Eaton , a maker of power management solutions for AI data centers and other commercial markets, delivered a solid quarter on Friday that raised more questions for us than it answered. Earnings per share for the first quarter ended in March rose more than 33% from the year-ago period to $2.72, beating the LSEG compiled analyst consensus estimate by a penny. Revenue rose 7.3% to $6.38 billion, beating the LSEG compiled analyst consensus estimate of $6.26 billion. Organic sales grew 9%, far exceeding the Bloomberg estimate for a 6.8% increase. Eaton Why we own it: Eaton has exposure to several important megatrends like electrification, energy transition, and infrastructure spending. It is also a player in generative AI, where data centers use its power management solutions and electrical equipment to keep up with the heightened demand for more computing power. We see a long runway for growth. Competitors : Parker-Hannifin , DuPont and Honeywell Most recent buy : April 3, 2025 Initiated : Nov. 15, 2023 Bottom line Has Eaton’s stock peaked? During our Morning Meeting, Jim Cramer said he’s concerned about it. In afternoon trading, shares of Eaton turned positive in a strong overall market. However, the stock has been struggling to get back to its 2025 closing high of $371 on Jan. 22, which was just days before the Chinese startup DeepSeek’s more efficient artificial intelligence model slammed the AI trade. Jim said he’s not ready to give up on Eaton, because it’s “doing quite well,” referring to the company’s largely positive first-quarter results and guidance. Indeed, the company reported accelerating organic sales growth with record first-quarter margins. However, he did say he needs to rethink the position, given the Club’s positions in DuPont and Dover also have ties to the AI trade. He also has his eye on GE Vernova in the Bullpen to fill out the electrification/power generation theme. ETN YTD mountain Eaton YTD In addition to Eaton’s revenue and EPS beats, sales at three of the company’s five segments — Electrical Americas, Electrical Global, and Aerospace were better than expected, with solid growth. The other two segments, Vehicle and eMobility missed, with the former sinking nearly 15% year over year and the latter up just 2.5%. Orders for the Electrical Americas segment, which accounts for nearly half of total company revenue, fell 4% organically on a 12-month rolling average. Excluding one large multi-year data center order in the first quarter of 2024, orders rose 4%. Jeff Marks, director of portfolio analysis for the Club, said Friday the market seemed to be aware of the order slowdown as Eaton and all multinational companies try to figure out President Donald Trump ‘s tariff endgame. Slowing order growth has been a multi-quarter trend due to tough comps going back to 2023. “Book-to-bill remained above one, with 6% growth in our large $10.1 billion backlog, providing strong visibility for our organic growth in 2025 and beyond,” CFO Olivier Leonetti said on the company’s post-earnings call. The data center end-market makes up 17% of Eaton’s total revenue, according to the company’s 2025 growth assumptions. On the call, incoming CEO Paulo Ruiz referred to the tech companies that reported earnings this week, which included Club names Amazon , Meta Platforms , and Microsoft , saying, “all the calls we have had this week, all the hyperscalers have confirmed the level of capex. So, we believe that this 15% CAGR for data centers is still intact.” Capex stands for capital expenditures, and CAGR stands for compound annual growth rate. Ruiz will become CEO following the May 31 retirement of Craig Arnold, who has been at the helm since 2016. Management also talked about the data center designs of the future that require Eaton to work with not only the hyperscaler clients, the big tech companies that run the facilities, but also with chipmakers. “Therefore, you need to have open discussions with the likes of … Nvidia and so on. Not many companies, especially foreign companies, can have a dialogue with them. So again, this is another entry barrier that creates” opportunity for Eaton in this development area of the end market, Ruiz said on the call. Eaton, which aims to manage through the tariffs, plans to adjust its costs, supply chains, and prices as needed. Ruiz said, “We will see how the tariff evolves. We expect over time to recover from a margin standpoint, but not this year.” The company expects to fully offset the impact of tariffs through USMCA, the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, compliance, supply chain optimization, disciplined cost containment, and commercial actions. Eaton believes its region-for-region strategy provides a competitive advantage. Guidance Eaton raised its full-year organic sales growth guidance range to 7.5% to 9.5% from 7% to 9%, but slightly lowered its segment margins outlook as a result of tariff cost pass-through. The company reaffirmed its full-year EPS guidance. The company’s second quarter adjusted EPS guidance of $2.85 to $2.95 was short of estimates. Perhaps, management was being a little conservative here. The outlook for Q2 organic sales growth and segment margins was fine. Management said on the call that these forecasts reflect the “net impact of the announced tariffs and assumes the current 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs will persist to the end of the year.” (Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust is long ETN, DD, DOV, AMZN, META, MSFT, NVDA. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. 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Eaton Corporation signage at the NYSE
Source: NYSE
Eaton, a maker of power management solutions for AI data centers and other commercial markets, delivered a solid quarter on Friday that raised more questions for us than it answered.
In a significant move that marks a departure from its traditional e-bike offerings, Trek has introduced the FX+ 1, its first-ever electric bike equipped with a throttle. This launch responds to growing consumer demand for more versatile and accessible e-biking options, particularly in the North American market.
The FX+ 1 is a hybrid e-bike designed for urban commuting, recreational riding, and light off-road adventures. At its core is a 500W Hyena rear hub motor delivering 60 Nm of torque, providing enough power for various terrain riding, though it might not be able to hang with the wide range of 750W e-bikes cruising US streets. The motor is paired with a UL-certified 540 Wh battery integrated into the downtube, offering a range of up to 50 miles on a single charge.
The top speed can be user-adjusted to either 20 mph or 28 mph (32 km/h or 45 km/h), providing performance that matches the maximum limit for Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes in the US, respectively.
Riders can choose between two versions: the standard FX+ 1, a Class 2 e-bike with pedal assist and throttle support up to 20mph, and the FX+ 1S, a Class 3 variant that extends pedal-assisted speeds up to 28mph while maintaining the same throttle limit.
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The FX+ 1 boasts a lightweight aluminum frame available in both mid-step and high-step configurations, accommodating riders from 5’1” to 6’6”. It rolls on 27.5-inch wheels fitted with 50mm Bontrager GR0 gravel tires, balancing efficiency on pavement with comfort on rougher paths.
The bike includes with integrated front and rear lights, with brake light and turn signal functions as well. Trek even says that once the battery is depleted to 0%, there’s still enough juice left in it to run the bike’s lights for another three hours.
The bike also features an 8-speed Shimano ESSA drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors, and mounts for racks and fenders, improving its utility for daily commutes and errands.
Charging is streamlined through Trek’s new EasyMag magnetic charger, which fully charges the battery in approximately 5.5 hours. The system includes a wall-mountable unit with easy-to-see LED indicators, simplifying the charging process.
Historically, Trek has focused on pedal-assist e-bikes, emphasizing a natural riding experience shying away from throttles that allow riders to power the bike’s motor without any pedaling input. The introduction of a throttle-equipped model signifies a strategic pivot to meet the preferences of many North American e-bike consumers who have long shown a buying preference for e-bikes with throttles..
Taylor Cook, marketing manager for Trek Canada, explained the rationale: “There are a lot of bikes out there calling themselves e-bikes that aren’t really made to be pedaled. This isn’t that. It’s still a Trek bike, built to be ridden, just with an extra bit of help when you need it.”
By entering the throttle e-bike segment, Trek positions itself head-to-head against newer brands that have capitalized on this market niche. The FX+ 1’s combination of reputable build quality, thoughtful design, and relative affordability (for a Trek) at $1,999 makes it a compelling option for a broad range of riders.
Electrek’s Take
The FX+ 1 is certainly an interesting expansion of Trek’s e-bike portfolio, and I think fans will be happy to see the company blending traditional cycling performance with modern electric bike throttles. Its introduction shows that the company is well aware of how many US riders prefer to have a throttle on their e-bike, and has made moves to meet that need.
The fact that Trek’s sister company Electra began including throttles two years ago was likely a great way for Trek to get its feet wet in the throttle game. The company no doubt saw the increase of riders that were flocking to Electra’s throttle-equipped electric bikes and wanted to get a piece of that pie as well.
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That network of dependable high-speed chargers, paired with solid app integration that makes it easy for Tesla drivers to find available chargers just about anywhere in the US, gave the brand a leg up – but no more. By opening up the Supercharger network to brands like Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and others, Tesla has given away its biggest competitive advantage.
Add in charging and route-planning apps like Chargeway, that make navigating the transition from CCS to NACS easier than ever with its intuitive colors and numbers and easy on/off switch for vehicles equipped with NACS adapters, and it feels like the time is right to start suggesting alternatives to the old EV industry stalwarts. As such, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Here, then, are my picks for the best Tesla S3XY (and Cybertruck) alternatives you can buy.
Less Model S, more Lucid Air
Lucid Air sedans; via Lucid.
Developed by OG Tesla Model S engineers with tunes from Annie Get Your Gun playing continuously in their heads, the Lucid Air promises to be the car Tesla should and could have built, if only Elon had listened to the engineers.
With panel fit, material finish, and overall build quality that’s at least as good as anything else in the automotive space, the Lucid Air is a compelling alternative to the Model S at every price level – and I, for one, would take a “too f@#king fast” Lucid Air Sapphire over an “as seen on TV” Model S Plaid any day of the week. And, with Supercharger access reportedly coming later this quarter, Air buyers will have every advantage the Supercharger Network can provide.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Less Model 3, more Hyundai IONIQ 6
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited; via Hyundai.
Hyundai has been absolutely killing it these days, with EVs driving record sales and new models earning rave reviews from the automotive press. Even in that company the IONIQ 6 stands out, with up to 338 miles of EPA-rated range and lickety-quick 350 kW charging available to make road tripping easy – especially now that the aerodynamically efficient IONIQ 6 has Supercharger access through a NACS adapter (the 2026 “facelift” models get a NACS port as standard).
Once upon a time, Mrs. Jo Borrás and I were shopping three-row SUVs and found ourselves genuinely drawn to the then-new Model X. Back then it was the only three-row EV on the market, but it wasn’t Elon’s antics or access to charging, or even the Model X’s premium pricing that squirreled the deal. It was the stupid doors.
We went with the similarly new Volvo XC90 T8 in denim blue, and followed up the big PHEV with a second, three years later, in Osmium Gray. When it’s time to replace this one, you can just about bet your house that the new 510 hp EX90 with 310 miles of all-electric range will be near the top of the shopping list.
The sporty EV6 GT made its global debut by drag racing some of the fastest ICE-powered cars of the day, including a Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG GT, a Porsche, even a turbocharged Ferrari – and it beat the pants off ’em. Combine supercar-baiting speed with an accessible price tag, NACS accessibility, $10,000 in customer cash on remaining 2024 models ($3,000 on 2025s) and just a hint of Lancia Stratos in the styling, the EV6 is tough to beat.
If you disagree with that statement and feel like driving a new Tesla Cybertruck is the key to happiness, I’m not sure an equally ostentatious GMC Hummer EV or more subtle Rivian R1T will help you scratch that particular itch – but maybe therapy might!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
COMMENTER FAVORITES
Not getting the USAF joke.
Projecting obsessions onto the author.
Feeling butthurt about the Pit Vipers and tribal tats.
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Komatsu-Dimag mobile charger at work; rendering via ChatGPT.
There’s no question that electric construction equipment is safer, more precise, and generally better than the diesel equipment it’s replacing, but getting power to that equipment remains a logistical challenge that hasn’t been solved for. With this new mobile Megawatt charging station, however, Komatsu think they’ve found a solution — with up to 6 MW of power!
Developed by Tesla co-founder Ian Wright, Dimaag, and Japanese equipment giant Komatsu, the groundbreaking Mobile Megawatt Charging System (MWCS) promises to bring electricity where it’s needed, anywhere on the job site, then quickly dispense enough energy to get the electric machines under its care back up and running.
And, with Megawatt power delivery on tap, the new Komatsu-Dimaag MWCS can power up equipment assets between shift changes — if it even takes that long!
Komatsu Dimaag mobile charger
Mobile Megawatt charger; via Dimaag.
The MWCS boasts a compact, high-efficiency DC-DC converter and a long-life, high-discharge-rate Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on board that can be connected to a DC fast charger itself, or get “trickle charged” between shifts. Both the battery and its control systems make use of an advanced thermal management solution that Komatsu and Dimaag say optimizes both safety and battery life during high-power delivery.
To make sure the MWCS can get all that power where it needs to, wherever it needs to, the machine is equipped with with stout, construction-grade AT tires, 4-wheel drive, and 4-wheel steering to navigate tight surroundings and rough terrains that other solutions wouldn’t be able to get to. And, while it isn’t mentioned in the press release, there’s a common sense idea here that you could, in a pinch, use the MWCS to tow less capable vehicles out of the mud and snow, if needed.
For their part, it seems like the people at Dimaag are pretty happy with the results. “Dimaag is excited to collaborate with Komatsu, introducing our advanced ESS and DC-DC architecture to revolutionize electrification in construction,” stated Ian Wright, VP Engineering at Dimaag. “Off-road vehicle electrification demands practical solutions that not only meet but exceed the performance of equivalent large diesel engine vehicles, while also providing substantial Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) savings. Dimaag’s electrification and high-power megawatt charging systems are designed to achieve this.”
The prototype MWCS shown, above, features a 295 kWh battery pack and an MCS connector delivering up to 1,500 amps and 1,000 volts of power. Komatsu envisions a scenario wherein the mobile charger makes its rounds on the job site charging up equipment and heading back to grid power (if available) to charge itself.
Conceptually similar to the mobile power platform being developed by American firm Dannar, this new mobile Megawatt charging unit has some heavy-hitting names behind it that make it impossible to ignore. Combine that with Komatsu’s ever-increasing push towards full electrification (the two machines shown, above, are all-new in the last 60 days, with more to come) and it really feels like the MWCS is going to be A Real Thing™️somewhat sooner than later.
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