Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Outlook for AIT Earnings

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Zacks Research boosted their Q1 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a report issued on Thursday, April 24th. Zacks Research analyst S. Roy now expects that the industrial products company will post earnings per share of $2.48 for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $2.47. 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 $2.77 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.87 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $10.70 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.72 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.74 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.98 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $11.52 EPS.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Applied Industrial Technologies from $250.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Raymond James reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $265.00 price target (up previously from $250.00) on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. KeyCorp dropped their price target on Applied Industrial Technologies from $325.00 to $275.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 17th. StockNews.com downgraded Applied Industrial Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Loop Capital lowered their price objective on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $320.00 to $290.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Applied Industrial Technologies presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $287.14.

Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of AIT traded up $0.38 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $238.93. 337,540 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 291,588. Applied Industrial Technologies has a twelve month low of $180.35 and a twelve month high of $282.98. The company has a quick ratio of 2.55, a current ratio of 3.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a market cap of $9.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.21, a PEG ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 1.01. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $230.05 and its 200 day simple moving average is $246.06.

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The industrial products company reported $2.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.21 by $0.18. Applied Industrial Technologies had a return on equity of 22.37% and a net margin of 8.62%.

Applied Industrial Technologies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th were paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.77%. This is an increase from Applied Industrial Technologies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. Applied Industrial Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.64%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Applied Industrial Technologies

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Norges Bank bought a new position in Applied Industrial Technologies during the fourth quarter worth $129,690,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 34,002.9% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 318,180 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $716,990,000 after buying an additional 317,247 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 199.4% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 309,617 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $74,145,000 after buying an additional 206,220 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP raised its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 50.0% during the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 404,784 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $96,934,000 after buying an additional 134,975 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Applied Industrial Technologies during the fourth quarter worth $25,518,000. Institutional investors own 93.52% of the company's stock.

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.