Stanley Black & Decker jumps 16% on tariff refund and $1B buyback, top S&P 500 gainer Wednesday
What happened
Stanley Black & Decker was the top performer in the S&P 500 on Wednesday, jumping 16% to $121.33 for its largest single-day percentage gain since March 24, 2020. Two headline drivers fueled the surge: a profitability boost from a one-time government refund on past import tariffs, and an announced $1 billion share buyback (management said it used $250 million of excess cash in Q3 to repurchase shares). Operating income soared 262% to $415.1 million and adjusted gross margin expanded to 39.4% from 31.6% a year ago; the tariff refund temporarily pumped margins by 4.3 points and added $0.67 a share. Adjusted EPS of $2.31 crushed the $1.55 consensus, even as revenue fell 1% to $3.7 billion (just shy of the $3.74B estimate); organic sales in the core tools and outdoor segment rose 4% to $3.34 billion.
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Start your free 14-day trialWho’s affected
- SWK (Stanley Black & Decker) — +16% to $121.33, best single-day gain since March 24, 2020; top S&P 500 performer Wednesday
- Tariff-exposed industrial peers — one-time refund benefit could repeat in other import-heavy manufacturers' reports
- Industrials sector — reinforces buyback-plus-beat momentum in a relief-rally tape
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