As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q1. Today, we are looking at business services & supplies stocks, starting with MillerKnoll (NASDAQ: MLKN).

This is a sector that encompasses many types of business, and so it follows that a number of trends will impact the space. For industrial and environmental services companies, for example, trends around environmental compliance and increasing corporate ESG commitments matter while for safety and security services companies, the intersection of physical security, cybersecurity, and workplace safety regulations are the topics du jour. Broadly, AI and automation could be tailwinds for companies in the space that invest wisely. On the other hand, shifting regulatory frameworks could force continual changes in go-to-market and costly investments.

The 20 business services & supplies stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.4% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Luckily, business services & supplies stocks have performed well with share prices up 10.6% on average since the latest earnings results.

Weakest Q1: MillerKnoll (NASDAQ: MLKN)

Created through the 2021 merger of industry icons Herman Miller and Knoll, MillerKnoll (NASDAQ: MLKN) designs, manufactures, and distributes interior furnishings for offices, healthcare facilities, educational settings, and homes worldwide.

MillerKnoll reported revenues of $926.6 million, up 5.8% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 1.6%. Overall, it was a disappointing quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

MillerKnoll delivered the weakest guidance update of the whole group. The market seems disappointed with the results as the stock is down 14.8% since reporting and currently trades at $16.50.

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

Best Q1: Brady (NYSE: BRC)

Founded in 1914 and evolving through more than a century of industrial innovation, Brady (NYSE: BRC) manufactures and supplies identification solutions and workplace safety products that help companies identify and protect their premises, products, and people.

Brady reported revenues of $435.2 million, up 13.8% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.2%. The business had a stunning quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 20.2% since reporting. It currently trades at $85.31.

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

Pitney Bowes (NYSE: PBI)

With a century-long history dating back to 1920 and processing over 15 billion pieces of mail annually, Pitney Bowes (NYSE: PBI) provides shipping, mailing technology, logistics, and financial services to businesses of all sizes.

Pitney Bowes reported revenues of $477.4 million, down 3.2% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates and full-year revenue guidance meeting analysts’ expectations.

Pitney Bowes delivered the weakest full-year guidance update in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 13.6% since the results and currently trades at $17.65.

Read our full analysis of Pitney Bowes’s results here.

CECO Environmental (NASDAQ: CECO)

With roots dating back to 1869 and a focus on creating cleaner industrial operations, CECO Environmental (NASDAQ: CECO) provides technology and expertise that helps industrial companies reduce emissions, treat water, and improve energy efficiency across various sectors.

CECO Environmental reported revenues of $205.9 million, up 16.5% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 4.1%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter as it also logged a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and full-year revenue guidance topping analysts’ expectations.

The stock is up 51.5% since reporting and currently trades at $98.33.

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

Copart (NASDAQ: CPRT)

Starting as a single salvage yard in California in 1982, Copart (NASDAQ: CPRT) operates an online auction platform that connects sellers of damaged and salvage vehicles with buyers ranging from dismantlers and rebuilders to used car dealers and exporters.

Copart reported revenues of $1.24 billion, up 2.1% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 4.2%. It was a very strong quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 11.9% since reporting and currently trades at $30.30.

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

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand-wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.