Here's a fun thing about the electric vehicle transition: it's not just about batteries and motors. Keeping all that newfangled electronics cool is a whole engineering challenge of its own. Garrett Motion Inc. (GTX), a company you might remember from the internal combustion era, just scored a win in that very arena.
The company announced Friday it landed its first commercial production award for its breakthrough E-Cooling compressor. In plain English, a major Chinese maker of heating and cooling systems for commercial vehicles, Cling, is going to start putting Garrett's oil-free, high-speed compressor into its next-generation electric bus and truck platforms. Production is slated for 2027.
Why does this matter? Well, this isn't your grandpa's A/C compressor. This thing spins at over 160,000 RPM—think jet engine speeds—and is up to 50% smaller and 30% lighter than the old scroll compressors. It's also quieter and, crucially, more energy-efficient. In an EV, every bit of efficiency translates directly into more miles of range, so thermal management is suddenly a headline feature, not a background function. This deal is a tangible milestone in Garrett's push to be a player in the electrified future.
The Numbers Were Good, Too
The product news came alongside Garrett's fourth-quarter earnings, and the financials were solid. The company posted net sales of $891 million, a 6% jump from a year ago and ahead of the $875 million analysts were expecting. Adjusted earnings per share came in at 42 cents, beating the 36-cent consensus. Net income for the quarter was $84 million.
Digging into the segments, commercial vehicle revenue was up 9%, and aftermarket sales rose 4%, helped by currency effects and, interestingly, stronger diesel demand—a reminder that the old world isn't going away overnight.
Cash flow was strong: $99 million in operating cash flow and $139 million in adjusted free cash flow for the quarter. The company ended the period with $807 million in available liquidity. Management is putting that cash to work, having repurchased $72 million of stock in the quarter and authorizing a fresh $250 million buyback program for 2026.
Looking ahead, Garrett guided for full-year revenue between $3.60 billion and $3.80 billion and adjusted free cash flow between $355 million and $455 million. CEO Olivier Rabiller pointed to the expanding zero-emission portfolio, which now includes this compressor win, as a core part of the long-term plan.
So, What's The Stock Doing?
This is where it gets interesting. The stock was down slightly in premarket trading Friday. But zoom out, and the picture is dramatic: shares are up nearly 98% over the past 12 months. Let's break down the technical and fundamental views.
The Chart Reader's Take
On the charts, things look mixed. The stock is trading just a hair below its 20-day moving average but remains comfortably above its 100-day average, suggesting some short-term hesitation within a longer-term uptrend. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is sitting at a neutral 51.75, indicating the stock isn't overbought or oversold. Meanwhile, the MACD indicator is in bullish territory, hinting that positive momentum could still be in play. Technicians are watching key resistance at $21.00 and support at $18.00.
The Analyst's Desk
Wall Street's view is famously cautious. The consensus rating on Garrett Motion is a "Hold," with an average price target of $12.89—which is notably below the current trading price. That suggests many analysts think the recent run-up might be overdone.
However, don't ignore the bulls in the room. Recently, some firms have gotten more optimistic:
- JP Morgan (JPM) initiated coverage in December with an Overweight rating and a $23 target.
- Stifel raised its target to $21 with a Buy rating.
- BWS Financial also has a Buy with a $22 target.
These calls highlight a disconnect: the average target is low, but some respected shops see meaningful upside from here. The company's next earnings report is scheduled for April 30, 2026, where analysts currently expect EPS of 41 cents on revenue of about $873.7 million.
On valuation, the stock trades at a P/E of about 12.4x, which some might see as a value opportunity in today's market. Yet, other scoring models suggest the stock trades at a "steep premium relative to peers," balancing that value argument with a very high momentum score of 94.7, confirming the stock's market-beating performance.
