Bank of America has compiled a list of European engineering companies for 2026, with a few favorites and a few that can be avoided. The list includes a number of Swedish companies.
BofA expects strong capex investments to broaden with a European short-cycle and construction recovery in 2026, driving EPS growth of 19 percent. The sector's valuation of 13 times EV/EBITA is considered attractive despite a premium to the 2010–2019 average. Siemens and Siemens Energy are the most convincing among the stocks on the list.
In the large-cap segment, Volvo, Siemens, Siemens Energy, and Schneider Electric are highlighted as attractive choices. In the small- and mid-cap segment, SKF, Nibe, Wärtsilä, Weir, and Kion are favored. Among the stocks to avoid are Alfa Laval, Assa Abloy, Epiroc, Traton, Trelleborg, and Vestas.
Assa Abloy, Epiroc, Alfa Laval, and Vestas are recommended as underperformers due to weaker prospects in their respective end markets. Assa Abloy is expected to be weighed down by continued weak US housing construction in the first half of 2025, while Epiroc is expected to face margin pressure that is not reflected in its valuation. Alfa Laval is expected to see lower order intake from the marine sector, and Vestas is affected by political and tariff-related uncertainty in the US.
Siemens, Siemens Energy, Schneider, and Volvo receive a buy recommendation due to strong thematic and cyclical drivers. Volvo is highlighted for a bottoming out in trucks and the benefit of US tariffs.
AB Volvo is the leading European truck maker and No. 3 worldwide. Net sales break down by activity as follows:
- sales of trucks (68.4%): 219,377 vehicles sold in 2024 (names Volvo, Renault, Eicher and Mack);
- sales of construction equipment (16.8%): excavators, loaders, backhoes, hydraulic shovels, graders, dump trucks, etc.;
- financial services (5.1%);
- bus and chassis sales (4.7%): world's No. 2 largest manufacturer;
- sales of parts, control systems, and marine and industrial motors (3.8%): for commerce and cruise ships and for industrial applications (irrigation units, lifting trucks, electrical generators, etc.);
- other (1.2%).
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: Europe (41.1%), North America (30.8%), Asia (11.2%), South America (10.7%), Africa and Oceania (6.2%).
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