Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Access earnings results, analyst expectations, report, slides, earnings call, and transcript.
Overview
The earnings call summary indicates strong growth in key segments, a positive outlook on sales momentum, and strategic capital allocation. Despite some concerns about LIFO expenses and vague responses on automation demand, the overall sentiment is positive with strong order growth, favorable pricing contributions, and active M&A plans. The Q&A reinforces this with details on destocking completion and robust automation growth. Given the lack of market cap data, but considering the strategic initiatives and positive guidance, a 2% to 8% stock price increase is anticipated.
Key Financial Performance
Organic Sales Growth Reported year-over-year organic growth of 2.2%, down from 3% last quarter. Growth was influenced by seasonally weak sales activity in December and higher-than-expected LIFO expense.
Engineered Solutions Segment Orders Orders increased over 10% year-over-year in the second quarter, marking the strongest quarterly order growth rate in over 4 years. This was driven by improved customer sentiment and ongoing growth across business funnels.
LIFO Expense LIFO expense came in at roughly $7 million, above the $4 million to $5 million range assumed in guidance and significantly higher than less than $1 million in the prior year second quarter. The increase reflects broader product inflation and supplier price increases.
Gross Margins (Excluding LIFO) Gross margins were up both year-over-year and sequentially, demonstrating strong underlying margin performance despite inflationary pressures.
Quarterly Dividend An 11% increase in the quarterly dividend was announced, following a 24% increase last year. This reflects confidence in cash flow generation and long-term earnings potential.
Service Center Segment Sales U.S. Service Center sales were up over 4% year-over-year in the second quarter, driven by growth in both strategic national accounts and local accounts. Local account sales growth strengthened as the quarter progressed.
Primary Metals and Aggregate Markets Service Center sales in these markets were up by a double-digit percent year-over-year in the quarter, reflecting stronger activity in heavy U.S. industrial verticals.
Automation Orders Automation orders were up 20% year-over-year in the second quarter, driven by structural labor constraints, safety and quality focus, and North American reshoring activity.
Flow Control Orders Flow control orders were up by a high single-digit percent year-over-year in the second quarter, despite muted activity in the chemicals end market and slow project shipment phasing.
Fluid Power Operations Organic sales were positive year-over-year for the first time in 2 years during the second quarter, with orders up by a double-digit percent over the prior year. This reflects increased demand for advanced power and control features in next-generation equipment.
Hydradyne Acquisition Hydradyne generated over $30 million of EBITDA in the first 12 months of ownership, with EBITDA margins exceeding 13% in the second quarter. The acquisition has been accretive to consolidated EBITDA margin performance.
Consolidated Sales Sales increased 8.4% over the prior year quarter, with acquisitions contributing 6 points of growth and organic growth at 2.2%. Pricing contributed approximately 250 basis points to year-over-year sales growth.
Consolidated Gross Margin Gross margin of 30.4% was down 19 basis points compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher LIFO expense. Excluding LIFO, gross margins of 31% were up 34 basis points year-over-year.
Service Center Segment EBITDA Margin Segment EBITDA margin of 13.3% declined 14 basis points year-over-year, inclusive of a 45 basis point LIFO headwind. Excluding LIFO, the margin improved due to stronger U.S. sales and cost control.
Engineered Solutions Segment EBITDA Margin Segment EBITDA margin of 14.3% was down roughly 200 basis points year-over-year, inclusive of a 55 basis point LIFO headwind. The decline was driven by lower flow control sales and unfavorable M&A mix.
Free Cash Flow Free cash flow totaled $93.4 million, representing a conversion of 98% relative to net income. This was up slightly from the prior year, balancing greater working capital investment with internal initiatives.
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Operating Highlights
Thompson Industrial Supply acquisition: Acquired to enhance footprint in Southern California, bringing $20 million in expected annual sales and strengthening technical knowledge, supplier relationships, and value-added services.
Hydradyne acquisition: Marked one-year anniversary with over $30 million EBITDA in the first 12 months, contributing to operational momentum and cross-selling opportunities.
Semiconductor solutions: Positive demand signals from semiconductor customers, aligning with a multiyear upcycle in wafer fab equipment.
Automation solutions: Orders up 20% year-over-year, driven by demand for collaborative robots, machine vision, and IoT solutions.
Service Center segment growth: U.S. Service Center sales up over 4% year-over-year, with growth in national and local accounts, particularly in heavy industrial verticals like metals and aggregates.
Engineered Solutions segment growth: Orders increased over 10% year-over-year, the strongest growth in over 4 years, with positive trends in technology verticals like semiconductors and data centers.
LIFO expense management: Teams managed $7 million LIFO expense, balancing inflation and inventory investments.
EBITDA margin performance: Held firm year-over-year despite challenges, supported by cost control and operational efficiencies.
Capital deployment: Increased quarterly dividend by 11%, repurchased $140 million in shares, and evaluated M&A opportunities to expand technical solutions.
Growth initiatives: Focused on cross-selling, sales process improvements, and leveraging strategic actions for long-term growth.
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Risk or Challenges
Sales Trends: Sales trends were mixed, with December showing notably below normal seasonal patterns, indicating potential volatility in customer operations and shipment phasing.
LIFO Expense: Higher-than-expected LIFO expense of $7 million impacted gross margins and profitability, creating financial headwinds.
End Market Variability: Mixed and choppy end markets, with declines in lumber, wood, chemicals, oil and gas, rubber and plastics, and refining, pose challenges to consistent growth.
Flow Control Sales: Flow control sales were modestly lower year-over-year, reflecting muted activity in the chemicals end market and slow project shipment phasing.
Economic and Policy Uncertainty: Ongoing macroeconomic and policy uncertainties could influence customer spending behavior and shipment activity, leading to variability in sales growth.
Inflationary Pressures: Inflationary headwinds and supplier price increases are impacting costs and margins, requiring effective management to mitigate effects.
Operational Costs: Increased SG&A expenses due to inflationary pressures and growth investments could strain profitability if not managed effectively.
Supply Chain and Inventory: Prudent inventory investments to address demand outlook may lead to higher costs and financial risks if demand does not materialize as expected.
Competitive Pressures: Competitive dynamics in automation, fluid power, and flow control markets require continuous innovation and investment to maintain market position.
Regulatory and Tax Policy: Potential changes in tax policy and deregulation could impact financial performance and operational planning.
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Guidance & Outlook
Sales Growth: The company projects full-year fiscal 2026 sales growth of 5.5% to 7%, with organic sales expected to increase by 2.5% to 4%. Third-quarter organic sales are anticipated to grow by a low to mid-single-digit percentage year-over-year.
Earnings Per Share (EPS): Updated full-year fiscal 2026 EPS guidance is $10.45 to $10.75, reflecting adjustments for first-half performance and updated outlook.
EBITDA Margins: Full-year fiscal 2026 EBITDA margins are expected to range between 12.2% and 12.4%. Third-quarter EBITDA margins are projected to be within the same range.
LIFO Expense: The company now assumes LIFO expense of $24 million to $26 million for fiscal 2026, up from prior guidance of $14 million to $18 million.
Capital Deployment: The company plans to continue evaluating M&A opportunities, with a focus on expanding technical engineered solutions in automation, fluid power, and flow control. The acquisition of Thompson Industrial Supply is expected to contribute $20 million in annual sales.
End Market Trends: Positive trends are expected in semiconductor, power generation, and energy markets, supported by structural and secular tailwinds. Data center build-out and automation demand are also projected to drive growth.
Segment Performance: Engineered Solutions segment is expected to see meaningful sales growth in the second half of fiscal 2026, with organic sales trending up by a high single-digit percentage in January. Service Center segment is positioned to support heightened technical MRO needs, with U.S. Service Center sales up over 4% year-over-year in the second quarter.
Automation and Fluid Power: Automation orders increased 20% year-over-year in the second quarter, with secular tailwinds expected to drive demand for advanced automation solutions. Fluid power operations are also positioned for growth, with organic sales turning positive year-over-year for the first time in two years.
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Shareholder Return Plan
Dividend Increase: The company announced an 11% increase in its quarterly dividend, following a 24% increase last year. This aligns with their expectation of ongoing dividend growth tied to normalized earnings growth and favorable cash generation.
Share Buybacks: The company deployed over $140 million on share repurchases during the first half of fiscal 2026, reflecting confidence in cash flow generation and the value seen in the company's strategy and long-term earnings potential.
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Key Q&A
Q:What was the growth in Engineered Solutions orders during the quarter, and was it on an organic basis?
A:Engineered Solutions orders were up over 10% on an organic basis. Automation grew by 20%, fluid power by 13%, and flow control by 8%. The book-to-bill ratio was above 1 for the quarter and has been above 1 for 3 of the last 4 quarters.
Q:What is the current status of destocking in fluid power, and what trends are being observed?
A:The destocking process has been worked through. Encouraging performance was observed in the mobile off-highway part of fluid power and among mid-tier and smaller OEMs. Industrial activity is strong, with opportunities arising from aging installed equipment bases. Fluid power technology is well-positioned for semi wafer fab equipment and data center participation.
Q:What were the sales trends in January, and how do February and March compare?
A:January sales were up mid-single digits, with Engineered Solutions up high single digits. February and March are expected to face more difficult comparisons. January's growth may have been slightly influenced by neutralizing the December pause, but the growth is seen as favorable and not just timing-related.
Q:What is the outlook for SD&A growth relative to revenue growth, and were there any unusual factors in the fourth quarter of fiscal '25?
A:SD&A growth was less than organic revenue growth this quarter. Sequential increases in fiscal '25 were influenced by higher benefit costs and a $1.5 million rabbi trust adjustment. The fourth quarter of fiscal '25 had an unusual $2 million AR provisioning impact. SD&A growth is expected to remain below revenue growth but may close the gap slightly due to merit increases and lapping Hydradyne.
Q:What is the priority for capital allocation, and how many shares remain under the repurchase authorization?
A:Capital allocation priorities are organic growth investment, M&A, dividend increases, and opportunistic share repurchases. There are about 700,000 shares left under the current repurchase authorization. The company has $1.5 billion in borrowing capacity and plans to balance debt paydown and share repurchases.
Q:What is driving the 20% growth in automation orders, and how much is due to pent-up demand versus new projects?
A:The 20% growth in automation orders is driven by both pent-up demand and new projects. Customers are focusing on reshoring, efficiency, and productivity improvements, including collaborative robots, vision systems, and connectivity products. Both ongoing projects and new opportunities are contributing to growth.
Q:What is the pricing contribution for the quarter, and what is the outlook for pricing in the rest of the fiscal year?
A:Pricing contributed 250 basis points in the quarter. Similar contributions are expected in the third quarter, with a potential moderation to 200 basis points in the fourth quarter due to overlapping prior increases. Most supplier price increases for the year are already in place.
Q:Why was LIFO expense raised, and how does it impact guidance?
A:LIFO expense was raised due to a heavier concentration of parts not purchased for 2-3 years, which attracted higher costs. This impacted guidance by approximately $0.18 per share. The core EBIT guide has been modestly raised due to strong margin performance, despite the LIFO impact.
Q:What is the margin guidance for the back half of the fiscal year, and what factors influence it?
A:Margin guidance assumes a 30-40 basis point headwind from LIFO. Mix benefits from Engineered Solutions and local account growth, M&A performance, and pricing actions are expected to counteract this. Gross margin may moderate slightly below 30.4% in the second half.
Q:What is the incremental EBITDA margin target, and can it be achieved this fiscal year?
A:The incremental EBITDA margin target is mid-teens on mid-single-digit growth. The fourth quarter is expected to reach mid-teen incrementals at around 4% organic growth. The target is achievable in a stabilized mid-single-digit growth environment.
Q:Why does the third-quarter guidance imply below typical seasonal growth?
A:The third-quarter guidance assumes low- to mid-single-digit growth, which aligns with normal seasonality. This is a return to typical patterns after a period of below-normal seasonality.
Q:What are the dynamics of LIFO and supplier price negotiations?
A:Suppliers are being orderly in price increases, with most annual increases already in place. LIFO dynamics are influenced by inventory investment decisions and the mix of purchased parts. Sequential inventory increases reflect firming demand.
Q:Review of Unclear Management Responses
A:Management avoided directly answering the question about the exact split between pent-up demand and new projects driving the 20% growth in automation orders. They also used vague language when discussing the potential for pricing to accelerate in the second half of the fiscal year, providing no concrete details or commitments.
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Earnings Word Cloud
The most frequently occurring keywords in this quarter's earning call
Center sale
Industrial Supply
LIFO headwind
OEMs
Segment basis
account sale
acquisition Industrial
contribution volume
control sale
customer base
demand signal
dividend increase
effort
energy
expense basis
expense headwind
expense increase
expense margin
fab equipment
feature
focus
footprint
headwind LIFO
increase price
level basis
leverage sale
market trend
month date
order digit
pace
percent sale
period inflation
point LIFO
potential end
power generation
power mobile
product inflation
repurchase
sale activity
service capability
shipment
support
variability
AIT Transcript
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive1-27
The earnings call summary indicates strong growth in key segments, a positive outlook on sales momentum, and strategic capital allocation. Despite some concerns about LIFO expenses and vague responses on automation demand, the overall sentiment is positive with strong order growth, favorable pricing contributions, and active M&A plans. The Q&A reinforces this with details on destocking completion and robust automation growth. Given the lack of market cap data, but considering the strategic initiatives and positive guidance, a 2% to 8% stock price increase is anticipated.
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Unknown10-28
The earnings call summary and Q&A section reveal mixed signals. While there is growth from acquisitions and improved gross margin, organic sales are slightly down, and order conversions face delays. Management's cautious outlook on pricing and second-quarter guidance implies stability but not strong growth. Positive elements include strong free cash flow and capital allocation priorities. However, uncertainties in demand and order execution, coupled with sequential declines in performance, suggest a neutral sentiment. Without market cap data, the overall prediction for stock price movement remains neutral, expecting limited reaction.
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive8-14
The earnings call summary indicates strong financial performance, with record free cash flow and an increase in fourth-quarter sales. Positive trends in local accounts and M&A synergies are evident. Despite some macroeconomic caution, the guidance remains optimistic. The Q&A further supports this with positive analyst sentiment towards growth in technology verticals and the impact of bonus depreciation. While there are concerns about international markets and cautious guidance, the overall sentiment leans positive, especially with significant acquisitions and share buybacks.
Earnings call transcript: Applied Industrial Technologies beats Q3 2025 EPS forecast
Positive5-1
The earnings call reflects positive sentiment with strong financial performance and optimistic guidance. The acquisition of Hydrodyne and increased share repurchase authorization are positive catalysts. Despite some challenges, such as integration issues and competitive pressures, the company shows resilience with improved sales growth projections and a solid balance sheet. The Q&A session revealed some uncertainties, but overall, the company's strategic initiatives and shareholder return plans are likely to lead to a positive stock price movement in the short term.
AIT Slides
Applied Industrial Q2 2026 slides: solid results overshadowed by expense concerns, stock falls2026-01-27
Applied Industrial Technologies Q1 2026 slides: Organic growth accelerates, margins expand2025-10-28
Applied Industrial Q4 2025 slides: Return to organic growth with optimistic FY26 outlook2025-08-14
AIT Report
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