Hyster-Yale shares fall after Q1 revenue miss, margin pressure; analysts focus on tariffs, demand recovery

Hyster-Yale Materials Handling (HY) shares fell to $36.47 from $39.95 before its first-quarter earnings call, as investors reacted to weaker revenue and continued margin pressure tied to a shift toward lower-priced lift trucks and tariff costs. Management said customer demand has moved toward lighter-duty products, weighing on pricing and mix. CEO Rajiv K. Prasad said bookings improved sequentially, but shipments have not yet followed because of backlog normalization and slower adoption of newly launched modular product lines. Analysts pressed management on dealer uptake of modular and value-segment trucks, tariff mitigation and potential refund recoveries. Investors are also watching bookings, backlog growth, dealer stock orders and expansion in battery and automation products for signs of a demand recovery.