Vest Financial LLC Buys 2,939 Shares of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. $AIT

Vest Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT) by 14.1% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 23,723 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,939 shares during the quarter. Vest Financial LLC’s holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies were worth $6,091,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Torren Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. M&T Bank Corp grew its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 208.0% during the 4th quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 2,784 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $715,000 after purchasing an additional 1,880 shares during the period. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA boosted its holdings in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 3.6% in the fourth quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 5,807 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,491,000 after buying an additional 201 shares during the last quarter. Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers LLC grew its position in Applied Industrial Technologies by 13.5% during the fourth quarter. Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers LLC now owns 12,715 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $3,265,000 after buying an additional 1,512 shares during the period. Finally, Sanctuary Advisors LLC raised its position in Applied Industrial Technologies by 14.8% in the fourth quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 1,110 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $285,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 93.52% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Applied Industrial Technologies

In related news, VP Warren E. Hoffner III sold 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 52,751 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $15,224,993.62. The trade was a 7.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Jason W. Vasquez sold 5,447 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $287.87, for a total value of $1,568,027.89. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly 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 ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders have 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 Stock Performance

Shares of Applied Industrial Technologies stock opened at $302.08 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $11.27 billion, a PE ratio of 28.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 0.82. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $213.78 and a 52 week high of $309.67. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $275.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $267.57. The company has a quick ratio of 2.56, a current ratio of 3.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) last issued 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. The business had revenue of $1.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.23 billion. Applied Industrial Technologies had a net margin of 8.49% and a return on equity of 21.74%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.57 EPS. 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. As a group, analysts expect that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. will post 10.65 earnings per share for the current year.

Applied Industrial Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. Applied Industrial Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 19.41%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AIT has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a research report on Friday. KeyCorp increased their price target on Applied Industrial Technologies from $300.00 to $330.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Applied Industrial Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, April 11th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $295.00.

More Applied Industrial Technologies News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 beat on EPS and revenue; revenue +7.3% y/y and EPS $2.65 vs. $2.63 consensus — signals resilient demand and margin strength. Applied Industrial Technologies Reports Fiscal 2026 Third Quarter Results
• Positive Sentiment: Organic sales growth and orders improved — the company posted its best quarterly organic growth in over two years, which supports sustainability of top-line momentum. AIT Posts Best Quarterly Organic Growth in Over 2 Years as Orders Improve
• Positive Sentiment: Management raised FY‑2026 guidance slightly and provided Q4 guidance in-line with estimates, and announced a new share buyback program — a direct capital-return action that can support the stock multiple. Applied Industrial Boosts Guidance, Launches New Share Buyback
• Positive Sentiment: Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.51 per share (record May 15, paid May 29) — small yield but signals steady cash flow and shareholder-friendly policy.
• Neutral Sentiment: Guidance is roughly in line with consensus: FY EPS guide of $10.64–$10.75 versus street ~$10.66, and Q4 EPS guide of $2.85–$2.96 vs. ~$2.87 — supportive but not a dramatic beat. Applied Industrial projects fiscal 2026 EPS of $10.60 to $10.75 as organic sales growth improves
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call and slide deck are available for detail — useful for investors digging into segment trends, working capital and margin drivers. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Minor analyst tweak: Zacks trimmed a Q2 estimate from $2.70 to $2.69 — a very small downgrade that likely has limited impact given the company’s buyback and guidance posture. Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) Tops Q3 Earnings and Revenue Estimates

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.