Lazard Asset Management LLC Boosts Holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. $AIT

Posted by Brian Himes on Jul 31st, 2026

Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT – Free Report) by 14.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 19,770 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,458 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies were worth $5,245,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of AIT. Corient Private Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 22,451.0% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 585,423 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $150,319,000 after acquiring an additional 582,827 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Applied Industrial Technologies during the fourth quarter worth approximately $125,044,000. M&T Bank Corp increased its position in Applied Industrial Technologies by 33,181.4% during the fourth quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 300,864 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $81,322,000 after purchasing an additional 299,960 shares during the last quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. raised its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 4,933.8% during the fourth quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 264,575 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $67,935,000 after purchasing an additional 259,319 shares during the period. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP raised its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 34.3% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 978,840 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $259,706,000 after purchasing an additional 249,961 shares during the period. 93.52% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Performance

NYSE:AIT opened at $340.33 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.95, a quick ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.14, a PEG ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.83. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $326.83 and its 200 day simple moving average is $297.61. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $238.34 and a twelve month high of $352.76.

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The industrial products company reported $2.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.63 by $0.02. Applied Industrial Technologies had a net margin of 8.34% and a return on equity of 21.64%. The firm had revenue of $1.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.57 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. will post 10.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Applied Industrial Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. Applied Industrial Technologies’s payout ratio is currently 19.26%.

Insider Transactions at Applied Industrial Technologies

In other news, VP Warren E. Hoffner III sold 8,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $306.04, for a total value of $2,448,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 40,751 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,471,436.04. This represents a 16.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Madhuri A. Andrews sold 3,845 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $329.89, for a total value of $1,268,427.05. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 4,951 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,633,285.39. This trade represents a 43.71% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

AIT has been the subject of several research reports. Robert W. Baird set a $317.00 price objective on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. KeyCorp increased their target price on Applied Industrial Technologies from $350.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Applied Industrial Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 2nd. Mizuho raised their price objective on Applied Industrial Technologies from $330.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Finally, Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on Applied Industrial Technologies from $300.00 to $350.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Applied Industrial Technologies presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $336.71.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on AIT

Applied Industrial Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

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.