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Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 22nd, 2026

Bank of New York Mellon Corp lowered its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT – Free Report) by 2.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 290,328 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 6,224 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp owned 0.79% of Applied Industrial Technologies worth $77,030,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Compound Planning Inc. increased its position in Applied Industrial Technologies by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 822 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $211,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. US Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. US Asset Management LLC now owns 1,266 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $325,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 653 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $170,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Sanctuary Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 1,160 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $308,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,585 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $407,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.52% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Applied Industrial Technologies In related news, Director Madhuri A. Andrews sold 3,845 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $329.89, for a total value of $1,268,427.05. Following the transaction, the director owned 4,951 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,633,285.39. This trade represents a 43.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Warren E. Hoffner III sold 8,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $306.04, for a total transaction of $2,448,320.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 40,751 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,471,436.04. This represents a 16.41% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently commented on AIT. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $300.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 2nd. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a report on Friday, April 24th. Mizuho upped their target price on Applied Industrial Technologies from $330.00 to $355.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, DA Davidson assumed coverage on Applied Industrial Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, June 16th. They set a “buy” rating and a $380.00 target price on the stock. Seven 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, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $336.71.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Applied Industrial Technologies

Applied Industrial Technologies Price Performance Shares of Applied Industrial Technologies stock opened at $340.91 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.97, a current ratio of 2.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.83. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $238.34 and a twelve month high of $345.48. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $321.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $293.64.

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The industrial products company reported $2.65 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.63 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.23 billion. Applied Industrial Technologies had a net margin of 8.34% and a return on equity of 21.64%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.57 earnings per share. Applied Industrial Technologies has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 2.850-2.960 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 10.640-10.750 EPS. Analysts forecast that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. will post 10.71 EPS for the current year.

Applied Industrial Technologies Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. Applied Industrial Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 19.26%.

Applied Industrial Technologies Company Profile (Free Report)

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.

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Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its position in Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT – Free Report) by 12.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 259,786 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after buying an additional 28,546 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC owned approximately 0.70% of Applied Industrial Technologies worth $69,976,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of AIT. Capital International Investors increased its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 25.4% during the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 962,925 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $247,250,000 after purchasing an additional 195,043 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 776,394 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $199,355,000 after purchasing an additional 6,953 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 723,700 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $185,833,000 after purchasing an additional 3,348 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 687,161 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $176,479,000 after purchasing an additional 1,889 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC grew its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 22,451.0% during the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 585,423 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $150,319,000 after buying an additional 582,827 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.52% of the company’s stock.

Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Performance AIT opened at $336.35 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $320.78 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $292.32. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $238.34 and a 52-week high of $345.48. The company has a market cap of $12.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.76, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a quick ratio of 1.97, a current ratio of 2.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The industrial products company reported $2.65 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.63 by $0.02. Applied Industrial Technologies had a net margin of 8.34% and a return on equity of 21.64%. The business had revenue of $1.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.23 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.57 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. Applied Industrial Technologies has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 2.850-2.960 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 10.640-10.750 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. will post 10.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Applied Industrial Technologies Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Applied Industrial Technologies’s payout ratio is currently 19.26%.

Insider Activity at Applied Industrial Technologies In other news, Director Madhuri A. Andrews sold 3,845 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $329.89, for a total transaction of $1,268,427.05. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 4,951 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,633,285.39. This represents a 43.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Warren E. Hoffner III sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $306.04, for a total transaction of $2,448,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 40,751 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,471,436.04. This trade represents a 16.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. DA Davidson began coverage on Applied Industrial Technologies in a research report on Tuesday, June 16th. They set a “buy” rating and a $380.00 target price on the stock. Robert W. Baird set a $317.00 price target on Applied Industrial Technologies in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $300.00 to $350.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 2nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $329.57.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Applied Industrial Technologies

Applied Industrial Technologies Company Profile (Free Report)

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.

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Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT) today announced it will release its fiscal 2026 fourth quarter results on Thursday, August 13, 2026, before the mar

For those looking to find strong Industrial Products stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Industrial Products sector should help us answer this question.

Applied Industrial Technologies is a member of the Industrial Products sector. This group includes 181 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #12. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.

The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. Applied Industrial Technologies is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for AIT's full-year earnings has moved 0.5% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.

According to our latest data, AIT has moved about 30.1% on a year-to-date basis. Meanwhile, stocks in the Industrial Products group have gained about 23.4% on average. This means that Applied Industrial Technologies is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.

Another Industrial Products stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is W.W. Grainger (GWW - Free Report) . The stock has returned 34.1% year-to-date.

For W.W. Grainger, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 4.1% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Applied Industrial Technologies belongs to the Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, a group that includes 41 individual stocks and currently sits at #80 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 11.8% so far this year, so AIT is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, W.W. Grainger falls under the Industrial Services industry. Currently, this industry has 16 stocks and is ranked #173. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +11.1%.

Going forward, investors interested in Industrial Products stocks should continue to pay close attention to Applied Industrial Technologies and W.W. Grainger as they could maintain their solid performance.

AIT gains from MRO demand, acquisitions and shareholder returns, but rising costs and supply-chain issues remain key risks.

Capital International Investors acquired a new position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: AIT) in the undefined quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 767,882 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $200,456,000. Capital International Investors owned

ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC trimmed its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: AIT) by 1.4% in the undefined quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 195,393 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 2,748 shares during the quarter. ArrowMark

Shares of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: AIT - Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the seven ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month

Key Takeaways Applied Industrial benefits from strong MRO demand, driving Service Center organic sales growth.AIT's acquisitions, including Thompson and IRIS, expanded capabilities and boosted sales growth.Shareholder returns remain strong with higher dividends and $143.4M in buybacks in H1 FY26. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT - Free Report) is well-poised to benefit from strength across its business, acquisitions, focus on improving the product line and operational excellence. The company remains focused on investing in growth opportunities and solidifying its long-term market position.

AIT has a market capitalization of $10.2 billion and currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Let’s delve into the factors that have been aiding the firm for a while now.

Business Strength: Applied Industrial continues to benefit from demand for technical MRO services, which remains a key support for the Service Center Based Distribution segment. In second-quarter fiscal 2026, the Service Center segment’s organic sales rose 2.9% year over year, with U.S. organic sales up more than 4% as internal initiatives and local account execution improved.

Acquisition Benefits: The company continues to add assets that expand capabilities and geographic reach. In the fiscal second quarter, acquisitions had a positive impact of 6% on the company's sales. The company announced the bolt-on acquisition of Thompson Industrial Supply (in January 2026), which is expected to generate approximately $20 million of annual sales in its first year and will be integrated into Service Center operations.

In May 2025, the company acquired IRIS Factory Automation (“IRIS”). The acquisition boosted Applied Industrial’s automation offerings and was integrated into the Engineered Solutions segment.

Price Performance of AIT
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In the past year, AIT has gained 24.4% compared with the industry’s 22.5% growth.

Business Initiatives: AIT’s focus on improving the product line, increasing value-added services and initiatives to drive operational excellence will boost results in the quarters ahead. Its focus on pricing, mix, channel execution and internal initiatives remains supportive of underlying margins, even as near-term inflation affects reported results.

Shareholder-Friendly Policies: It remains committed to rewarding its shareholders through dividend payouts and share buybacks. In the first six months of fiscal 2026, it paid out dividends worth $34.7 million, up 21.8% on a year-over-year basis. Also, the company increased its quarterly dividend by 11% to 51 cents per share and repurchased shares worth $143.4 million during the first half of fiscal 2026.

Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked companies are discussed below.

Flowserve Corporation (FLS - Free Report) presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Flowserve’s earnings surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 17.3%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Flowserve’s 2026 earnings has increased 4.6%.

Nordson Corporation (NDSN - Free Report) currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. Nordson’s earnings topped the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 2.5%.

In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nordson’s fiscal 2026 earnings has increased 2%.

Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH - Free Report) currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. Parker-Hannifin’s earnings topped the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 6.8%.

In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Parker-Hannifin’s fiscal 2026 earnings has increased 0.7%.

GEA Group (OTCMKTS:GEAGF – Get Free Report) and Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT – Get Free Report) are both large-cap industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, earnings, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation and dividends.

Volatility and Risk GEA Group has a beta of 0.31, indicating that its stock price is 69% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Applied Industrial Technologies has a beta of 0.82, indicating that its stock price is 18% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings This table compares GEA Group and Applied Industrial Technologies”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio GEA Group $6.22 billion 1.96 $468.31 million $2.32 32.18 Applied Industrial Technologies $4.56 billion 2.36 $392.99 million $10.51 27.53 GEA Group has higher revenue and earnings than Applied Industrial Technologies. Applied Industrial Technologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than GEA Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability This table compares GEA Group and Applied Industrial Technologies’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets GEA Group 7.49% 18.50% 7.55% Applied Industrial Technologies 8.49% 21.74% 12.78% Insider and Institutional Ownership 93.5% of Applied Industrial Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. 1.6% of Applied Industrial Technologies shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for GEA Group and Applied Industrial Technologies, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score GEA Group 0 1 0 1 3.00 Applied Industrial Technologies 0 1 6 0 2.86 Applied Industrial Technologies has a consensus price target of $294.38, indicating a potential upside of 1.76%. Given Applied Industrial Technologies’ higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Applied Industrial Technologies is more favorable than GEA Group.

Summary Applied Industrial Technologies beats GEA Group on 10 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About GEA Group (Get Free Report)

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft engages in the development and production of systems and components to the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. It operates through Separation & Flow Technologies, Liquid & Power Technologies, Food & Health Technologies, Farm Technologies, and Heating & Refrigeration Technologies segments. The Separation & Flow Technologies segment manufacture process-related components and machinery including notably separators, decanters, homogenizers, valves, and pumps. The Liquid & Power Technologies segment offers brewing systems, liquid processing and filling, concentration, precision fermentation, crystallization, purification, drying, powder handling, and packaging, as well as systems for emission control for dairy, beverage, food, chemical, and other industries. The Food & Health Technologies segment engages in the preparation, marination, and processing of meat, poultry, seafood, and vegan products, pasta and confectionery products, baking, slicing, packaging, and frozen food processing for food processing industry; and provides tablet presses for pharmaceutical industry. The Farm Technologies segment offers customer solution for milk production and livestock farming, which includes automatic milking and feeding system, conventional milking solutions, manure handling, and digital herd management tool. The Heating & Refrigeration Technologies segment provides energy solution in the field of industrial refrigeration and heating for an array of industries including food, beverage, dairy, and oil and gas. The company was formerly known as mg technologies ag and changed its name to GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft in 2005. GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft was founded in 1881 and is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany.

About Applied Industrial Technologies (Get Free Report)

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. It also operates fabricated rubber shops and service field crews that install, modify, and repair conveyor belts and rubber linings, as well as offer hose assemblies. In addition, the company provides technical support services; engages in the distribution of fluid power and industrial flow control products; advanced automation solutions, including machine vision, robotics, motion control, and smart technologies. It distributes industrial products through a network of service centers. The company serves various industries, including agriculture and food processing, cement, chemicals and petrochemicals, fabricated metals, forest products, industrial machinery and equipment, life sciences, mining, oil and gas, primary metals, technology, transportation, and utilities, as well as government entities. The company was formerly known as Bearings, Inc. and changed its to name to Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. in 1997. The company was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Net Sales of $1.3 Billion Up 7.3% YoY; Up 6.0% on an Organic BasisNet Income of $99.8 Million; EPS of $2.65 Up 3.1% YoYOperating Income of $137.9 Million; EBITDA of $153.9 Million Up 6.2% YoYOperating Cash Flow of $100.1 Million; Free Cash Flow of $95.4 MillionAdjusting FY26 Guidance; EPS Now $10.64 to 10.75 on Sales of +7.2% to +7.7%Announcing New 3.0 Million Share Repurchase Authorization CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT), a leading value-added distributor and technical solutions provider of industrial motion, fluid power, flow control, automation technologies, and related maintenance supplies, today reported results for its fiscal 2026 third quarter ended March 31, 2026.

Net sales for the quarter of $1.3 billion increased 7.3% over the prior year. The change includes a 0.5% increase from acquisitions and a positive 0.8% impact from foreign currency translation. Excluding these factors, sales increased 6.0% on an organic basis reflecting a 4.2% increase in the Service Center segment and a 9.3% increase in the Engineered Solutions segment. The Company reported net income of $­­­99.8 million, or $2.65 per share, and EBITDA of $153.9 million. Results include $1.7 million ($0.05 per share) of non-routine discrete tax expense related to prior-year tax provision adjustments. In addition, on a pre-tax basis, results include $5.6 million ($0.11 after tax per share) of LIFO expense compared to $2.2 million ($0.04 after tax per share) of LIFO expense in the prior-year period.

Neil A. Schrimsher, Applied’s President & Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We delivered a solid third quarter underscored by strengthening organic sales growth across both segments. Growth was led by our Engineered Solutions segment where ongoing positive order trends, improving demand across legacy and emerging industry verticals, and our deep application and engineering expertise is accelerating sales momentum. This is an encouraging sign that highlights our differentiated position, as well as distinct growth tailwinds emerging across the segment. In addition, Service Center segment demand is building nicely. Benefits from our sales initiatives and One Applied value proposition are reading through as we support our customers’ heightened technical MRO requirements within an increasingly positive U.S. industrial backdrop. Combined with steady underlying gross margin performance, we reported record quarterly EBITDA at the high end of our expectations. Overall, these are strong results that further demonstrate our favorable industry position and the Applied team’s consistent execution.”

Mr. Schrimsher added, “I am encouraged by our performance year to date and the company-specific opportunities that continue to develop. Organic sales month to date in April are trending up by a high single-digit percent year over year, while orders and business funnel activity remain favorable. We are mindful of recent geopolitical developments and ongoing trade policy uncertainty, which we have incorporated into our fourth quarter outlook. That said, the demand backdrop across our North American centric operations is showing favorable signs with U.S. industrial macro indicators now in more positive territory, break-fix activity firming, and customers’ capital spending gradually improving. Combined with our balance sheet capacity, we are in a solid position moving forward.”

Updated Fiscal 2026 Guidance

Guidance for our fiscal 2026 year ending June 30, 2026 is updated as follows:

EPS: $10.64 to $10.75 (prior $10.45 to $10.75) Total sales growth: 7.2% to 7.7% (prior 5.5% to 7.0%) Organic sales growth: 3.8% to 4.2% (prior 2.5% to 4.0%) EBITDA margin: 12.3% to 12.4% (prior 12.2% to 12.4%) Updated guidance assumes the following for our fiscal fourth quarter ending June 30, 2026:

EPS: $2.85 to $2.96 Total sales growth: 4.5% to 6.0% Organic sales growth: 4.0% to 5.5% year over year EBITDA margin: 12.6% to 12.8% Guidance incorporates macro uncertainty tied to recent geopolitical events and ongoing trade policy dynamics, as well as broader inflationary headwinds and growth investments. Guidance does not assume contribution from future acquisitions or share buybacks.

Share Repurchase Authorization

Today, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a new share buyback program to repurchase up to 3.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock. The updated plan replaces the prior share repurchase plan. Shares may be purchased in open market and negotiated transactions.

Dividend

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.51 per common share, payable on May 29, 2026, to shareholders of record on May 15, 2026.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call at 10 a.m. ET today to discuss the quarter’s results and outlook. A live audio webcast and supplemental presentation can be accessed on our Investor Relations site at https://ir.applied.com. To join by telephone, dial 833-461-5787 (toll free) or 585-542-9983 using conference ID 381460398. Replays of the call will be available via webcast, as well as by telephone for one week by dialing 833-461-5787 (toll free) using conference ID 381460398.

About Applied®

Applied Industrial Technologies is a leading value-added distributor and technical solutions provider of industrial motion, fluid power, flow control, automation technologies, and related maintenance supplies. Our leading brands, specialized services, and comprehensive knowledge serve MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) and OEM (original equipment manufacturing), and new system install applications in virtually all industrial markets through our multi-channel capabilities that provide choice, convenience, and expertise. For more information, visit www.applied.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, as that term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. Applied intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements are often identified by qualifiers such as “assume,” “expectation,” “guidance,” and derivative or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations regarding important risk factors including trends and events in the industrial sector of the economy (such as the inflationary environment and supply chain strains), results of operations, and financial condition, and other risk factors identified in Applied's most recent periodic report and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, and the making of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by Applied or any other person that the results expressed therein will be achieved. Applied assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether due to new information, or events, or otherwise.

APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data)   Three Months Ended
March 31,

Nine Months Ended
March 31,

2026

2025

2026

2025

Net sales $

1,251,453

$

1,166,749

$

3,613,999

$

3,338,694

Cost of sales 870,649

811,459

2,518,432

2,330,272

Gross profit 380,804

355,290

1,095,567

1,008,422

Selling, distribution and administrative expense, including depreciation 242,879

225,888

705,403

644,978

Operating income 137,925

129,402

390,164

363,444

Interest expense (income), net 2,447

853

4,382

(710

)

Other expense (income), net 350

1,267

(703

)

(1,769

)

Income before income taxes 135,128

127,282

386,485

365,923

Income tax expense 35,359

27,483

90,560

80,771

Net income $

99,769

$

99,799

$

295,925

$

285,152

Net income per share - basic $

2.68

$

2.60

$

7.89

$

7.43

Net income per share - diluted $

2.65

$

2.57

$

7.79

$

7.33

Average shares outstanding - basic 37,223

38,322

37,527

38,383

Average shares outstanding - diluted 37,684

38,847

38,002

38,920

APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (In thousands)     March 31,
2026 June 30,
2025     Assets Cash and cash equivalents $

171,576

$

388,417

Accounts receivable, net 792,849

769,699

Inventories 526,324

505,337

Other current assets 90,457

84,020

Total current assets 1,581,206

1,747,473

Property, net 128,037

128,154

Operating lease assets, net 181,830

188,654

Identifiable intangibles, net 322,689

348,600

Goodwill 704,998

699,374

Other assets 69,951

63,289

Total Assets $

2,988,711

$

3,175,544

  Liabilities Accounts payable $

303,057

$

280,124

Current portion of long-term debt 18,000

—

Other accrued liabilities 215,565

246,027

Total current liabilities 536,622

526,151

Long-term debt 347,300

572,300

Other liabilities 244,746

232,573

Total Liabilities 1,128,668

1,331,024

Shareholders' Equity 1,860,043

1,844,520

Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $

2,988,711

$

3,175,544

  NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1) Inventories are valued at average cost, using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for U.S. inventories. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method can be made only at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations are based on management’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs and are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory determination. APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (In thousands)   Nine Months Ended

March 31,

2026

2025

  Cash Flows from Operating Activities Net Income $

295,925

$

285,152

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization of property 19,472

18,433

Amortization of intangibles 30,213

25,385

Provision for losses on accounts receivable 1,095

2,652

Amortization of stock appreciation rights 4,174

3,570

Other share-based compensation expense 5,414

5,824

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions (55,310

)

5,371

Other, net 18,103

(1,050

)

Net Cash provided by Operating Activities 319,086

345,337

Cash Flows from Investing Activities Net cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired (11,425

)

(273,312

)

Capital expenditures (18,312

)

(18,295

)

Proceeds from property sales 986

1,022

Net Cash used in Investing Activities (28,751

)

(290,585

)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities Net payments under revolving credit facility (207,000

)

—

Long-term debt repayments —

(25,106

)

Interest rate swap settlement receipts 5,765

9,435

Purchases of treasury shares (236,379

)

(79,794

)

Dividends paid (53,727

)

(46,159

)

Payment of debt issuance costs (1,611

)

—

Acquisition holdback payments (1,393

)

(1,210

)

Taxes paid for shares withheld (12,812

)

(14,332

)

Net Cash used in Financing Activities (507,157

)

(157,166

)

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash (19

)

(5,361

)

Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents (216,841

)

(107,775

)

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period 388,417

460,617

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $

171,576

$

352,842

Reconciliation of Net Income, a GAAP financial measure, to EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure:   Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

March 31,

March 31,

2026

2025

2026

2025

Net Income $

99,769

$

99,799

$

295,925

$

285,152

Interest expense (income), net 2,447

853

4,382

(710

)

Income tax expense 35,359

27,483

90,560

80,771

Depreciation and amortization of property 6,396

6,583

19,472

18,433

Amortization of intangibles 9,884

10,218

30,213

25,385

EBITDA $

153,855

$

144,936

$

440,552

$

409,031

The Company defines EBITDA as Earnings from operations before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure which excludes items that may not be indicative of core operating results.   Reconciliation of Net Cash provided by Operating activities, a GAAP financial measure, to Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP financial measure:   Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

March 31,

March 31,

2026

2025

2026

2025

Net Cash provided by Operating Activities $

100,110

$

122,453

$

319,086

$

345,337

Capital expenditures (4,734

)

(7,549

)

(18,312

)

(18,295

)

Free Cash Flow $

95,376

$

114,904

$

300,774

$

327,042

  Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure and is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. More News From Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.

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Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways Applied Industrial Q3 EPS beat estimates, rising 3.1%, with sales up 7.3% year over year.AIT saw strong growth in Engineered Solutions, driven by fluid power and automation demand.Company raised FY2026 sales and earnings outlook, signaling continued momentum. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended March 31, 2026) earnings of $2.65 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.63. The bottom line increased 3.1% year over year.

Net sales of $1.25 billion beat the consensus estimate of $1.22 billion. Also, the top line increased 7.3% year over year. Acquisitions boosted the top line by 0.5% while foreign-currency translation had a favorable impact of 0.8%. Organic sales increased 6% year over year.

Segmental DiscussionThe Service Center-Based Distribution segment’s sales, which contributed 64.3% to net sales, totaled $804.9 million. On a year-over-year basis, the segment’s sales increased 5.7%.

While organic sales increased 4.2%, foreign currency translation positively impacted sales by 1.3%. Segmental sales were aided by ongoing internal initiatives and higher technical MRO activities.

The Engineered Solutions segment’s sales (formerly the Fluid Power & Flow Control segment), which contributed 35.7% to net sales, totaled $446.5 million. On a year-over-year basis, the segment’s sales increased 10.2%.

Acquisitions boosted the top line by 0.9%. Organic sales increased 9.3% owing to strong volume across fluid power and automation businesses, and healthy growth across the flow control unit.

AIT’s Margin ProfileIn the quarter, Applied Industrial’s cost of sales was up 7.3% year over year to $870.6 million. Gross profit was $380.8 million, up 7.2% from the year-ago quarter.

The gross margin inched down to 30.4% from 30.5% in the year-ago quarter. Selling, distribution and administrative expenses (including depreciation) increased 7.5% year over year to $242.9 million. EBITDA was $153.9 million, reflecting an increase of 6.2%.

AIT’s Balance Sheet & Cash FlowExiting third-quarter fiscal 2026, Applied Industrial had cash and cash equivalents of $171.6 million compared with $388.4 million at the end of fiscal 2025. Long-term debt was $347.3 million compared with $572.3 million at the end of the prior fiscal year.

In the first nine months, it generated net cash of $319.1 million from operating activities, indicating a decrease of 7.5% from the year-ago quarter. Capital expenditures totaled $18.3 million, roughly stable year over year. Free cash flow decreased 8% year over year to $300.8 million.

In the first nine months, AIT rewarded its shareholders with dividends of $53.7 million, up 16.2% year over year.

Dividend UpdateApplied Industrial’s board approved a quarterly cash dividend of 51 cents per share, payable to shareholders on May 29, 2026, of record as of May 15, 2026.

Applied Industrial’s GuidanceFor fiscal 2026 (ending June 2026), Applied Industrial anticipates adjusted earnings to be in the range of $10.64-$10.75 per share compared with $10.45-$10.75 predicted earlier.

The company currently anticipates sales to increase in the range of 7.2-7.7%, higher than 5.5-7.0% predicted earlier. Organic sales are expected to increase 3.8-4.2% year over year compared with 2.5-4.0% estimated previously.  AIT expects the EBITDA margin to be in the range of 12.3-12.4%.

Zacks Rank and Stocks to ConsiderThe company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Some better-ranked stocks are discussed below:

DXP Enterprises (DXPE - Free Report) presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

DXP Enterprises’ earnings surpassed the consensus estimate by 52.8% in the last reported quarter. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for DXPE’s 2026 earnings has increased by 17.2%.

Nordson Corporation (NDSN - Free Report) currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Nordson’s earnings topped the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 2.5%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nordson’s fiscal 2026 earnings has increased 0.5%.

RBC Bearings (RBC - Free Report) presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. RBC Bearings’ earnings surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 5.3%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for RBC Bearings’ fiscal 2026 earnings has inched down 0.3%.

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AIT Consulting Services honored by OneStream for innovative AI application in finance and operations

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WilliamsMarston, a national leader in complex accounting, tax, technology, transaction, and valuation advisory services, is proud to recognize AIT Consulting Services (“AIT”) for receiving the 2026 AI Excellence Award from OneStream, which honors partners delivering measurable business impact through AI-powered finance solutions.

AIT, a WilliamsMarston company and a Diamond OneStream implementation partner, was recognized for its role in helping MB2 Dental—a fast-growing, private equity-backed healthcare services organization—implement AI-driven performance insights across its organization.

The project leveraged OneStream SensibleAI Studio to enable automated benchmarking, anomaly detection, and AI performance analysis within finance and operational workflows. Completed through an initial pilot and full deployment over approximately eight weeks, it established a scalable foundation for future predictive analytics and more proactive decision-making.

“We’re incredibly proud of our team and the close collaboration we’ve built with OneStream,” said Ben Novak, Partner and OneStream Co-Practice Leader. “Receiving the AI Excellence Award reinforces our shared vision of empowering finance leaders with intelligent, data-driven tools that transform how they plan, report, and operate.”

AIT is part of the Firm’s broader technology practice, which advises clients on finance transformation, enterprise performance management, AI enablement, and reporting modernization to help their organizations scale more effectively and strategically.

“We’re seeing more organizations move from talking about AI to finding practical ways to apply it across the business,” said Sanjay Ramaswamy, CEO of WilliamsMarston. “AIT’s work with MB2 Dental is just one strong example of how the right combination of technology and industry expertise can help teams work more efficiently, surface stronger insights, and make better decisions.”

To learn more about WilliamsMarston’s OneStream Practice, visit williamsmarston.com/onestream-practice/

About WilliamsMarston
WilliamsMarston is a national accounting, tax, technology, transaction, and valuation advisory firm serving pre-IPO, public, and private equity-backed companies managing rapid growth and transformation. With 300 professionals, the firm combines deep technical expertise with practical experience—including leadership from the Big Four—to help clients navigate their most complex and high-stakes challenges.

For more information, please visit https://williamsmarston.com/ and follow WilliamsMarston on LinkedIn.

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