Generac Named Finalist in Mega Category for Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award

Rhea-AI Summary

Generac (NYSE: GNRC) was named a finalist in the Mega category for the 37th Annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards on Feb 20, 2026. The recognition highlights Generac's 65-year manufacturing presence, >4,800 Wisconsin employees, and recent 345,000 sq ft Beaver Dam facility.

2025 milestones cited include major residential product upgrades, new commercial generator lines for hyperscale data centers, the PWRmicro microinverter launch, expansion in Oshkosh, and approximately $1M in Generac Gives donations.

Positive

• 345,000 sq ft Beaver Dam manufacturing facility opened
• More than 4,800 employees across ten Wisconsin locations
• Introduced new commercial generators for hyperscale and data centers
• Launched PWRmicro microinverter for solar energy capture

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Wisconsin manufacturing tenure: 65 years Award edition: 37th Annual Wisconsin locations: 10 locations +5 more

8 metrics

Wisconsin manufacturing tenure 65 years Generac’s commitment to Wisconsin manufacturing and community

Award edition 37th Annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards program

Wisconsin locations 10 locations Company’s footprint in Wisconsin at time of recognition

Manufacturing facilities 6 facilities Number of Generac manufacturing sites in Wisconsin

Wisconsin employment more than 4,800 people Employees across Generac’s Wisconsin locations

New facility size 345,000 square feet Beaver Dam, WI advanced manufacturing facility

Philanthropic giving approximately $1M Generac Gives donations to education, disaster relief, community vitality

Education partnership length 25 years Legacy partnership with GPS Education Partners

Market Reality Check

Price: $227.47 Vol: Volume 784,135 is at 0.53...

low vol

$227.47 Last Close

Volume Volume 784,135 is at 0.53x the 20-day average of 1,484,668, indicating lighter-than-usual trading before this news. low

Technical GNRC at $227.47 is trading above its 200-day MA of $161.51 and sits 3.61% below its 52-week high of $236 and 128.61% above its 52-week low of $99.50.

Peers on Argus

Pre-news, GNRC slipped 0.39% while peers were mixed: CR rose 2.77%, AOS fell 1.1...

Pre-news, GNRC slipped 0.39% while peers were mixed: CR rose 2.77%, AOS fell 1.16%, NDSN fell 3.72%, GGG was flat (0.01%), and IEX dipped 0.44%. Moves do not show a clear sector-wide pattern.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 19 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 19	Acquisition agreement	Positive	-0.7%	Agreement to acquire Enercon to expand data center and switchgear capacity.
Feb 12	Product partnership	Positive	+0.3%	Launch of ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite with EcoNet integration for HVAC systems.
Feb 11	Earnings and guidance	Neutral	+17.9%	Q4 and 2025 results with lower sales but strong 2026 growth and margin targets.
Feb 10	Grid resiliency update	Positive	-1.9%	ecobee Grid Resiliency service delivering 108 MW and potential 2.8 GW capacity.
Feb 02	Platform expansion	Positive	+1.7%	ecobee SmartBuildings platform expanded with multifamily API and new integrations.

Pattern Detected

Recent GNRC news has produced a mix of reactions: large upside on the latest earnings and guidance, but some divergence where positive operational or technology updates coincided with modest declines. Product and platform announcements for ecobee-branded offerings have generally seen small positive moves, while M&A and grid-resiliency news have sometimes traded off slightly.

Recent Company History

Over the last few weeks, GNRC reported Q4 and full-year 2025 results with net sales of $1.09B for Q4 and $4.21B for 2025, plus a new $500M buyback and 2026 growth guidance, which saw the stock gain 17.93% the next day. It then announced an Enercon acquisition to bolster data center and switchgear capabilities, ecobee grid-resiliency capacity of 2.8 GW, and SmartBuildings API expansion. Today’s award finalist recognition fits into this narrative of expanding technology, manufacturing footprint, and market reach.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement underscores Generac’s long-term manufacturing and community footprint in Wisconsin...

Analysis

This announcement underscores Generac’s long-term manufacturing and community footprint in Wisconsin, with ten locations, six plants, and more than 4,800 employees, plus a new 345,000-square-foot Beaver Dam facility. It follows earnings where 2025 net sales reached $4.21B and management outlined growth plans, as well as an Enercon acquisition to deepen data center capabilities. Investors monitoring this story may focus on how these capital and product investments, alongside roughly $1M in annual giving, translate into sustained growth and margin delivery.

Key Terms

microinverter, hyperscale, colocation, edge data centers, +1 more

5 terms

microinverter technical

"PWRmicro, a powerful, installer-friendly microinverter designed to maximize energy capture"

A microinverter is a small device attached to an individual solar panel that converts the panel’s direct electrical output into the alternating electricity used in homes and the grid. Like giving each panel its own power adapter instead of one big converter for a whole rooftop, microinverters can improve overall system output, ease troubleshooting and panel-level monitoring, and reduce single points of failure—factors that affect installation costs, long-term performance and investor returns in solar projects.

hyperscale technical

"a new line of generators to address the high-capacity applications and diverse needs of hyperscale, colocation"

Hyperscale describes the ability of a system or operation to grow rapidly and handle extremely large amounts of work or data. It’s like a massive factory that can quickly expand its production capacity to meet soaring demand. For investors, hyperscale indicates a business’s potential to scale efficiently, often leading to increased growth and profitability.

colocation technical

"a new line of generators to address the high-capacity applications and diverse needs of hyperscale, colocation"

Colocation is the practice of placing a trader’s computer servers inside or next to an exchange’s data center so their orders travel the shortest possible distance to the exchange’s computers. For investors this matters because even tiny gains in speed can mean better trade prices or reduced slippage—like being first in line at a checkout—so firms that colocate can gain steady, measurable advantages or incur extra costs that affect returns.

edge data centers technical

"diverse needs of hyperscale, colocation, enterprise and edge data centers driven by the rapid growth"

Edge data centers are small, local computer hubs placed close to where digital activity happens—near neighborhoods, factories, or cell towers—so data can be processed nearby instead of traveling to a distant main center. For investors, they matter because they reduce delays and bandwidth costs for services like streaming, industrial sensors, and real‑time apps, creating new revenue opportunities and different capital or operating cost profiles compared with traditional large data centers.

microinverter technical

"PWRmicro, a powerful, installer-friendly microinverter designed to maximize energy capture"

A microinverter is a small device attached to an individual solar panel that converts the panel’s direct electrical output into the alternating electricity used in homes and the grid. Like giving each panel its own power adapter instead of one big converter for a whole rooftop, microinverters can improve overall system output, ease troubleshooting and panel-level monitoring, and reduce single points of failure—factors that affect installation costs, long-term performance and investor returns in solar projects.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

This Recognition Highlights Generac's 65-Year Commitment to Wisconsin Manufacturing, Innovation and Community Impact.

WAUKESHA, Wis., Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GNRC), a leading global designer, manufacturer and provider of energy technology solutions and other power products, announced that it has been named a finalist for the 37th Annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards. The award program highlights the state's vibrant manufacturing industry, celebrates successes and recognizes top manufacturers for their innovations, philanthropy, technological advances, commitment to customer satisfaction and the quality jobs they create. 

"For more than 65 years, we have called Wisconsin home," said Aaron Jagdfeld, Generac Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Being named a finalist reflects our commitment to advancing technology and supporting Wisconsin's manufacturing community. We are proud to design, build and scale solutions here and look forward to continuing to invest in our great state." 

At the time of recognition, the company's ten Wisconsin locations, including six manufacturing facilities, employed more than 4,800 people and produced and supported technologies that are deployed worldwide. Generac's selection as a finalist reflects the significant accomplishments of 2025. 

A few additional 2025 highlights include: 

• Generac introduced the most significant upgrade to the residential line in a decade, adding features and integration with Generac's product ecosystem that give homeowners more control over their energy needs amid rising grid instability and energy costs. 
• Generac's Commercial & Industrial business introduced a new line of generators to address the high-capacity applications and diverse needs of hyperscale, colocation, enterprise and edge data centers driven by the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence.  
• Generac's Energy Technology division announced PWRmicro, a powerful, installer-friendly microinverter designed to maximize energy capture from solar panels. 
• Generac opened its newest and most advanced manufacturing facility in Beaver Dam, WI. The 345,000 square-foot facility not only represents a significant investment in Wisconsin's economy but also brings hundreds of new jobs to the region.  
• Generac strengthened its existing Wisconsin footprint, launching a new product line in Oshkosh to meet the rising demand for backup power in data centers.  
• Through Generac Gives, Generac donated approximately $1M to organizations supporting education, disaster relief and community vitality and Generac employees contribute volunteer hours annually to hundreds of nonprofits. Generac received the Founding Partner Legacy Award honoring 25 years of partnership with GPS Education Partners, fostering a new generation of manufacturing professionals. 

For more information about Generac and its industry-leading products, visit https://www.generac.com/. 

About Generac
Generac Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GNRC) is a total energy solutions company that empowers people to use energy on their own terms. Founded in 1959, Generac is a leading global designer, manufacturer, and provider of a wide range of energy technology solutions. The Company provides power generation equipment, energy storage systems, energy management devices & solutions, and other power products serving the residential, light commercial, and industrial markets. Generac introduced the first affordable backup generator and later created the automatic home standby generator category. The Company continues to expand its energy technology offerings for homes and businesses in its mission to Power a Smarter World and lead the evolution to more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy solutions.  

CONTACT: corporatecommunications@generac.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/generac-named-finalist-in-mega-category-for-wisconsin-manufacturer-of-the-year-award-302693406.html

SOURCE Generac Power Systems, Inc.

FAQ

Why was Generac (GNRC) named a finalist for the 2026 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Mega category?

Because Generac demonstrated sustained manufacturing scale, innovation, and community impact. According to the company, finalists were selected for innovation, philanthropy, technology advances and quality jobs created, and Generac highlighted 65 years in Wisconsin and 2025 product and facility milestones.

What Wisconsin operations and workforce did Generac (GNRC) cite in the Feb 20, 2026 announcement?

Generac reported ten Wisconsin locations including six manufacturing sites and over 4,800 employees. According to the company, those sites produced technologies deployed worldwide and supported significant 2025 investments like the Beaver Dam facility.

What is the significance of Generac's new Beaver Dam facility mentioned by Generac (GNRC)?

The Beaver Dam site is a 345,000 square-foot advanced manufacturing facility representing a major Wisconsin investment. According to the company, it brings hundreds of new jobs and expands capacity for its energy technology and power-product production.

What product launches did Generac (GNRC) highlight in its finalist announcement on Feb 20, 2026?

Generac cited a major residential line upgrade, new commercial generators for high-capacity data centers, and the PWRmicro microinverter. According to the company, these 2025 launches target grid resilience, data-center demand and improved solar capture.

How much did Generac donate through Generac Gives as noted in the GNRC announcement?

Generac donated approximately $1M through Generac Gives to education, disaster relief and community organizations. According to the company, employees also volunteer annually with hundreds of nonprofits as part of community engagement efforts.

How might Generac's (GNRC) Wisconsin expansions affect local hiring and manufacturing capacity?

Generac's expansions are increasing local hiring and production capacity in Wisconsin. According to the company, recent investments, including Beaver Dam and new Oshkosh product lines, added hundreds of jobs and strengthened its manufacturing footprint.