Zacks Research Has Bearish Forecast for AIT Q1 Earnings

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q1 2028 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a report issued on Tuesday, February 17th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the industrial products company will post earnings per share of $3.02 for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $3.03. 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’ Q2 2028 earnings at $3.00 EPS.

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

Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of AIT stock opened at $281.58 on Friday. The company 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. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 2.56 and a current ratio of 3.68. Applied Industrial Technologies has a one year low of $199.96 and a one year high of $296.70. The company’s 50-day moving average is $271.73 and its 200 day moving average is $263.20.

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Torren Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in Applied Industrial Technologies by 890.0% during the third quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 99 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Applied Industrial Technologies during the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Applied Industrial Technologies during the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its position in Applied Industrial Technologies by 2,033.3% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 128 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 122 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 93.52% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Applied Industrial Technologies news, VP Jason W. Vasquez sold 5,447 shares of Applied Industrial Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $287.87, for a total value of $1,568,027.89. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 14,491 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,171,524.17. The trade was a 27.32% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Warren E. Hoffner III sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $288.62, for a total value of $1,154,480.00. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 52,751 shares in the company, valued at $15,224,993.62. The trade was a 7.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders sold 28,654 shares of company stock valued at $8,212,829. Company insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

Applied Industrial Technologies Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a $0.51 dividend. This is an increase from Applied Industrial Technologies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. Applied Industrial Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is 19.41%.

Key Stories Impacting Applied Industrial Technologies

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.