Zacks Research Issues Pessimistic Estimate for AIT Earnings

Key Points

• Zacks Research has revised its Q1 2026 earnings estimate for Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT) downward from $2.51 to $2.43 per share.
• Analysts' consensus now projects a full-year earnings of $9.90 per share, with the current stock target price averaging $285.00 and a rating of "Moderate Buy."
• The company's recent quarterly earnings report showed a profit of $2.80 per share, exceeding expectations and resulting in a 5.5% year-over-year revenue increase.

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Zacks Research dropped their Q1 2026 earnings estimates for Applied Industrial Technologies in a note issued to investors on Thursday, September 4th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the industrial products company will post earnings per share of $2.43 for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $2.51. The consensus estimate for Applied Industrial Technologies' current full-year earnings is $9.90 per share.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently commented on AIT. Industrial Alliance Securities set a $290.00 target price on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a report on Friday, August 22nd. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $275.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 22nd. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, August 15th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $265.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, August 15th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Applied Industrial Technologies presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $285.00.

Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Down 1.1%

AIT stock opened at $265.14 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 3.32, a quick ratio of 2.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Applied Industrial Technologies has a twelve month low of $191.31 and a twelve month high of $282.98. The company's 50 day moving average is $261.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $240.17. The stock has a market cap of $10.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.20, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 1.00.

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Applied Industrial Technologies

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 51.2% during the 1st quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 130 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. Rise Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 111.1% in the 1st quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 133 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 2,033.3% in the 2nd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 128 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Maseco LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Harbor Investment Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 97.5% in the 1st quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 160 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. 93.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Applied Industrial Technologies

In other Applied Industrial Technologies news, VP Jason W. Vasquez sold 7,466 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $260.08, for a total value of $1,941,757.28. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 14,491 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,768,819.28. The trade was a 34.00% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Kurt W. Loring sold 8,523 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $267.06, for a total transaction of $2,276,152.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 19,273 shares in the company, valued at $5,147,047.38. This represents a 30.66% 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. 1.67% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Applied Industrial Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th were paid a $0.46 dividend. 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 payout ratio 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.

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