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AIT vs GWW
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) vs. W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- AIT has delivered stronger recent momentum with approximately 13% gains over the past month, outpacing the broader market, while GWW advanced around 3%.
- Year-to-date (YTD), AIT is up 18%, surpassing GWW's 14% return, reflecting robust relative performance in the industrial distribution sector.
- Both companies operate as distributors of maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products, but AIT's smaller market cap of $11.2 billion enables nimbler growth compared to GWW's $54.4 billion scale.
- Analyst sentiment favors AIT with recent price target increases, while GWW benefits from a 10% dividend hike signaling confidence in cash flows.
- Over the past year, AIT has significantly outperformed GWW, with returns of about 35% versus 8%.
Introduction
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) and W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) are leading distributors in the industrial products sector, serving maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) markets as well as original equipment manufacturers. This stock comparison analyzes their recent market positioning, performance trends, and key drivers amid evolving industrial demand. Traders seeking short-term momentum and investors focused on stable dividend payers or growth in automation and fluid power solutions will find value in understanding their contrasts, particularly as economic cycles influence sector sentiment.
AIT Overview and Recent Performance
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) distributes bearings, power transmission components, fluid power systems, and linear motion products across North America. In recent market activity, AIT shares have exhibited strong upward momentum, trading near $303 with a 52-week range of $214 to $310 and a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 28.7. Year-to-date gains stand at 18%, bolstered by solid quarterly results and analyst upgrades, including Oppenheimer raising its price target to $350. Sentiment has been supported by resilient demand in automation and industrial applications, despite broader economic headwinds, contributing to over 13% appreciation in recent weeks.
GWW Overview and Recent Performance
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) is a broad-line distributor of MRO supplies, tools, and safety products, primarily serving businesses in the U.S. and internationally. Shares recently hovered around $1,149, within a 52-week range of $907 to $1,219, with a P/E ratio of 32.5. YTD performance reached 14%, with modest 3% gains in recent weeks amid anticipation for upcoming earnings. Key positives include a 10% quarterly dividend increase to $2.49 per share and emphasis on AI integration in operations during the annual shareholder meeting, reinforcing long-term stability in a competitive landscape.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both AIT and GWW thrive in industrial distribution, but AIT emphasizes specialized fluid power and automation, while GWW offers broader MRO inventory. Growth drivers differ: AIT benefits from niche market expansion, yielding higher recent momentum and YTD outperformance, versus GWW's scale-driven stability and superior dividend yield. Risk factors include cyclical industrial demand for both, though GWW's larger size provides diversification. Market sentiment leans toward AIT for short-term trades due to valuation momentum (lower P/E), while GWW appeals for income-focused positioning.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently leans toward AIT based on superior trend consistency, recent momentum exceeding 13% in 30 days, and stronger relative YTD positioning amid industrial sector tailwinds. While GWW offers dividend reliability and scale, AIT's catalysts like analyst upgrades suggest higher probability of near-term upside in probabilistic terms.
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 GWW is a Buy.
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 whileGWW’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s).
- AIT’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- GWW’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 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 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while GWW’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AIT’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- GWW’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
AIT (@Electronics Distributors) experienced а -3.69% price change this week, while GWW (@Electronics Distributors) price change was -2.31% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronics Distributors industry was -2.42%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +3.94%, and the average quarterly price growth was +10.25%.
Reported Earning Dates
AIT is expected to report earnings on Aug 06, 2026.
GWW is expected to report earnings on Aug 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronics Distributors (-2.42% 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 | GWW | AIT / GWW | |
| Capitalization | 12.2B | 63.4B | 19% |
| EBITDA | 612M | 2.88B | 21% |
| Gain YTD | 29.296 | 33.615 | 87% |
| P/E Ratio | 31.95 | 36.07 | 89% |
| Revenue | 4.84B | 18.4B | 26% |
| Total Cash | 172M | 695M | 25% |
| Total Debt | 365M | 2.78B | 13% |
AIT | GWW | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 34 | 91 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 78 Overvalued | 88 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 9 | 11 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 43 | 20 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 42 | 14 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 25 | 26 | |
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.
AIT's Valuation (78) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is in the same range as GWW (88). This means that AIT’s stock grew similarly to GWW’s over the last 12 months.
AIT's Profit vs Risk Rating (9) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is in the same range as GWW (11). This means that AIT’s stock grew similarly to GWW’s over the last 12 months.
GWW's SMR Rating (20) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is in the same range as AIT (43). This means that GWW’s stock grew similarly to AIT’s over the last 12 months.
GWW's Price Growth Rating (14) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is in the same range as AIT (42). This means that GWW’s stock grew similarly to AIT’s over the last 12 months.
AIT's P/E Growth Rating (25) in the Wholesale Distributors industry is in the same range as GWW (26). This means that AIT’s stock grew similarly to GWW’s over the last 12 months.
| AIT | GWW | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 51% | 3 days ago 55% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 49% | 3 days ago 48% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 71% | 3 days ago 64% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 51% | 3 days ago 45% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 50% | 3 days ago 51% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 62% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 64% | 10 days ago 60% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 47% | 6 days ago 49% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 52% | 3 days ago 42% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 48% |
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