AIT vs. FERG: Applied Industrial vs. Ferguson Enterprises Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Applied Industrial (AIT) and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) are both classified in the Trading Companies & Distributors sub-industry within the broader Trading Companies & Distributors industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG)
Profile Item	AIT	FERG
Name	Applied Industrial Technologies Inc.	Ferguson Enterprises Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Trading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Trading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization	10.35 billion USD	45.21 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	January 5, 2010
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AIT

FERG

GSPC

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Ferguson Enterprises (FERG), 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG)
Metric	AIT	FERG
Total Return (1Y)	15.62%	6.92%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.49%	20.73%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	24.56%	13.21%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AIT

FERG

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG)
Metric	AIT	FERG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.72%	32.85%
Beta (5Y)	0.86	1.08
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-26.42%	-43.31%
Avg. Volume (3M)	295.41K	1.46M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AIT and FERG 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG)
Metric	AIT	FERG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.39	0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.53	0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Applied Industrial (AIT) earns 22.51% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) has no ROE this period.

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%

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

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

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Ferguson Enterprises (FERG): FERG does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; AIT is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 8.39% and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 6.32% 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%

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

6.32%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
FERG: 6.32%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 11.12% and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 10.16% 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%

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

10.16%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
FERG: 10.16%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG)
Metric	AIT	FERG
ROE (TTM)	22.51%	--
ROA (TTM)	11.43%	--
Net Margin (TTM)	8.39%	6.32%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.12%	10.16%
Gross Margin (TTM)	30.40%	30.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Applied Industrial (AIT) reports revenue growth of 8.84%, ranked against its industry; Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) has no revenue growth figure this period.

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Ferguson Enterprises (FERG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) reports EPS growth of 19.11%, ranked against its industry; Applied Industrial (AIT) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Ferguson Enterprises (FERG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG)
Metric	AIT	FERG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.84%	--
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.02%	--
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	19.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.40%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.89 and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.73 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

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.73

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
FERG: 1.73
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Ferguson Enterprises (FERG): 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.11 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

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.11

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
FERG: 1.11
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Ferguson Enterprises (FERG): 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG)
Metric	AIT	FERG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.89	1.73
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.15	1.11
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.27	2.10

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Applied Industrial (AIT) at 0.71% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FERG 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%

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.80%

Max: 2.66%
FERG: 1.80%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Ferguson Enterprises (FERG): 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 33.57% 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%

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

33.57%

Max: 67.39%
FERG: 33.57%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG)
Metric	AIT	FERG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.71%	1.80%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.63%	33.57%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 25.10 and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 23.00 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

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

23.00

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
FERG: 23.00
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Ferguson Enterprises (FERG): 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.44 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

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.44

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
FERG: 1.44
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Ferguson Enterprises (FERG): 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 7.29 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

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

7.29

Max: 9.66
FERG: 7.29
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG)
Metric	AIT	FERG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	25.10	23.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.05	1.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.50	7.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.24%	--