Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) Shares Gap Down – Time to Sell?

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT) gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $281.54, but opened at $268.33. Applied Industrial Technologies shares last traded at $261.6630, with a volume of 73,912 shares.

Key Stories Impacting Applied Industrial Technologies

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 earnings narrowly beat expectations — Applied reported $2.51 EPS, topping consensus by a small amount and showing year‑over‑year growth; revenue rose ~8.4% driven partly by acquisitions, supporting continued topline momentum. Applied Industrial Q2 results and call
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary highlights an earnings‑beat streak and potential for analyst upward revisions, which could support future multiple expansion if momentum continues. Earnings Beat Streak and Analyst Revisions
• Neutral Sentiment: Company filed its press release and supporting slide deck with details on segment performance and acquisition contributions — useful for investors who want granularity on margin drivers and end‑market trends. Business Wire: Q2 Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage on valuation and recent momentum notes mixed signals: solid fundamentals but shares have had varied short‑term price action, so near‑term performance may hinge on guidance/analyst revisions. Valuation & Momentum Analysis
• Negative Sentiment: FY2026 guidance came in a touch light versus consensus — EPS guided to $10.45–$10.75 (consensus ~$10.65) and revenue guided to about $4.8–$4.9B (consensus ~$4.9B). The slightly conservative midpoint/upper‑end revenue guide likely prompted investor concern and is the proximate cause of the share weakness today.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on AIT shares. Mizuho set a $305.00 price target on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Six investment 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 company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $287.50.

Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Down 8.3%

The business has a 50-day moving average price of $263.42 and a 200-day moving average price of $261.55. The firm has a market cap of $9.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a current ratio of 3.55, a quick ratio of 2.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30.

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The industrial products company reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.49 by $0.02. Applied Industrial Technologies had a net margin of 8.61% and a return on equity of 21.86%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.39 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. Applied Industrial Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.450-10.750 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. will post 9.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Applied Industrial Technologies

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AIT. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 12,710 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $3,264,000 after acquiring an additional 383 shares in the last quarter. Krilogy Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Applied Industrial Technologies in the fourth quarter valued at $204,000. First Horizon Corp boosted its holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies by 48.9% in the fourth quarter. First Horizon Corp now owns 268 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. US Asset Management LLC grew its position in 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 purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. Finally, Lecap Asset Management Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 35.6% during the 4th quarter. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. now owns 4,487 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,152,000 after buying an additional 1,178 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.52% of the company’s stock.

About Applied Industrial Technologies

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.