11:50 AM EDT, 09/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Small- and mid-cap, or SMID, industrial companies continue to look attractive, especially given their double-digit valuation discount versus large-cap peers, UBS Securities said in a note Tuesday.

Analysts, including Damian Karas, said that heading into Q3 earnings, they expect fewer positive surprises, since most models and investor expectations are now more closely aligned. At a broader level, they continue to see mixed trends across end markets.

Strong segments such as commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC, data centers, and aerospace and defense remain solid, while weak areas like short-cycle industrial production and residential HVAC are under pressure or worsening. UBS also pointed to early signs of recovery in capital spending across key industries.

The analysts named Zebra Technologies ( ZBRA ) as their top pick, saying they expect strong H2 results to drive momentum into 2026 after the stock's Q2 correction.

The analysts anticipate upward revisions to 2026 earnings estimates, with the Elo Touch Solutions acquisition adding about $0.77 to $0.92 per share to 2026 EPS, while noting valuation remains attractive near multi-year lows.

UBS downgraded Symbotic ( SYM ) to sell, citing its 170% gain since April 1 despite limited evidence of accelerating growth or new business wins. With expected headwinds over the next three quarters, the firm is skeptical the company can deliver the earnings acceleration needed to justify its current valuation of about 10 times enterprise value to 2027 estimated sales.

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