The Road to WorldSkills - DEWALT® Backs Two American Competitors Representing the USA at the World's Premier Skilled Trades Competition
Rhea-AI Summary
Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) brand DEWALT was named a premium partner and tools sponsor for SkillsUSA and WorldSkills International, supporting workforce development in skilled trades.
DEWALT will back two American competitors, plumber Charles "Charlie" Goede and carpenter Tristan Coates, at the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 competition and ties this partnership to its $60 million Grow the Trades education investment through 2030.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Positive
- DEWALT named premium partner and tools sponsor for SkillsUSA and WorldSkills International
- Backs two U.S. WorldSkills 2026 competitors in plumbing and carpentry
- $60 million Grow the Trades education investment committed by 2030
- Enhanced global brand visibility at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
- Supports workforce development across 130 in-demand occupational areas through SkillsUSA partnership
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – SWK
On the day this news was published, SWK declined 0.69%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21 | Product launch | Positive | +0.8% | CRAFTSMAN launched higher-power V20 ADVANCED batteries with trade-in promotions. |
| May 21 | CSR partnership | Positive | +0.8% | SWK committed $300,000 and DEWALT tools to National Mall restoration efforts. |
| May 11 | Scholarship initiative | Positive | -2.5% | DEWALT awarded $200,000 in Grow the Trades scholarships across North America. |
| Apr 29 | Earnings results | Positive | -3.1% | SWK reported 1Q 2026 EPS growth, raised GAAP guidance and detailed CAM divestiture. |
| Apr 24 | Dividend & buyback | Positive | +4.2% | Company declared $0.83 dividend and approved $500 million share repurchase plan. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent SWK news skewed toward product launches, capital returns, and brand investments often saw modest positive alignment, though strong earnings and scholarship announcements previously coincided with short-term price pullbacks.
Over the last few months, SWK has highlighted product innovation, community investment, and shareholder returns. A $0.83 quarterly dividend and $500 million buyback authorization on Apr 24 aligned with a 4.2% gain. Strong 1Q 2026 results on Apr 29 and a $200,000 DEWALT scholarship initiative on May 11 saw negative next‑day reactions. Subsequent CRAFTSMAN battery and National Mall restoration announcements on May 21 matched mild positive moves, framing today’s DEWALT WorldSkills partnership as part of a broader brand and trades-support strategy.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
- This September, a 19-year-old
Connecticut plumber, Charles Goede, and a 22-year-old carpenter fromFlorida , Tristan Coates, will gear up to compete at the 2026 WorldSkills Competition - Goede and Coates are the only two American competitors representing the Plumbing and Carpentry trades at this year's competition
- Follow their journeys on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn as Charlie and Tristan prepare for WorldSkills 2026
"We are honored to support Charlie and Tristan as they represent
SkillsUSA is the leading workforce development organization for students and serves as the official
Meet Team DEWALT, Representing the
- Charlie Goede – Plumbing: A 19-year-old plumbing apprentice from
Connecticut , Goede demonstrates exceptional technical skill and dedication to the plumbing profession through his competitive achievements and hands-on experience. Goede was selected as the officialU.S . competitor for Plumbing at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 after earning recognition as the SkillsUSA Connecticut state champion and placing second nationally in Plumbing at SkillsUSA in 2024. He is currently training with support from leading industry organizations and mentors as he prepares to representthe United States on the international stage.
"Getting a chance to representthe United States on the world stage in this competition is amazing. Starting off doing competitions, I never thought I'd end up on the world stage, representingthe United States and the world," said Goede. - Tristan Coates – Carpentry: Based in
Florida , Coates is the 22-year-old owner and builder behind Coates Builder Improvements, a residential construction company specializing in high-quality custom projects and builds. Coates was selected as the officialU.S . competitor for Carpentry at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 after building a strong reputation for craftsmanship, precision and leadership in residential construction, and earning a SkillsUSA Carpentry National Gold Medal in 2022. In addition to growing his business, he continues to refine his skills through competition-style training focused on layout, framing accuracy and finish work leading up to WorldSkills.
"Construction has always been my passion - building is what drives me every day. Competing at WorldSkills is a chance to show the dedication and skill I've put into my craft, and winning would mean everything to me. It would be proof that hard work pays off and inspire me to reach even greater heights in my career," said Coates.
This partnership with SkillsUSA and WorldSkills aligns with DEWALT's ongoing commitment to support current tradespeople and the next generation through its Grow the Trades initiative - a
"Representing the United States at WorldSkills is an incredible honor and a testament to the skill and dedication Charlie and Tristan have shown in their trades," said Chelle Travis, Executive Director of SkillsUSA. "Opportunities like this are only possible because of the support and investment of industry partners like DEWALT, who help open doors for our competitors to reach their highest potential. We are grateful for DEWALT's commitment to the next generation of skilled professionals and proud to see Charlie and Tristan showcase the very best of American talent at WorldSkills 2026."
Follow DEWALT on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for updates on Charlie and Tristan's journeys as they prepare for WorldSkills 2026.
About DEWALT
DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, is a leader in total jobsite solutions. For more than 100 years, DEWALT has been powering the future of construction with tools and technologies that have been designed, built and tested to help deliver safety and productivity on every jobsite. For more information, visit www.dewalt.com or follow DEWALT on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About Stanley Black & Decker
Founded in 1843 and headquartered in the
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is the #1 workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. SkillsUSA represents more than 444,000 career and technical education students and teachers in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. Those members represent 130 in-demand occupational areas, from 3-D animation to welding. A vital solution to the skills gap, SkillsUSA has served over 16 million members since its founding in 1965. Learn more at skillsusa.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About WorldSkills
Since 1950, WorldSkills has come to symbolize the pinnacle of excellence in vocational training. It provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in the industrial trades and service sectors of the global economy. The continued growth of WorldSkills attests to the fact that traditional trade and craft skills, along with newer technology's multi-skilled occupations, make an essential contribution to the economic and social well-being of people everywhere. For more information, go to: www.worldskills.org.
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SOURCE DEWALT