Product Support Grows but Sales and Rental Drops for Canada’s Wajax in Q2
Canadian distributor Wajax reported CDN $517.1 million in the second quarter of 2026 compared to $547.1 million in the second quarter of 2025, a 5.7-percent decrease primarily because of lower equipment volumes, including the delivery of one large mining shovel in the second quarter of 2025 with no comparable delivery in the second quarter of 2026. Product support and engineered repair services revenue increased 6.9 percent and 2.9 percent respectively compared to the previous year. Equipment rental declined from $11.8 million a year ago to $10.9 million this year, an 8.2-percent decline.
Equipment sales dropped 22.3 percent from $176.7 million a year ago to $137.3 million this year.
"Our second quarter results demonstrate the continued benefits of our operational initiatives, with improved margins, strong operating cash flow and a healthy balance sheet, despite lower year-over-year equipment sales,” said George McClean, president and CEO. “We also saw growth in product support and ERS sales. Our disciplined approach to margin management, working capital and capital allocation continues to strengthen the business and support our financial flexibility.
"Market conditions remain mixed, with customers continuing to exercise caution in certain end markets. We continue to prioritize disciplined execution on cost control and margin improvement, supported by prudent capital allocation. This positions us well to navigate current market conditions while continuing to create long-term value for our stakeholders.
"Revenue in western Canada of $222.7 million decreased 10.7 percent. This decrease was partially offset by higher product support sales in the mining category.
Revenue in central Canada of $83.1 million decreased 12.9 percent from the same period in the prior year due primarily to lower equipment sales in the construction and forestry category, and lower ERS revenue.
Revenue in eastern Canada of $209.9 million increased 3.7 percent from the same period in the prior year primarily because of higher equipment sales in the construction and forestry, and power systems categories, and higher product support revenue in most categories. These increases were partially offset by lower equipment sales in the material handling category.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.