With a diverse portfolio of industrial and commercial products, Ingersoll-Rand Plc ( IR - Free Report ) is a premier player in the industrial goods market. This Dublin, Ireland-based firm has a solid foundation of global brands with a leading market share in all major product lines. After the divestiture of the commercial and residential security businesses, IR has been diligently focusing on improving the efficiencies and capabilities of its core businesses. The company is constantly on the lookout for opportunistic acquisitions to supplement its organic growth. However, IR operates in a competitive market place, which necessitates sustained investments in R&D initiatives to stay ahead of competition, thereby increasing its costs. With rising operating costs and adverse currency translation effects gradually shrinking margins, investors have been eagerly waiting for the company's latest earnings report.