What is Zacks Research’s Forecast for AIT Q2 Earnings?

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research dropped their Q2 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, November 18th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the industrial products company will earn $2.48 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $2.49. 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 $2.69 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.78 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $10.58 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.70 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.67 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $3.15 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $11.48 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $3.03 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $12.72 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also commented on AIT. Industrial Alliance Securities set a $290.00 price objective on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a report on Friday, August 22nd. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $275.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 22nd. Raymond James Financial lowered shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday, August 15th. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on Applied Industrial Technologies from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, August 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $287.50.

Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of AIT stock opened at $242.46 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.34, a PEG ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 0.99. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $256.47 and a 200 day moving average of $250.29. Applied Industrial Technologies has a 52 week low of $199.96 and a 52 week high of $282.98. The company has a quick ratio of 2.36, a current ratio of 3.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30.

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The industrial products company reported $2.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.47 by $0.16. Applied Industrial Technologies had a return on equity of 21.86% and a net margin of 8.61%.The firm had revenue of $1.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.19 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.36 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Applied Industrial Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.100-10.850 EPS.

Institutional Trading of Applied Industrial Technologies

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Capital International Investors bought a new stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in the 3rd quarter worth $200,456,000. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies during the second quarter valued at $107,228,000. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies by 452.6% in the 1st quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 436,565 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $98,376,000 after buying an additional 357,568 shares in the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd bought a new stake in Applied Industrial Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth about $81,722,000. Finally, Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Applied Industrial Technologies in the 1st quarter worth about $67,365,000. 93.52% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Applied Industrial Technologies

In other Applied Industrial Technologies news, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher sold 26,671 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $262.46, for a total transaction of $7,000,070.66. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 149,735 shares in the company, valued at approximately $39,299,448.10. This trade represents a 15.12% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Kurt W. Loring sold 8,523 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $267.06, for a total transaction of $2,276,152.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 19,273 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,147,047.38. This represents a 30.66% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 42,660 shares of company stock worth $11,217,980. 1.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Applied Industrial Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 28th. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th will be given a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 14th. Applied Industrial Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is 17.71%.

About Applied Industrial Technologies

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.