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Applied Industrial Technologies stock stays Outperform with stronger automation

EditorAhmed Abdulazez Abdulkadir
Published 10/24/2024, 09:56 PM
AIT
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On Thursday, Oppenheimer reaffirmed its positive stance on Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT), maintaining an Outperform rating and a price target of $235.00. The company's first-quarter financial results for fiscal year 2025 showed adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.36, which slightly underperformed by 1% but surpassed Oppenheimer's estimate of $2.24 and the consensus of $2.25.

The earnings beat included a $0.12 advantage over the firm's estimate, despite a $0.03 operational penalty, and gains of $0.15 from a favorable tax rate and net interest/other income.

Applied Industrial Technologies reported quarterly sales of $1.10 billion, a modest increase of 0.3%, with a 3.0% decrease in organic daily sales, offset by a 1.6% increase in the number of days, 2.0% from acquisitions, and a 0.3% negative impact from foreign exchange.

These figures slightly exceeded Oppenheimer's sales forecast of $1.07 billion, which predicted a 2.0% decline. The operating margin (OM) was reported at 10.3%, down 70 basis points, which was below the firm's estimated 10.7% decline of 30 basis points.

Operating profit (OP) for the quarter was $113 million, down 6% year-over-year, which was slightly below Oppenheimer's expectation of $115 million, representing a 5% decrease. Applied Industrial Technologies has adjusted its full-year 2025 EPS guidance to a range of $9.25 to $10.00, up from the previous forecast of $9.20 to $9.95, citing slightly favorable interest costs.

This update aligns closely with Oppenheimer's prior estimate of $9.65 and the Street's $9.68. The company also reiterated its revenue growth guidance of a (2.5)-2.5% reported rate, with organic growth ranging from down 4% to up 1%, and an EBITDA margin between 12.1% and 12.3%.

The analyst noted that sales in the Service Center Based Distribution (SCBD) segment remained steady throughout the quarter. Meanwhile, the Engineering Solutions (ES) segment experienced stronger activity in September compared to a weaker performance in July and August, deviating from typical seasonality patterns. September's strength was attributed to increased activity in automation and technology verticals, as well as improved flow control.

Applied Industrial Technologies reported its first quarter fiscal 2025 results, surpassing analyst expectations. The company's net income for the quarter was $92.1 million, translating to $2.36 per share, which exceeded the analyst consensus estimate of $2.25 per share. The revenue was $1.1 billion, topping expectations of $1.08 billion.

Sales saw a 0.3% year-over-year increase, aided by acquisitions and an additional selling day. Despite a mixed demand backdrop, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher noted that sales exceeded expectations, with positive trends in the Engineered Solutions segment.

Applied Industrial Technologies has raised its fiscal 2025 earnings per share guidance to a range of $9.25 to $10.00, from its previous outlook of $9.20 to $9.95. The company's full-year sales guidance remains unchanged, projecting a decline of 2.5% to growth of 2.5%.

In addition to these developments, the company generated a record first quarter free cash flow of $122.2 million, nearly double from the previous year. The company also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.37 per share.

InvestingPro Insights

Applied Industrial Technologies' recent financial performance and Oppenheimer's reaffirmed Outperform rating align with several key metrics and insights from InvestingPro. The company's P/E ratio of 22.49 and adjusted P/E ratio of 22.3 for the last twelve months suggest that investors are willing to pay a premium for AIT's earnings, possibly due to its strong market position and growth prospects.

InvestingPro data shows that AIT has maintained dividend payments for an impressive 54 consecutive years, with a current dividend yield of 0.66%. This long-standing commitment to shareholder returns is further supported by an InvestingPro Tip highlighting that AIT has raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years. This consistent dividend growth may be particularly attractive to income-focused investors in the current market environment.

The company's financial health appears robust, with an InvestingPro Tip noting that AIT operates with a moderate level of debt and that its cash flows can sufficiently cover interest payments. This financial stability is crucial as the company navigates varying demand across its segments, as mentioned in the article.

For readers interested in a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 11 additional tips for Applied Industrial Technologies, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial position and market performance.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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