AIT vs. GE: Applied Industrial vs. GE Aerospace Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Applied Industrial (AIT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Profile Item	AIT	GE
Name	Applied Industrial Technologies Inc.	General Electric Company
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Industrial Conglomerates
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Industrial Conglomerates
Market Capitalization	10.35 billion USD	335.38 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AIT

GSPC

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. GE Aerospace (GE), 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 GE Aerospace (GE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	AIT	GE
Total Return (1Y)	15.62%	9.16%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.49%	55.50%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	24.56%	37.59%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AIT

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	AIT	GE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.72%	34.52%
Beta (5Y)	0.86	1.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-26.42%	-44.94%
Avg. Volume (3M)	295.41K	4.48M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AIT and GE 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 GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	AIT	GE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.39	0.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.53	0.20

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but GE Aerospace (GE) at 50.17% 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%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

50.17%

GE: 50.17%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

GE Aerospace (GE) at 17.31% 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%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

17.31%

Max: 27.47%
GE: 17.31%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

GE Aerospace (GE) at 18.49% 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%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

18.49%

Max: 36.60%
GE: 18.49%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	AIT	GE
ROE (TTM)	22.51%	50.17%
ROA (TTM)	11.43%	5.06%
Net Margin (TTM)	8.39%	17.31%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.12%	18.49%
Gross Margin (TTM)	30.40%	30.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 8.84% and GE Aerospace (GE) at 18.48% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: GE Aerospace (GE) reports EPS growth of 35.89%, ranked against its industry; Applied Industrial (AIT) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	AIT	GE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.84%	18.48%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.02%	16.32%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	35.89%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.40%	446.03%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.89 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.98 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for GE.

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

GE

Capital Goods industry group

0.98

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
GE: 0.98
Min: 0.36

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): 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 GE Aerospace (GE) at 1.16 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

GE

Capital Goods industry group

1.16

Max: 2.33
GE: 1.16
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): 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 GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	AIT	GE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.89	0.98
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.15	1.16
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.27	0.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 0.71% and GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.56% 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%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

0.56%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
GE: 0.56%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): 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 GE Aerospace (GE) at 20.23% 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%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

20.23%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
GE: 20.23%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	AIT	GE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.71%	0.56%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.63%	20.23%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 25.10 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 36.94 sits in the richer quartile — GE needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

GE

Capital Goods industry group

36.94

Max: 59.38
GE: 36.94
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): 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 GE Aerospace (GE) at 6.38 sits in the pricier quartile — GE 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

GE

Capital Goods industry group

6.38

Max: 7.54
GE: 6.38
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): 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 GE Aerospace (GE) at 19.06 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

GE

Capital Goods industry group

19.06

GE: 19.06
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Metric	AIT	GE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	25.10	36.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.05	6.38
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.50	19.06
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.24%	1.89%