AIT vs. CSL: Applied Industrial vs. Carlisle Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Applied Industrial (AIT) and Carlisle (CSL) 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 Carlisle (CSL) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but AIT is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while CSL is classified in Building Products.

Company profile comparison for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Carlisle (CSL)
Profile Item	AIT	CSL
Name	Applied Industrial Technologies Inc.	Carlisle Companies Incorporated
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Building Products
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Building Products
Market Capitalization	10.35 billion USD	14.52 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

CSL

GSPC

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Carlisle (CSL), 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 Carlisle (CSL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Carlisle (CSL)
Metric	AIT	CSL
Total Return (1Y)	15.62%	24.99%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.49%	15.85%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	24.56%	12.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AIT

CSL

GSPC

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Carlisle (CSL), 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 Carlisle (CSL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Carlisle (CSL)
Metric	AIT	CSL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.72%	38.46%
Beta (5Y)	0.86	0.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-26.42%	-37.72%
Avg. Volume (3M)	295.41K	509.16K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AIT and CSL 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 Carlisle (CSL)
Metric	AIT	CSL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.39	0.54
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.53	0.87

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Carlisle (CSL) at 42.34% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Applied Industrial (AIT) at 22.51% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

42.34%

CSL: 42.34%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 13.78% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Applied Industrial (AIT) at 8.39%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

13.78%

Max: 27.47%
CSL: 13.78%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 20.21% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Applied Industrial (AIT) at 11.12%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

20.21%

Max: 36.60%
CSL: 20.21%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Carlisle (CSL)
Metric	AIT	CSL
ROE (TTM)	22.51%	42.34%
ROA (TTM)	11.43%	10.20%
Net Margin (TTM)	8.39%	13.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.12%	20.21%
Gross Margin (TTM)	30.40%	34.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 8.84% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Carlisle (CSL) at 0.33% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Carlisle (CSL) reports EPS growth of -38.46%, ranked against its industry; Applied Industrial (AIT) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Carlisle (CSL)
Metric	AIT	CSL
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.84%	0.33%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.02%	-2.70%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	-38.46%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.40%	-0.84%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.89 and Carlisle (CSL) at 2.41 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

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.41

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
CSL: 2.41
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Carlisle (CSL): 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 quartile, while Carlisle (CSL) at 2.01 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

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

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.01

Max: 2.33
CSL: 2.01
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Carlisle (CSL): 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 Carlisle (CSL)
Metric	AIT	CSL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.89	2.41
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.15	2.01
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.27	1.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 1.20% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Applied Industrial (AIT) at 0.71% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, CSL 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%

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

1.20%

Max: 2.66%
CSL: 1.20%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 17.63% and Carlisle (CSL) at 25.50% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

25.50%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
CSL: 25.50%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Carlisle (CSL)
Metric	AIT	CSL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.71%	1.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.63%	25.50%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 25.10 and Carlisle (CSL) at 21.06 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

21.06

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
CSL: 21.06
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Carlisle (CSL): 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 Carlisle (CSL) at 2.79 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

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.79

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
CSL: 2.79
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Applied Industrial (AIT) at 5.50 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Carlisle (CSL) at 10.11 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

10.11

CSL: 10.11
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Carlisle (CSL)
Metric	AIT	CSL
P/E Ratio (TTM)	25.10	21.06
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.05	2.79
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.50	10.11
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.24%	4.01%