Bathroom UK: TOTO Ltd. has been identified by UK-based activist investor Palliser Capital as an undervalued artificial intelligence–linked opportunity, driven by its advanced ceramics business, which contributes about 40% of operating profit. While widely known for its high-tech sanitaryware, the company also manufactures ceramic electrostatic blocks used in NAND memory chip production, critical for AI-driven data centres. With rising AI demand and increasing memory chip pric

Market decline ITALY: DIY stores in Italy experienced a noticeable drop in sales in 2025. Overall industry revenues declined by 3.5% to EUR 6.33 billion. This was highlighted in the “GDS Report Monitoraggio Dicembre 2025” published by diyandgarden.com , based on data from GfK-NielsenIQ. The report noted that sales surpassed the previous year’s levels in only four months. At the product category level, growth was limited, with only six out of 20 categories recording an increas

Collaboration CANADA: Rheem Canada has announced that General HVAC Solutions America, Inc. has officially joined its portfolio of brands in the Canadian market. As part of this integration, the Fujitsu AIRSTAGE range of mini-split and VRF heating and cooling systems will now be included under Rheem Canada’s brand offerings. With immediate effect, Rheem Canada has taken over sales responsibilities for General HVAC Solutions America, while other operational functions will be gr

Bathroom UAE: RAK Ceramics reported strong margin performance and solid profit growth in Q4 and FY 2025, despite challenging conditions in some international markets. Growth was largely driven by robust activity in the UAE’s real estate and construction sectors, along with a higher contribution from premium products and project-based sales. In Q4 2025, revenue declined slightly by 1.7% year-on-year, while full-year revenue increased by 1.6%. Gross profit margins improved to 3

Agreement USA: Johnson Controls a global leader in energy efficiency, decarbonization, and thermal management solutions, has entered into an agreement to acquire Alloy Enterprises, a Boston-based innovator specializing in next-generation thermal management platforms for high-performance data centres and mission-critical industrial applications. This acquisition is expected to strengthen Johnson Controls’ position and capabilities in the rapidly expanding data centre cooling m

Heat pump USA: Quilt recently announced in a LinkedIn post that it has partnered with Southern Home Services to distribute its smart heat pump systems across nine markets in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas. This marks one of Quilt’s largest geographic expansions to date and reflects rising interest among established home service providers in ductless heat pump technologies. According to the post, Southern Home Services selected Quilt to support its expansion into

US Supreme Court Restricts Presidential Authority to Impose Tariffs USA: The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled by a 6‑3 majority that former President Donald Trump exceeded his legal authority when imposing broad import tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Court held that IEEPA does not grant the executive branch the power to levy sweeping tariffs because the Constitution reserves the power to impose taxes and duties to Congres

Carrier Global to Build a Plant as Sri City Strengthens Role as India’s Cooling Hub INDIA: Carrier Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Ltd will invest about US$ 11 million (₹1,0000 million) in a new manufacturing facility in Sri City, reinforcing the region’s status as a major air-conditioning hub. The cluster already produces around 40% of India’s ACs, and industry estimates suggest this could rise to 60% by 2027 and 70% by 2028 as players such as LG Electronics and Daikin Ai

Watsco, Inc. Lifts Dividend and Margins Despite Tough HVAC Market USA: Watsco reported resilient 2025 results amid regulatory transitions and softer housing demand, delivering a record full-year gross margin of 28% and record fourth-quarter operating cash flow of US$400 million. Revenue slipped 5% to US$7.24 billion and EPS eased to US$12.25, reflecting lower HVAC unit volumes and higher operating costs tied to the A2L refrigerant shift. Even so, pricing optimisation and OEM

Carrier JV Targets Kenya’s Data Center Growth with Advanced Cooling Solutions KENYA: Gulf-based AHI Carrier FZC, a Carrier Global joint venture, has announced plans to enter the Kenyan market, aiming to capitalise on a rapidly growing demand for data centers and digital infrastructure in the region. The company’s regional business manager, Ajay Garg, said the move aligns with Kenya’s expanding digital economy and strong need for high-density, energy-efficient cooling technolo

HARDI Releases 2026 State of the Channel Report on HVACR Distribution Trends USA: Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) has released its 2026 State of the Channel Report, offering key insights into the factors influencing the wholesale HVACR distribution and manufacturing landscape. Now in its sixth edition, the report presents a clear and comprehensive overview of market performance, competitive dynamics, and future demand trends, based

Canadian Tire Reports Higher Q4 Sales but Lower Annual Profit CANADA: Canadian Tire Corporation reported stronger sales in the fourth quarter and across 2025, although annual profit declined. Fourth-quarter sales increased 8.3% to about $4.6 billion, while comparable retail sales rose 2.7%, supported mainly by demand for seasonal products. For the full year, retail sales reached $19.0 billion, representing a 4.5% increase compared with the previous year. However, net income f

Hüppe Agrees Restructuring Plan to Retain Operations at Bad Zwischenahn Site GERMANY: Shower manufacturer Hüppe has reached an agreement with the IG Metall trade union on a restructuring plan that is expected to retain operations at its Bad Zwischenahn site in the Ammerland district. According to the company, 78 of the current 191 positions will be retained under the agreement. The restructuring plan follows a social plan agreed between Hüppe and the union at the beginning of

Housing Starts Show Uptick Towards the End of 2025 USA: According to recent construction data, U.S. housing starts showed an uptick late in 2025, signalling a modest rebound in residential building activity after earlier softness during the year. The increase was driven in part by a rise in single‑family housing starts, which reached their highest level since February, suggesting builders responded to improving seasonal and market conditions. While starts earlier in 2025 had

Multifamily Housing Market Forecast to Cool in 2026 as Vacancies Climb USA: The multifamily housing market in the United States is expected to slow in 2026 as vacancy rates continue to rise, according to economists speaking at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show in Orlando. After a post‑pandemic slump, multifamily property sales rebounded in 2025 with a 15 % increase across most metropolitan areas, but the influx of new supply is now

Oli Reports Decline in 2025 Revenue Amid International Market Weakness Portugal: Oli, a Portuguese manufacturer of concealed cisterns and flushing systems, reported turnover of EUR 69 million (approximately USD 75 million) in 2025, representing a decline of 8 percent compared with the previous year. The company had recorded growth of 3 percent in 2024 compared with 2023. Sales in the domestic Portuguese market increased by 5 percent during 2025. However, international markets

Home Resales Decline in January CANADA: Sales of existing homes in Canada declined in January 2026, with resale activity down 5.8 percent compared with December, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. On a non‑seasonally adjusted basis, sales were also 16.2 percent lower than in January 2025. At the same time, the number of newly listed properties rose by 7.3 percent, indicating growing supply even as buyer activity weakened. The combined effect suggests a cooling

Survey Highlights Growing Doubts About Homeownership Affordability CANADA: A new public opinion report by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association reveals increasing concern among Canadians about the feasibility of owning a home. While 88% of Canadians under 45 aspire to homeownership, only 29% of non-homeowners believe they will ever be able to purchase a property. The survey also found that 66% of respondents consider the federal government responsible for addressing the hou

Ace Hardware Delivers Strong Revenue Growth in 2025 Results USA: Ace Hardware Corporation reported robust financial performance for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2025, with record revenues of $2.5 billion in Q4 and $10 billion for the year, marking notable year‑on‑year increases. Fourth‑quarter net income was $44.2 million, down slightly from the prior year, while full‑year net income was $293.4 million. The results reflect expanded sales across wholesale and ret

Residential Remodelling Market Expected to Expand Through 2026 and Beyond USA: The residential remodelling sector is projected to continue growing through 2026, supported by changing homeowner needs and long-term housing trends. One of the key drivers is the increasing number of older homeowners choosing to remain in their existing properties rather than relocating. This ageing-in-place trend is encouraging renovations that improve accessibility, comfort and functionality wit

Construction Spending Rises in December in Canada CANADA: Investment in building construction in Canada increased in December, with total spending up $442.9 million (1.9 %) to $23.7 billion, according to Statistics Canada data reported by Hardlines. Growth was driven by residential construction, which rose 2.4 % to $16.8 billion, including a 2.3 % increase in single‑family home investment to $7.5 billion. Gains were seen notably in Ontario and British Columbia, reflecting con

Mitsubishi Electric Thailand: Mitsubishi Electric announced that its Thai subsidiary Siam Compressor Industry Co., Ltd. will be renamed Mitsubishi Electric Siam Compressor Industry Co., Ltd., effective April 1, 2026. The company develops, manufactures, and sells compressors for air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, supplying both Mitsubishi Electric group companies and other HVAC manufacturers in Thailand and international markets. Following the name change, products

Panasonic India: Panasonic expects India to become its largest global air-conditioner market within the next five to seven years, driven by strong demand growth and low household penetration. Only about 10% of Indian households currently own an air conditioner, compared with much higher adoption levels in China and Thailand. An executive stated that ' India's room AC market is already No. 2 for us globally' and 'maybe in a five- to seven years' time frame, we will be the No.

Orlando Focuses on Affordability Challenges at IBS 2026 USA: At the International Builders’ Show (IBS) 2026 held in Orlando, affordability emerged as a central concern for the housing and construction industry, with major discussions on how escalating costs are affecting buyer demand and market confidence. Participants, including builders and industry experts, highlighted that high home prices, mortgage rates and supply‑side pressures are constraining housing affordability, p