Wolfe Research upgraded its rating on the U.S. Electrical Equipment and Multi-Industry (EE/MI) sector from market underweight to market weight given attractive relative valuations after year-to-date underperformance versus the S&P 500 and most industrial peers.
EE/MI has gained 8.7% in 2025, lagging the S&P 500 by about five percentage points and trailing global capital goods sub-sectors, which have risen roughly 17% year-to-date.
Wolfe said the sector’s next-12-month price-to-earnings multiple of around 22 times sits between its one- and ten-year medians, down from a late-July peak of 24 times, leaving it at a rare 4% discount to the broader index.
Momentum in the data center and AI trade boosted performance for some names, including a 15.6% gain for Vertiv, while others like Hubbell and Generac weighed on the sector due to guidance and valuation concerns.
Distributors underperformed, with Fastenal down 1.7% amid heightened valuation scrutiny.
Wolfe highlighted that weak sector performance reflects residential HVAC softness and a broader deflation of previously optimistic growth expectations.
The firm said if the ISM index returns above 50 and the Federal Reserve maintains an easing path, EE/MI multiples could expand, supporting a potential sector rebound in 2026.
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