UL Solutions Inc.

Eurofins Scientific SE has completed the divestment of its Electrical & Electronic Testing business, known as MET Labs, to UL Solutions Inc., with the transaction closing on 1 October 2026. The deal was first announced on 14 April 2026 at an Enterprise Value of €575 million on a cash and debt free basis. MET Labs operates an international network of laboratories providing product safety testing, inspection and certification services for electrical and electronics products, employing approximately 1,300 staff globally. Eurofins said the transaction supports its focus on allocating capital toward its core testing for life capabilities, with proceeds earmarked for debt reduction, laboratory and owned-site capital expenditure, next-generation digital solutions, robotics and AI developments, share buybacks and strategic acquisitions in food, environmental, pharmaceutical, clinical and related testing areas. Chief Executive Dr Gilles Martin thanked the MET Labs teams for building successful and in several cases leading businesses over almost 20 years within the Eurofins network, adding that UL Solutions' focus on applied safety science makes it a natural home for the laboratories.

UL Solutions Inc. has completed its acquisition of the electrical and electronics business of Eurofins Scientific SE. The acquired business provides testing, compliance and certification services supporting global market access for electromagnetic compatibility and wireless testing, electrical safety, medical devices and other technologies. The deal adds laboratories and accreditations in EMEA, Asia and the United States to UL Solutions' global network. President and CEO Jennifer Scanlon said the acquisition extends the company's 132-year commitment to its mission of working for a safer world and expands its global footprint while enhancing its testing, inspection and certification services for electrical safety and connected products. UL Solutions, based in Northbrook, Illinois, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker ULS, serves customers in more than 110 countries.

UL Solutions Inc. announced a new certification program for medium-voltage solid-state power units, an emerging technology designed to deliver electricity more directly and efficiently to the data center systems powering AI. The program, based on UL 2877, the Outline for Investigation for Power Supplies, Medium Voltage, gives manufacturers a defined process to demonstrate that this equipment meets safety requirements before it is used in data centers. The units convert medium-voltage alternating current from the electric grid directly into the lower-voltage direct current used by data center systems, reducing the number of AC-to-DC conversion steps and supporting the transition from traditional 400-volt alternating current power systems to emerging 800-volt direct current power systems. Evaluations cover electrical protection, insulation, grounding, enclosures, safety interlocks, wiring and product markings, as well as performance under high temperatures, excessive electrical loads, voltage spikes and short circuit current testing. Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of UL Solutions, said manufacturers need a clear safety certification path for these key innovations, and Jeff Smidt, senior vice president of Industrial Testing, Inspection and Certification, said independent certification gives data center operators and code authorities clearer information when evaluating this new technology.

UL Solutions Inc. has introduced the first certification pathway for prefabricated power distribution assemblies used in modular data centers, and Schneider Electric has achieved the first certification under the new program. The certification was earned under UL 2140, the Outline of Investigation for Prefabricated Power Distribution Assemblies, a framework that evaluates integrated power assemblies, commonly known as open power skids, which can combine switchboards, uninterruptible power supplies, batteries and related electrical equipment on a common skid before delivery to a project site. The program evaluates the complete factory-built assembly and its interconnected components for compliance with applicable United States National Electrical Code requirements and UL Standards for equipment safety, with follow-up services at the manufacturing location to assess whether certified products continue to meet the requirements established during certification. Schneider Electric's prefabricated power assemblies, built in a controlled factory environment where major equipment is installed, secured and interconnected before shipment, cover models PFMPQ-DLR-FIL, PFMPQ-DLR-FIL-R, PFMPQ-DLR-MOC, PFMPQ-DLR-MOC-R and PFMPQ-DLR-SCA. UL Solutions president and CEO Jennifer Scanlon said the certification pathway helps manufacturers, hyperscalers and developers gain confidence that integrated power systems have been independently evaluated for safety while supporting the speed and scalability needed to bring new capacity online, and Schneider Electric executive vice president Manish Kumar called the industry-first recognition a validation of the safety of the company's Power Skids.

UL Solutions launched Retail Total Access on August 24, a software platform giving retailers a unified view of testing, inspection, and audit data. The launch followed the company's August 4 second-quarter report, which showed revenue of $816 million, up 5.2% from $776 million a year earlier, with organic growth of 6.6% and adjusted EBITDA up 11.2% to $219 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 140 basis points to 26.8%, while net income more than doubled to $254 million largely on a one-time gain from selling the Employee Health and Safety software unit. UL Solutions has not disclosed pricing, customer counts, or revenue targets for Retail Total Access, and said its features will continue to evolve and be released over time. Hedge fund ownership fell to 29 funds from 36 in the prior quarter, and the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 24.33 as of September 21.

UBS has highlighted 10 industrial companies it sees as positioned for a broader capital-spending cycle, with manufacturing, transportation, defense and construction among the areas expected to gain from improving investment conditions. The list includes Lockheed Martin, United Airlines, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, BorgWarner, UL Solutions, Solstice Advanced Materials, Eaton, Advanced Drainage Systems, United Rentals and Packaging Corp. of America, according to a Wednesday report. UBS said the industrial sector is emerging from a prolonged manufacturing downturn, while inventory trends and short-cycle indicators have improved, and it pointed to stronger operating cash flow outside technology as a source of resources for investment. Among the individual companies, UBS assigned price targets ranging from $80 for Solstice Advanced Materials to $1,350 for United Rentals, with Advanced Drainage Systems carrying the largest implied upside at 62%, based on Sept. 11 closing prices. The bank cited potential catalysts including defense demand, airline earnings, freight productivity, electrification, construction activity and packaging pricing, while higher interest rates and weaker economic growth remain risks to the broader industrial outlook.

Jacobs Solutions reported Q2 revenues of $2.42 billion, up 8.3% year on year, the fastest growth among the seven government and technical consulting stocks tracked, though full-year EPS guidance came in merely in line with analysts' estimates. SAIC posted the group's biggest estimate beat, with revenues of $1.88 billion up 6.3% year on year and 7.1% above consensus, alongside beats on EPS and full-year EPS guidance. Amentum was the weakest performer, reporting revenues of $3.49 billion, down 2% year on year and 2.2% short of expectations, with a significant EPS miss. Booz Allen Hamilton recorded revenues of $2.8 billion, down 4.2% year on year and 0.5% below expectations, but still beat on EPS, while UL Solutions reported revenues of $816 million, up 5.2% and in line with expectations, also beating on EPS. As a group, the seven stocks' revenues matched consensus and share prices have fallen 3% on average since the latest results.

UL Solutions Inc. reported second-quarter net income of $254 million, up 161.9% year over year, but the surge was largely due to a one-time gain from the sale of its Employee Health and Safety software business. Excluding that gain, adjusted net income rose 17.3% to $129 million, with adjusted diluted EPS growing from $0.52 to $0.59. Revenue increased 5.2% to $816 million, while adjusted EBITDA climbed 11.2% to $219 million, and the company guided for a full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 27%. The company also reduced total debt to $303 million and raised cash to $434 million, but capital expenditures are rising faster than revenue, and management flagged geopolitical uncertainty as a potential risk to customer spending.

UL Solutions Inc. has launched Retail Total Access, a software platform designed to help retailers manage product quality and supply chain risk by unifying testing, inspection, and audit data. The platform gives retail quality teams a single view of supplier performance, repeat issues, and regional or factory risk, aiming to reduce fragmentation and improve decision-making. Developed with customer input, Retail Total Access includes tools for submitting requests, tracking progress, accessing reports and images, managing failures, and reviewing performance analytics. UL Solutions, a global applied safety science company, said features will continue to evolve over time.

UL Solutions Inc. reported second quarter 2026 revenue of $816 million, a 5.2% increase from the prior year, with organic revenue growth of 6.6%. Net income jumped 161.9% to $254 million, driven by a gain on the sale of its Employee Health and Safety software business, while adjusted net income rose 17.3% to $129 million. Adjusted EBITDA reached $219 million, up 11.2%, and the adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 140 basis points to 26.8%. The company generated $379 million in operating cash flow for the first half of 2026 and ended the quarter with $434 million in cash and equivalents. For the full year, UL Solutions expects mid-single digit constant currency organic revenue growth and an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 27.0%.

UL Solutions announced the opening of a new automotive electromagnetic compatibility laboratory in Toyota City, Japan. The facility began operations on July 1 and is designed to support the development of increasingly complex vehicle technologies in a major global automotive hub. It provides critical EMC testing to help manufacturers ensure that vehicle electronics, such as braking and steering systems, remain protected from electromagnetic interference. Located in Japan's Tokai region, the lab strengthens UL Solutions' global footprint and offers specialized capabilities for high-voltage, high-current, and high-performance testing, aiming to reduce malfunction risks and accelerate market entry of next-generation automotive technologies.

Zacks Investment Research identifies UL Solutions, Willdan Group, and ZipRecruiter as three business services stocks well-positioned for near-term growth amid a prospering industry driven by AI adoption and strong service activities. The Zacks Business-Services industry, which carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 108, has underperformed the broader market over the past year, declining 34.1% compared to the S&P 500's 23.9% gain, and currently trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13.31. UL Solutions is expanding its global platform with new testing facilities and AI-powered software, with its 2026 consensus earnings estimate rising 3.2% to $2.26 per share. Willdan Group has secured multiple contracts including a $100 million extension with Southern California Edison and a $54 million modernization project, and its recent acquisition of Burton Energy Group is expected to boost 2026 earnings, with the consensus estimate increasing 8.3% to $4.94 per share. ZipRecruiter is enhancing its AI-powered hiring tools and resume database, and its 2026 consensus loss per share has narrowed by 50% to 8 cents.

UL Solutions has issued its first certification for a remotely operated robot designed for hazardous locations to ExRobotics for its ExR-2.5 inspection robot. The new certification program, based on UL 6260, evaluates robots for fire, explosion, electric shock and mechanical risks to confirm they can operate safely without becoming an ignition source in potentially explosive atmospheres. The certification supports the adoption of robotic inspection and maintenance technologies that help reduce risk to personnel and enhance reliability in high-risk industrial environments. UL 6260 covers remotely operated robots used across industries including oil and gas, petrochemical processing, agricultural, transportation, pharmaceutical, energy and mining.

Government and technical consulting stocks tracked by StockStory fell an average of 7.7% since their latest earnings results, despite reporting revenues in line with analyst consensus estimates. SAIC posted revenues of $1.91 billion, up 1.5% year on year and beating expectations by 4.1%, but its stock still declined 1.7%. UL Solutions, the best performer in the group, reported revenues of $758 million, up 7.5% year on year, while Amentum, the weakest, saw flat revenues of $3.48 billion and a significant EPS miss, sending its shares down 10.2%. ICF International and Maximus also missed revenue estimates, with ICF's revenues falling 10.3% year on year and Maximus's declining 4.1%, contributing to their respective stock declines of 10.7% and 9.3%.

UL Solutions Inc. has drawn a bullish thesis from TradersPro's Substack, citing structural demand for its testing, inspection, and certification services. The company's shares traded at $95.33 as of June 16th, with trailing and forward price-to-earnings ratios of 55.42 and 40.49 respectively, according to Yahoo Finance. The thesis highlights growth driven by rising regulatory complexity, accelerating product innovation, and increasing adoption of AI-enabled systems and connected devices, all of which require independent validation. UL Solutions is seen as a structurally advantaged compounder benefiting from durable long-term demand, with shares recently showing a breakout on rising volume that signals renewed institutional accumulation.

StockStory recommends watching mid-cap stocks PTC and UL Solutions while advising investors to sell Somnigroup. PTC, a software provider for manufacturers, reported average billings growth of 21% over the last year, a gross margin of 84.7%, and an operating margin of 38.7%, with shares trading at $113.87. UL Solutions, a testing and certification company, posted annual EPS growth of 16.1%, expanded its free cash flow margin by 5.3 percentage points over five years, and trades at $90.91 per share. Somnigroup, the bedding manufacturer behind Tempur-Pedic and Sealy, saw 14.5% annual revenue growth over five years, shrinking returns on capital, and no expected free cash flow margin growth, with shares at $75.12.