Zacks Research Issues Negative Outlook for AIT Earnings

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q3 2026 earnings per share estimates for Applied Industrial Technologies in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, February 17th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the industrial products company will post earnings per share of $2.62 for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $2.69. 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’ Q4 2026 earnings at $2.82 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.79 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.69 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.81 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $3.22 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $12.63 EPS.

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The industrial products company reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.48 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $1.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.17 billion. Applied Industrial Technologies had a return on equity of 21.74% and a net margin of 8.49%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.39 EPS. Applied Industrial Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.450-10.750 EPS.

A number of other brokerages have also recently weighed in on AIT. Mizuho set a $305.00 target price on Applied Industrial Technologies in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. KeyCorp cut their price objective on Applied Industrial Technologies from $310.00 to $300.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, January 31st. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $290.63.

Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of AIT stock opened at $281.58 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 2.56 and a current ratio of 3.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.84. Applied Industrial Technologies has a one year low of $199.96 and a one year high of $296.70. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $271.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $263.25.

Applied Industrial Technologies Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. This is a positive change from Applied Industrial Technologies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. Applied Industrial Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is 19.41%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher sold 19,207 shares of Applied Industrial Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $285.85, for a total transaction of $5,490,320.95. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 130,528 shares in the company, valued at $37,311,428.80. This trade represents a 12.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Warren E. Hoffner III sold 4,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $288.62, for a total transaction of $1,154,480.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 52,751 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,224,993.62. The trade was a 7.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 28,654 shares of company stock worth $8,212,829 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Applied Industrial Technologies

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Torren Management LLC purchased a new position in Applied Industrial Technologies in the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies by 890.0% during the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 99 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 2,033.3% during the 2nd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 128 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. 93.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More Applied Industrial Technologies News

Here are the key news stories impacting Applied Industrial Technologies this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised Q4 2027 EPS to $3.22 from $3.16, a meaningful bump that suggests stronger late‑year profitability expectations and supports multiple expansion. MarketBeat AIT
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks increased Q4 2026 EPS to $2.82 (from $2.79) and raised Q1 2027 to $2.79 (from $2.77), reinforcing a view of modestly improving sequential earnings into the company’s fiscal second half. MarketBeat AIT
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks made very small adjustments (Q2 2027 to $2.69 from $2.68; Q2 2028 to $3.00 from $2.99) — immaterial individually but part of an overall refinement of their model. MarketBeat AIT
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks trimmed Q1 2028 slightly to $3.02 from $3.03 — a de minimis change that likely won’t move fundamentals on its own. MarketBeat AIT
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut Q3 2027 EPS to $2.81 from $2.90 and lowered Q3 2026 to $2.62 from $2.69, signalling potential softness in mid‑year demand that could pressure near‑term results. MarketBeat AIT
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed its FY2028 EPS view to $12.63 from $12.70 — a small downward revision to the longer‑term outlook that slightly reduces upside in modeled valuation. MarketBeat AIT

Applied Industrial Technologies Company Profile

Applied Industrial Technologies, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIT, is a leading distributor of industrial products and services. The company offers a comprehensive range of bearings, power transmission components, fluid power products, industrial rubber products, and automation solutions. Through its network of distribution centers and branch locations, Applied Industrial Technologies serves diverse end markets including manufacturing, oil and gas, mining, food and beverage, and wastewater treatment.

Founded in 1923 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Applied Industrial Technologies has grown through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.