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AIT vs FERG
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) vs. Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both AIT and FERG operate in the industrial distribution sector, with FERG boasting a much larger market capitalization of approximately $53 billion compared to AIT's $11.2 billion.
- Year-to-date performance is closely matched, with FERG at 19.62% and AIT at 18.22%, reflecting robust demand in industrials.
- AIT recently reported third-quarter earnings that beat estimates, boosting shares and prompting analyst price target increases.
- FERG declared a dividend and holds an upcoming earnings report, with analysts maintaining overweight ratings despite some target adjustments.
- Over the past 12 months, both stocks have shown similar growth trajectories amid favorable sector momentum.
- Investor interest in these stocks highlights opportunities in industrial distribution amid economic recovery signals.
Introduction
Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) are key players in the industrial distribution sector, supplying essential components to manufacturing, construction, and infrastructure markets. This comparison is particularly relevant for investors and traders seeking exposure to industrials amid recent market volatility and sector tailwinds like infrastructure spending and supply chain stabilization. Both stocks have demonstrated resilience, offering insights into relative performance, growth potential, and risk profiles in the current environment. Traders monitoring momentum shifts or long-term allocators diversifying within industrials will find value in evaluating their business models, recent catalysts, and head-to-head metrics.
AIT Overview and Recent Performance
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) distributes industrial motion, power, control, and automation technologies across North America and select international markets. Operating through Service Center and Engineered Solutions segments, it provides bearings, fluid power systems, and automation products to diverse end-users in manufacturing and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).
In recent market activity, AIT shares have gained traction following a third-quarter earnings report that exceeded EPS (earnings per share) and revenue expectations, with EPS at $2.65. This performance, amid steady demand for automation solutions, has lifted sentiment, evidenced by analyst upgrades like Oppenheimer's price target hike to $350. Trading around $303, the stock reflects positive momentum in recent weeks, supported by broader industrials strength, though sensitive to manufacturing cycles.
FERG Overview and Recent Performance
Ferguson Enterprises Inc. (FERG) is a leading distributor of plumbing, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), and water management solutions primarily in the U.S. and Canada. It serves residential, non-residential, and infrastructure customers through an extensive network of branches and e-commerce, offering pipe, valves, fittings, and customized services.
Recent weeks have seen FERG maintain steady performance around $264, bolstered by a dividend declaration and preparations for first-quarter results. Analyst coverage remains constructive, with overweight ratings persisting despite adjustments like Wells Fargo's target reduction to $260. Trading near 52-week highs, the stock benefits from non-residential construction demand and water infrastructure trends, though exposed to housing market fluctuations.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both AIT and FERG thrive as distributors in the Industrials sector's Industrial Distribution industry, but differ in scale and focus: AIT emphasizes automation and fluid power for manufacturing, while FERG leads in plumbing/HVAC for construction and infrastructure. Growth drivers include industrial capex for AIT and non-residential building for FERG. Recent momentum favors AIT post-earnings, but FERG's size provides stability. Risks involve economic slowdowns impacting MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) spending, with FERG more tied to housing cycles. Market sentiment leans positive for both, with similar YTD gains but FERG showing stronger one-year returns.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models currently lean toward AIT due to its recent earnings momentum, analyst target upgrades, and consistent trend strength in automation-driven industrials. While FERG offers superior scale and dividend appeal, AIT's catalysts position it favorably for near-term relative outperformance, though both warrant monitoring amid sector volatility.
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. Disclaimers and Limitations
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 Buy and FERG is a StrongBuy.
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 undervalued. 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 whileFERG’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- AIT’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- FERG’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 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 FERG’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AIT’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- FERG’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
AIT (@Electronics Distributors) experienced а +1.53% price change this week, while FERG (@Electronics Distributors) price change was +0.22% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronics Distributors industry was +1.44%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +4.16%, and the average quarterly price growth was +6.01%.
Reported Earning Dates
AIT is expected to report earnings on Aug 06, 2026.
FERG is expected to report earnings on Aug 10, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronics Distributors (+1.44% 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.
| AIT | FERG | AIT / FERG | |
| Capitalization | 11.8B | 44.6B | 26% |
| EBITDA | 612M | 3.08B | 20% |
| Gain YTD | 25.098 | 4.549 | 552% |
| P/E Ratio | 30.26 | 22.65 | 134% |
| Revenue | 4.84B | 31.2B | 16% |
| Total Cash | 172M | 820M | 21% |
| Total Debt | 365M | 6.08B | 6% |
AIT | FERG | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 24 | 65 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 77 Overvalued | 32 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 11 | 31 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 43 | 30 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 43 | 52 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 28 | 68 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 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.
FERG's Valuation (32) in the null industry is somewhat better than the same rating for AIT (77) in the Wholesale Distributors industry. This means that FERG’s stock grew somewhat faster than AIT’s over the last 12 months.
AIT's Profit vs Risk Rating (11) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is in the same range as FERG (31) in the null industry. This means that AIT’s stock grew similarly to FERG’s over the last 12 months.
FERG's SMR Rating (30) in the null industry is in the same range as AIT (43) in the Wholesale Distributors industry. This means that FERG’s stock grew similarly to AIT’s over the last 12 months.
AIT's Price Growth Rating (43) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is in the same range as FERG (52) in the null industry. This means that AIT’s stock grew similarly to FERG’s over the last 12 months.
AIT's P/E Growth Rating (28) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for FERG (68) in the null industry. This means that AIT’s stock grew somewhat faster than FERG’s over the last 12 months.
| AIT | FERG | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 62% | 3 days ago 70% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 54% | 3 days ago 58% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 69% | 3 days ago 70% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 68% | 3 days ago 64% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 65% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 65% | 3 days ago 59% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 67% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 14 days ago 48% | 7 days ago 54% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 59% | 3 days ago 58% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 61% | 3 days ago 57% |
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AIT and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, AIT has been loosely correlated with WCC. 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 WCC could also see price increases.
FERG and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, FERG has been loosely correlated with AIT. These tickers have moved in lockstep 54% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if FERG jumps, then AIT could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To FERG | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FERG | 100% | +0.90% | ||
| AIT - FERG | 54% Loosely correlated | +0.38% | ||
| WCC - FERG | 53% Loosely correlated | +0.89% | ||
| WSO - FERG | 50% Loosely correlated | -1.01% | ||
| CNM - FERG | 48% Loosely correlated | -3.46% | ||
| SITE - FERG | 47% Loosely correlated | -0.36% | ||
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