GE Vernova emerges as best industrials performer in May, Copart drags

Wall Street posted its strongest monthly gain since November 2023, signaling renewed optimism after weeks of volatile trading driven by uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariff announcements.

For the entire month, the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund ETF (NYSEARCA:XLI) gained nearly 9% against a 6% rise in the broader market.

Weekly top 5 gainers

• GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV) was +27.55% for the month, maintaining its lead from last week despite its shares falling after Jefferies downgraded the stock to Hold. Seeking Alpha analyst Michael Del Monte maintained his String Buy rating for the stock expecting a long growth runway, margin expansion, and capacity buildout.
• Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) +27.40% ended second in the list of gainers for May when the company was seen posting better-than-expected Q2 earnings and margins, offsetting the decline in sales. Consequently, the stock was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight by JPMorgan.
• Howmet Aerospace (NYSE:HWM) was +22.59% for the month of May.
• Axon Enterprise’s (NASDAQ:AXON) shares were +22.35%. The company posted strong Q1 results in the month on the back of growing demand for its products. It also raised 2025 revenue guidance to the range of $2.6B-$2.7B.
• GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) was +22.02%. Last week CEO Larry Culp said supply chain issues are easing and the company expects to increase narrowbody jet engine deliveries by 15–20% this year.

Weekly top 5 losers

• Copart (NASDAQ:CPRT) ended the month -15.65% after Seeking Alpha analyst RB Equity’s Strong Buy rating failed to lift investors’ sentiment.
• Builders FirstSource (NYSE:BLDR) was -9.99% in the month.
• A. O. Smith (NYSE:AOS) shares were -5.23% in May.
• Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) was -3.16%.
• Otis Worldwide (NYSE:OTIS) saw its shares end at -0.96% in the month. Last week, Seeking Alpha analyst Dividend Yield Theorist issued a Hold rating for the stock.

ETFs to tab the industrial sector include: (XLI), (VIS), (XAR), (EXI), (PSCI), (PRN), (FIDU).