades at $235.75.

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

Best Q3: 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 $311.3 million, up 9.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.6%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 15.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $19.18.

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

Weakest Q3: Avantor (NYSE: AVTR)

With roots dating back to 1904 and embedded in virtually every stage of scientific research and production, Avantor (NYSE: AVTR) provides mission-critical products, materials, and services to customers in biopharma, healthcare, education, and advanced technology industries.

Avantor reported revenues of $1.62 billion, down 5.3% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. It was a softer quarter as it posted a slight miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a miss of analysts’ organic revenue estimates.

Avantor delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 19.4% since the results and currently trades at $12.16.

Read our full analysis of Avantor’s results here.

Mettler-Toledo (NYSE: MTD)

With roots dating back to the precision balance innovations of Swiss engineer Erhard Mettler, Mettler-Toledo (NYSE: MTD) manufactures precision weighing instruments, analytical equipment, and product inspection systems used in laboratories, industrial settings, and food retail.

Mettler-Toledo reported revenues of $1.03 billion, up 7.9% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 3.2%. More broadly, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations significantly.

Mettler-Toledo pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is up 1.4% since reporting and currently trades at $1,459.

Read our full, actionable report on Mettler-Toledo here, it’s free.

Agilent (NYSE: A)

Originally spun off from Hewlett-Packard in 1999 as its measurement and analytical division, Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) provides analytical instruments, software, services, and consumables for laboratory workflows in life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets.

Agilent reported revenues of $1.86 billion, up 9.4% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.5%. It was a strong quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Agilent delivered the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 9.2% since reporting and currently trades at $139.81.

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

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