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AIT vs CNM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) vs. Core & Main (CNM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) delivered record quarterly sales and earnings in its fiscal fourth quarter ended June 30, 2026, with 9.7% organic growth.
- Core & Main (CNM) reported flat year-over-year sales in its first quarter of fiscal 2026 while reaffirming full-year guidance and expanding gross margins through operational initiatives.
- AIT trades at a higher valuation multiple compared with CNM, reflecting stronger recent profitability margins and return on assets.
- CNM maintains larger revenue scale and focuses on water infrastructure end-markets with ongoing geographic expansion and share repurchases.
- Both companies operate in the industrial distribution sector but differ in segment exposure, with AIT showing broader momentum across engineered solutions and service centers in recent weeks.
- Recent market activity has seen AIT experience a pullback from 52-week highs while CNM trades nearer the lower end of its annual range amid sector rotation.
Introduction
Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) and Core & Main (CNM) represent two established players in the industrial distribution space, offering investors exposure to maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supply chains. This comparison examines their business models, recent performance trends, and positioning within the broader industrials sector. Traders and long-term investors evaluating relative strength in distribution stocks, sector rotation opportunities, or portfolio diversification within value-added industrial suppliers may find the analysis relevant. The review draws on observable financial metrics and market developments to highlight contrasts in growth profiles and operational focus.
AIT Overview and Recent Performance
Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) is a value-added distributor of industrial motion, fluid power, flow control, automation technologies, and related maintenance supplies. In recent market activity, the company reported fiscal fourth-quarter results that marked record levels for sales, EBITDA, and earnings per share. Organic sales rose 9.7% year over year, the strongest pace in more than three years, supported by acceleration in both the Engineered Solutions and Service Center segments. Full-year fiscal 2026 sales reached $5.0 billion. Management issued fiscal 2027 guidance calling for total sales growth of 4.0% to 6.5% and EPS of $11.65 to $12.15. The stock has traded lower from recent highs near $374 amid broader market movements, though underlying demand trends appeared resilient in the reported period.
CNM Overview and Recent Performance
Core & Main (CNM) distributes water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products, serving municipal, residential, and non-residential construction markets. In its most recent reported quarter, net sales held steady year over year at approximately $1.9 billion while adjusted EBITDA and margins showed modest improvement. The company reaffirmed its full-year fiscal 2026 outlook for net sales of $7.8 billion to $7.9 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $950 million to $980 million. Growth initiatives include new greenfield locations and municipal infrastructure projects. Share repurchases continued at a measured pace. The stock price has remained near the lower portion of its 52-week range in recent weeks, reflecting mixed sector sentiment and softer residential demand trends.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) and Core & Main (CNM) both operate as industrial distributors yet serve distinct end-market emphases. AIT benefits from diversified exposure across engineered solutions and service centers, which contributed to stronger organic growth in the latest quarter. CNM maintains greater revenue scale and centers on water infrastructure, where municipal activity has provided relative stability. Valuation metrics show AIT commanding a premium multiple consistent with higher margins and returns on assets, while CNM offers a lower entry point alongside active capital return programs. Risk factors differ in concentration: AIT faces guidance moderation after a strong finish, whereas CNM contends with residential softness offset by expansion investments. Market sentiment has reflected these contrasts, with AIT exhibiting more pronounced recent momentum before the pullback and CNM displaying steadier but lower-visibility positioning.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including trend consistency in organic sales, margin expansion, and relative positioning after recent earnings, Tickeron’s AI models currently assign a higher probabilistic preference to Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) over Core & Main (CNM). The stronger sequential acceleration and record quarterly metrics provide a clearer near-term catalyst profile, though both equities remain subject to broader industrial sector dynamics and macroeconomic variables.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is AIT is a Hold and CNM is a Hold.
| AIT | CNM | AIT / CNM | |
| Capitalization | 11.6B | 7.91B | 147% |
| EBITDA | 628M | 938M | 67% |
| Gain YTD | 25.954 | -18.010 | -144% |
| P/E Ratio | 28.95 | 17.65 | 164% |
| Revenue | 4.97B | 7.7B | 65% |
| Total Cash | 127M | 312M | 41% |
| Total Debt | 262M | 2.75B | 10% |
AIT | ||
|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 82 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 76 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 8 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 43 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 51 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 30 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
| AIT | CNM | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 57% | 1 day ago 88% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 72% | 1 day ago 82% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 49% | 1 day ago 60% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 52% | 1 day ago 80% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 51% | 1 day ago 78% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 54% | 1 day ago 68% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 67% | 3 days ago 77% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 48% | 9 days ago 64% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 90% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 42% | 1 day ago 72% |
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is overvalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
AIT’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green while CNM’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- AIT’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- CNM’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
AIT’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while CNM’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AIT’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
- CNM’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
AIT (@Electronics Distributors) experienced а -0.60% price change this week, while CNM (@Electronics Distributors) price change was +4.90% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronics Distributors industry was +0.19%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -3.79%, and the average quarterly price growth was +24.36%.
Reported Earning Dates
AIT is expected to report earnings on Oct 22, 2026.
CNM is expected to report earnings on Dec 08, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronics Distributors (+0.19% weekly)Electronics distributors are companies that are involved in distribution of one or more of the following: electronic components, computer products/ peripherals and software products & services. Several electronics distributors are also becoming the point of contact for technical/pre- & post-sale support in many cases, in an attempt to bolster their position in the market. Tariffs and/or cross-border trade barriers are some of the potential threats to the electronics supply chain, but that could also potentially lead to re-directing to markets where tariffs/restrictions are lower depending on demand. The industry is also vulnerable in the event of economic slowdowns. Arrow Electronics, Inc., SYNNEX Corporation and Versum Materials, Inc. are some of the major electronics distributors in the U.S.
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AIT and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, AIT has been loosely correlated with MSM. These tickers have moved in lockstep 59% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if AIT jumps, then MSM could also see price increases.