AIT vs. HEI: Applied Industrial vs. HEICO Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Applied Industrial (AIT) and HEICO (HEI)
Profile Item	AIT	HEI
Name	Applied Industrial Technologies Inc.	HEICO Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	10.35 billion USD	46.49 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AIT

HEI

GSPC

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. HEICO (HEI), 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

Loading price history…

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

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and HEICO (HEI)
Metric	AIT	HEI
Total Return (1Y)	15.62%	6.50%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.49%	28.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	24.56%	18.19%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AIT

HEI

GSPC

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. HEICO (HEI), 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

Loading price history…

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and HEICO (HEI)
Metric	AIT	HEI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.72%	33.37%
Beta (5Y)	0.86	1.06
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-26.42%	-27.11%
Avg. Volume (3M)	295.41K	480.74K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AIT and HEI 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 HEICO (HEI)
Metric	AIT	HEI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.39	0.07
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.53	0.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 22.51% sits in the top ROE quartile, while HEICO (HEI) at 17.73% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AIT.

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%

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

17.73%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
HEI: 17.73%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

HEICO (HEI) at 16.38% 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%

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

16.38%

Max: 27.47%
HEI: 16.38%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

HEICO (HEI) at 25.14% 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%

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

25.14%

Max: 36.60%
HEI: 25.14%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and HEICO (HEI)
Metric	AIT	HEI
ROE (TTM)	22.51%	17.73%
ROA (TTM)	11.43%	8.50%
Net Margin (TTM)	8.39%	16.38%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.12%	25.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)	30.40%	40.40%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 8.84% and HEICO (HEI) at 16.26% 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. HEICO (HEI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: HEICO (HEI) reports EPS growth of 33.52%, ranked against its industry; Applied Industrial (AIT) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and HEICO (HEI)
Metric	AIT	HEI
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.84%	16.26%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.02%	26.64%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	33.52%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.40%	24.32%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.89 and HEICO (HEI) at 2.72 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

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

2.72

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
HEI: 2.72
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. HEICO (HEI): 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 HEICO (HEI) 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

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

0.45

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
HEI: 0.45
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. HEICO (HEI): 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 HEICO (HEI)
Metric	AIT	HEI
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.89	2.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.15	0.45
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.27	1.56

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 0.71% and HEICO (HEI) at 0.08% 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%

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

0.08%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
HEI: 0.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. HEICO (HEI): 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 HEICO (HEI) at 4.17% 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%

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

4.17%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
HEI: 4.17%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and HEICO (HEI)
Metric	AIT	HEI
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.71%	0.08%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.63%	4.17%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 25.10 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while HEICO (HEI) at 55.44 sits in the richer quartile — HEI 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

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

55.44

Max: 59.38
HEI: 55.44
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.05 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while HEICO (HEI) at 8.98 clears its benchmark range — HEI looks notably rich on 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

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

8.98

HEI: 8.98
Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. HEICO (HEI): 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 HEICO (HEI) at 9.40 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

HEI

Capital Goods industry group

9.40

Max: 9.66
HEI: 9.40
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and HEICO (HEI)
Metric	AIT	HEI
P/E Ratio (TTM)	25.10	55.44
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.05	8.98
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.50	9.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.24%	1.82%