Analyst Consensus ?
ConsensusBuy16 ratings
Bullish1062.5%
Neutral637.5%
Bearish00.0%
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. · AIT · FY2024 Q4 · Calendar Q3 2024
AIT: Margin expansion offsets softer demand; FY2025 outlook maintained
The supplied analysis supports a cautiously constructive view: margin expansion, resilient MRO demand, cash generation, and automation-related opportunities offset near-term sales softness. The key test is whether Engineered Solutions margins and acquisition-led growth can hold while organic demand remains uneven.
Reported Before market openNYSEIndustrials
$11.64B market cap
100quality score
Earnings scorecard
Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS
$2.64
Consensus $2.51
EPS surprise
+5.2%
Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue
$1.16B
Consensus $1.19B
Revenue surprise
-2.1%
Reported versus consensus
Market reaction
prior-close to event-session close
Stock move
+0.6%
Event window
SPY move
+1.7%
Same window
Abnormal move
-1.2%
Stock minus SPY
Volume
1.4×
Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift
+2.0%
Up to 20 sessions
AITSPY benchmark
Ask FN2 about AIT FY2024 Q4
Transcript, numbers and history already loaded
Why did AIT rise 0.6% after beating EPS estimates in FY2024 Q4?What changed in AIT's guidance and outlook in FY2024 Q4?Give me the bull and bear case for AIT after FY2024 Q4 earnings.
Free account. Your question opens in FN2 with this report's transcript and numbers attached.
Transcript intelligence
What changed
Compared with the prior quarter, the emphasis shifted from raised FY2024 adjusted EPS guidance and the Grupo Kopar announcement to FY2025 execution. AIT reported stronger margins and cash generation, maintained its FY2025 outlook, and expanded the acquisition and automation agenda while acknowledging softer fluid-power and OEM demand.
Guidance delta
FY2025 guidance was maintained: sales were framed at -2.5% to +2.5%, with slightly lower EBITDA margins. This contrasts with the prior quarter's raised FY2024 adjusted EPS guidance.
Key takeaways
- Double-digit EPS growth and record cash generation came despite a modest overall sales decline.
- The MRO Service Center business remained resilient, while Engineered Solutions faced weak fluid-power demand but improved margins.
- Management highlighted automation, decarbonization, data-center activity, reshoring, and acquisitions as longer-term growth drivers.
- The balance sheet supports continued investment, acquisitions, share repurchases, and dividend growth.
Management priorities
- Advance acquisitions and integrate Grupo Kopar, Total Machine Solutions, and Stanley Proctor.
- Expand digital sales, e-commerce, automation, IoT, and service-center capabilities.
- Invest in automation and facility expansion while maintaining the share-repurchase program and dividend growth.
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Estimate
Beat
Miss
Match
Analyst 52W Price Targets
$317Current
$210Low
$326.07Average
$420High
Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Oct 26, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.
Firm-level rating actions
FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.
| Firm | Rating | Prior rating | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mizuho | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Keybanc | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Aug 14, 2026 |
| DA Davidson | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Baird | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 14, 2026 |
| B of A Securities | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Raymond James | Market Perform | Outperform | Downgrade | Aug 15, 2025 |
| Loop Capital | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Apr 17, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Apr 5, 2021 |
| Sidoti & Co. | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Dec 9, 2019 |
| Longbow Research | Buy | Neutral | Upgrade | Mar 8, 2019 |
| Avondale Partners | Market Perform | Market Perform | Maintain | Mar 21, 2016 |
| BB&T Capital | Buy | Hold | Upgrade | Jul 7, 2014 |
| CJS Securities | Market Perform | Market Outperform | Downgrade | Aug 15, 2013 |
| Wunderlich Securities | Hold | Buy | Downgrade | Aug 2, 2013 |
| Wunderlich | Hold | Buy | Downgrade | Aug 2, 2013 |
Named analyst price targets
Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $317. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.
| Firm | Analyst | 52W target | Price when posted | Upside | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $390 | $335 | +23.0% | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Industrial Alliance Securities | Chris Dankert | $400 | $360.39 | +26.2% | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Analyst unavailable | $390 | $362.17 | +23.0% | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Industrial Alliance Securities | Analyst unavailable | $390 | $357.62 | +23.0% | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $400 | $357.62 | +26.2% | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Brett Linzey | $400 | $357.62 | +26.2% | Aug 14, 2026 |
| KeyBanc | Analyst unavailable | $420 | $357.62 | +32.5% | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Brett Linzey | $355 | $335.94 | +12.0% | Jul 21, 2026 |
| Industrial Alliance Securities | Chris Dankert | $380 | $316.18 | +19.9% | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Christopher Glynn | $350 | $301.24 | +10.4% | Apr 29, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $317 | $301.24 | +0.0% | Apr 29, 2026 |
| KeyBanc | Analyst unavailable | $300 | $262.34 | -5.4% | Jan 28, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Brett Linzey | $305 | $258.03 | -3.8% | Oct 29, 2025 |
| Industrial Alliance Securities | Sabrina Abrams | $290 | $267.11 | -8.5% | Aug 22, 2025 |
| Oppenheimer | Chris Glynn | $235 | $232.36 | -25.9% | Oct 24, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Brett Linzey | $285 | $229.98 | -10.1% | Oct 21, 2024 |
| KeyBanc | Ken Newman | $245 | $218.77 | -22.7% | Sep 23, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | David Manthey | $210 | $203.62 | -33.8% | Aug 29, 2024 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Chris Dankert | $230 | $199.67 | -27.4% | Aug 16, 2024 |
| KeyBanc | Steve Barger | $215 | $199.95 | -32.2% | Aug 16, 2024 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Chris Dankert | $215 | $183.59 | -32.2% | Apr 29, 2024 |
| KeyBanc | Ken Newman | $140 | $113.43 | -55.8% | Aug 12, 2022 |
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Start freeCompany context
Snapshot as of publicationApplied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) is a prominent distributor specializing in advanced solutions for industrial motion, power, control, and automation. Its operational footprint extends across North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. The company structures its operations into two main divisions: Service Center Based Distribution and Fluid Power & Flow Control. AIT's extensive product portfolio encompasses a wide range of industrial components and systems, including bearings, power transmission equipment, engineered fluid power systems, specialized flow control mechanisms, cutting-edge automation products, various industrial rubber items, linear motion components, and essential tools, safety gear, and oilfield provisions.…
Historical context
All AIT earningsIndustrials peers this season
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIX Comfort Systems USA, Inc. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | +8.2% | -8.5% | Comfort Systems USA: Strong Growth, Record Backlog, Margin Watchpoints |
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| SNA Snap-on Incorporated | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | -5.9% | -3.4% | Snap-on: C&I strength offsets organic sales pressure in Q3 |
| HON Honeywell International Inc. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | +4.6% | +1.7% | Honeywell Raises 2026 Outlook as Backlog and Forge Support Growth |
| LMT Lockheed Martin Corporation | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | +6.0% | +7.0% | Lockheed Martin: backlog and guidance rise, with execution risks |
| NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | +4.6% | +3.1% | Norfolk Southern posts strong Q3 as capex outlook rises |
Latest beats and misses
Who reports nextBeat on EPS
- FCNCAFY2026 Q3 · October 23, 2026+19.9% EPS+8.2% move
- FCNCNFY2026 Q3 · October 23, 2026+19.9% EPS+0.2% move
- FCNCOFY2026 Q3 · October 23, 2026+19.9% EPS+1.0% move
- FCNCPFY2026 Q3 · October 23, 2026+19.9% EPS+1.0% move
- RDYFY2027 Q2 · October 23, 2026+24.0% EPS-0.2% move
- SLBFY2026 Q3 · October 23, 2026+3.7% EPS+7.1% move
Missed on EPS
- INFYFY2027 Q2 · October 23, 2026-4.8% EPS-6.6% move
- BBDFY2026 Q3 · October 22, 2026-7.7% EPS+3.0% move
- SNAFY2026 Q3 · October 22, 2026-5.9% EPS-3.4% move
- SPOTFY2026 Q3 · October 22, 2026-11.6% EPS+11.1% move
- VRSNFY2026 Q3 · October 22, 2026-2.0% EPS-0.9% move
- HBANMFY2026 Q3 · October 22, 2026-5.3% EPS+0.5% move
Get the AIT recap when the next report posts
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Sources
- Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-05-11T10:29:34.698584+00:00
- FN2 earnings calendar · 2024-10-17T05:10:49.140638+00:00
- Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-10-26T02:30:43.287252+00:00
- Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-10-26T02:30:43.284479+00:00
Methodology
Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.
Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.
Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.
By FN2 Research · Updated · As of 2026-10-26. For educational purposes only; not investment advice.