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AIT vs. CW: Applied Industrial vs. Curtiss-Wright Stock Comparison

How do Applied Industrial (AIT) and Curtiss-Wright (CW) 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but AIT is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while CW is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Curtiss-Wright (CW)
Profile ItemAITCW
NameApplied Industrial Technologies Inc.Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization10.35 billion USD16.81 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AIT
CW
GSPC
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW), 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Curtiss-Wright (CW)
MetricAITCW
Total Return (1Y)15.62%-15.83%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.49%33.49%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)24.56%29.54%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AIT
CW
GSPC
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW), 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Curtiss-Wright (CW)
MetricAITCW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.72%38.26%
Beta (5Y)0.860.93
Max Drawdown (5Y)-26.42%-45.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)295.41K427.49K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AIT and CW 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW)
MetricAITCW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.39-0.53
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.53-0.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 22.51% and Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 21.82% 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%

CW

Capital Goods industry group

21.82%

Max
40.55%
CW
21.82%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 14.86% 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%

CW

Capital Goods industry group

14.86%

Max
27.47%
CW
14.86%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 19.87% 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%

CW

Capital Goods industry group

19.87%

Max
36.60%
CW
19.87%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Curtiss-Wright (CW)
MetricAITCW
ROE (TTM)22.51%21.82%
ROA (TTM)11.43%8.90%
Net Margin (TTM)8.39%14.86%
Operating Margin (TTM)11.12%19.87%
Gross Margin (TTM)30.40%38.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 8.84% and Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 12.08% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Curtiss-Wright (CW) reports EPS growth of 21.99%, ranked against its industry; Applied Industrial (AIT) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Curtiss-Wright (CW)
MetricAITCW
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.84%12.08%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.02%11.01%
EPS Growth (YoY)--21.99%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)7.40%19.09%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.89 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CW.

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

CW

Capital Goods industry group

1.42

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
CW
1.42
Min
0.36
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.45 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

CW

Capital Goods industry group

0.45

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
CW
0.45
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW)
MetricAITCW
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.891.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.150.45
Net Debt / EBITDA0.271.00

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 0.71% and Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.23% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

CW

Capital Goods industry group

0.23%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
CW
0.23%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 6.67% 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%

CW

Capital Goods industry group

6.67%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
CW
6.67%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Curtiss-Wright (CW)
MetricAITCW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.71%0.23%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)17.63%6.67%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 25.10 and Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 30.92 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

CW

Capital Goods industry group

30.92

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
CW
30.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.05 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 4.50 sits in the pricier quartile — CW costs more per dollar of sales.

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

CW

Capital Goods industry group

4.50

Max
7.54
CW
4.50
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 5.50 and Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 6.64 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

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

CW

Capital Goods industry group

6.64

Max
9.66
CW
6.64
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Curtiss-Wright (CW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Curtiss-Wright (CW)
MetricAITCW
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.1030.92
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.054.50
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.506.64
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.24%2.86%