AIT vs. CMI: Applied Industrial vs. Cummins Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but AIT is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while CMI is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI)
Profile Item	AIT	CMI
Name	Applied Industrial Technologies Inc.	Cummins Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment
Market Capitalization	10.35 billion USD	61.69 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AIT

CMI

GSPC

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI)
Metric	AIT	CMI
Total Return (1Y)	15.62%	-0.52%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.49%	31.79%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	24.56%	17.12%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AIT

CMI

GSPC

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI)
Metric	AIT	CMI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.72%	36.83%
Beta (5Y)	0.86	1.26
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-26.42%	-38.12%
Avg. Volume (3M)	295.41K	1.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AIT and CMI are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI)
Metric	AIT	CMI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.39	-0.13
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.53	-0.18

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 22.51% and Cummins (CMI) at 25.05% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

22.51%

Max: 40.55%
AIT: 22.51%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

25.05%

Max: 40.55%
CMI: 25.05%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 8.39% and Cummins (CMI) at 9.26% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

8.39%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
AIT: 8.39%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

9.26%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
CMI: 9.26%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 11.12% and Cummins (CMI) at 13.95% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

11.12%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
AIT: 11.12%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

13.95%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
CMI: 13.95%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI)
Metric	AIT	CMI
ROE (TTM)	22.51%	25.05%
ROA (TTM)	11.43%	7.60%
Net Margin (TTM)	8.39%	9.26%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.12%	13.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)	30.40%	26.32%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 8.84% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Cummins (CMI) at -1.27% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Cummins (CMI) reports EPS growth of -27.74%, ranked against its industry; Applied Industrial (AIT) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI)
Metric	AIT	CMI
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.84%	-1.27%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.02%	6.25%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	-27.74%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.40%	10.68%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.89 and Cummins (CMI) at 1.74 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

2.89

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
AIT: 2.89
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.74

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
CMI: 1.74
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 0.15 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Cummins (CMI) at 0.52 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

0.15

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
AIT: 0.15
Min: 0.00

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

0.52

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
CMI: 0.52
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI)
Metric	AIT	CMI
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.89	1.74
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.15	0.52
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.27	0.62

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 1.83% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Applied Industrial (AIT) at 0.71% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, CMI the richer one.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

0.71%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
AIT: 0.71%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.83%

Max: 2.66%
CMI: 1.83%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 17.63% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Cummins (CMI) at 34.21% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

17.63%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
AIT: 17.63%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

34.21%

Max: 67.39%
CMI: 34.21%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI)
Metric	AIT	CMI
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.71%	1.83%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.63%	34.21%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 18.78 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Applied Industrial (AIT) at 25.10 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CMI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

25.10

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
AIT: 25.10
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

18.78

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
CMI: 18.78
Min: 3.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.05 and Cummins (CMI) at 1.72 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

2.05

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
AIT: 2.05
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.72

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
CMI: 1.72
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Cummins (CMI) at 4.63 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Applied Industrial (AIT) at 5.50 carries an above-peer premium to book — AIT is pricier on assets.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

5.50

Max: 9.66
AIT: 5.50
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

4.63

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
CMI: 4.63
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Cummins (CMI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Cummins (CMI)
Metric	AIT	CMI
P/E Ratio (TTM)	25.10	18.78
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.05	1.72
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.50	4.63
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.24%	4.06%