As the Q4 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the engineered components and systems industry, including NN (NASDAQ: NNBR) and its peers.

Engineered components and systems companies possess technical know-how in sometimes narrow areas such as metal forming or intelligent robotics. Lately, automation and connected equipment collecting analyzable data have been trending, creating new demand. On the other hand, like the broader industrials sector, engineered components and systems companies are at the whim of economic cycles. Consumer spending and interest rates, for example, can greatly impact the industrial production that drives demand for these companies’ offerings.

The 13 engineered components and systems stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.2% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.6% below.

Luckily, engineered components and systems stocks have performed well with share prices up 15.2% on average since the latest earnings results.

NN (NASDAQ: NNBR)

Formerly known as Nuturn, NN (NASDAQ: NNBR) provides metal components, bearings, and plastic and rubber components to the automotive, aerospace, medical, and industrial sectors.

NN reported revenues of $104.7 million, down 1.7% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

"NN delivered a third consecutive year of improved financial performance in 2025, and we look ahead to 2026 with increased confidence in our trajectory for sales, margins, and adjusted EBITDA," said Harold Bevis, Chief Executive Officer of NN, Inc.

NN pulled off the highest full-year guidance raise but had the slowest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 58.2% since reporting and currently trades at $2.42.

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

Best Q4: Arrow Electronics (NYSE: ARW)

Founded as a single retail store, Arrow Electronics (NYSE: ARW) provides electronic components and enterprise computing solutions to businesses globally.

Arrow Electronics reported revenues of $8.75 billion, up 20.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 6.6%. The business had an incredible quarter with EPS guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 28.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $181.43.

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

Weakest Q4: Mayville Engineering (NYSE: MEC)

Originally founded solely on tool and die manufacturing, Mayville Engineering Company (NYSE: MEC) specializes in metal fabrication, tube bending, and welding to be used in various industries.

Mayville Engineering reported revenues of $134.3 million, up 10.7% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations and a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $21.31.

Read our full analysis of Mayville Engineering’s results here.

Applied Industrial (NYSE: AIT)

Formerly called The Ohio Ball Bearing Company, Applied Industrial (NYSE: AIT) distributes industrial products–everything from power tools to industrial valves–and services to a wide variety of industries.

Applied Industrial reported revenues of $1.16 billion, up 8.4% year on year. This print lagged analysts' expectations by 0.7%. It was a slower quarter as it also logged a miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a slight miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is up 3% since reporting and currently trades at $289.86.

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

RBC Bearings (NYSE: RBC)

With a Guinness World Record for engineering the largest spherical plain bearing, RBC Bearings (NYSE: RBC) is a manufacturer of bearings and related components for the aerospace & defense, industrial, and transportation industries.

RBC Bearings reported revenues of $461.6 million, up 17% year on year. This result was in line with analysts’ expectations. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced a decent beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates but a miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is up 13.5% since reporting and currently trades at $586.56.

Read our full, actionable report on RBC Bearings 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 Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.