Zacks Research Has Negative Forecast for AIT Q2 Earnings

Key Points

• Zacks Research has reduced its Q2 2026 earnings estimate for Applied Industrial Technologies to $2.49 per share, down from $2.50, with full-year earnings currently projected at $9.90 per share.
• In the latest earnings report, the company exceeded analysts’ expectations, reporting $2.80 EPS and a revenue of $1.22 billion, a 5.5% increase year-over-year.
• Analysts maintain a positive outlook overall, with most rating the stock as a "Buy" and an average price target set at $285.00.

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT - Free Report) - Equities research analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q2 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a report released on Thursday, September 4th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the industrial products company will post earnings per share of $2.49 for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $2.50. The consensus estimate for Applied Industrial Technologies' current full-year earnings is $9.90 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Applied Industrial Technologies' Q3 2026 earnings at $2.71 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.77 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $10.40 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.63 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.72 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.95 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $3.14 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $11.44 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $12.75 EPS.

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 14th. The industrial products company reported $2.80 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.60 by $0.20. Applied Industrial Technologies had a return on equity of 21.78% and a net margin of 8.61%.The company had revenue of $1.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.18 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.64 EPS. Applied Industrial Technologies's revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Applied Industrial Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.000-10.75 EPS.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Wall Street Zen raised Applied Industrial Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Applied Industrial Technologies from $265.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, August 15th. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on Applied Industrial Technologies from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, August 15th. Raymond James Financial lowered Applied Industrial Technologies from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, August 15th. Finally, Industrial Alliance Securities set a $290.00 price target on Applied Industrial Technologies in a report on Friday, August 22nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Applied Industrial Technologies has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $285.00.

Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Performance

Applied Industrial Technologies stock traded down $2.82 during trading on Friday, reaching $265.14. The company had a trading volume of 219,243 shares, compared to its average volume of 252,748. Applied Industrial Technologies has a 52 week low of $191.31 and a 52 week high of $282.98. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $261.42 and its 200 day simple moving average is $240.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a current ratio of 3.32, a quick ratio of 2.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Applied Industrial Technologies

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 3,103 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $699,000 after buying an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its holdings in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 5,248 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,183,000 after buying an additional 323 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 17.7% during the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,501 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $338,000 after buying an additional 226 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 26.0% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,811 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $408,000 after buying an additional 374 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management increased its holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies by 11.3% in the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 2,583 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $582,000 after purchasing an additional 262 shares during the last quarter. 93.52% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher sold 26,671 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $262.46, for a total transaction of $7,000,070.66. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 149,735 shares of the company's stock, valued at $39,299,448.10. This represents a 15.12% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, VP Jason W. Vasquez sold 7,466 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.08, for a total transaction of $1,941,757.28. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 14,491 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,768,819.28. The trade was a 34.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 42,660 shares of company stock valued at $11,217,980. Company insiders own 1.67% of the company's stock.

Applied Industrial Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th were given a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 15th. Applied Industrial Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.18%.

Applied Industrial Technologies Company Profile

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc distributes industrial motion, power, control, and automation technology solutions in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It operates in two segments, Service Center Based Distribution, and Engineered Solutions. The company distributes bearings, power transmission products, engineered fluid power components and systems, specialty flow control solutions, advanced automation products, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, automation solutions, tools, safety products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial and maintenance supplies; and motors, belting, drives, couplings, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic components, filtration supplies, valves, fittings, process instrumentation, actuators, and hoses, filtration supplies, as well as other related supplies for general operational needs of customers' machinery and equipment.