AIT vs. VRT: Applied Industrial vs. Vertiv Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Applied Industrial (AIT) and Vertiv (VRT) 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 Vertiv (VRT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but AIT is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while VRT is classified in Electrical Equipment.

Company profile comparison for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Profile Item	AIT	VRT
Name	Applied Industrial Technologies Inc.	Vertiv Holdings Co Class A Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Electrical Equipment
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Electrical Components & Equipment
Market Capitalization	10.35 billion USD	70.41 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	August 2, 2018
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AIT

VRT

GSPC

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Vertiv (VRT), 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 Vertiv (VRT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	AIT	VRT
Total Return (1Y)	15.62%	11.12%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.49%	71.14%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	24.56%	49.38%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AIT

VRT

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Vertiv (VRT) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.15, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Applied Industrial (AIT) is closer to market-like at 0.86 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	AIT	VRT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.72%	71.11%
Beta (5Y)	0.86	2.15
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-26.42%	-69.52%
Avg. Volume (3M)	295.41K	5.90M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AIT and VRT 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 Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	AIT	VRT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.39	0.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.53	0.14

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Vertiv (VRT) at 46.57% 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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

46.57%

VRT: 46.57%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Vertiv (VRT) at 16.00% 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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

16.00%

Max: 27.47%
VRT: 16.00%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Vertiv (VRT) at 23.77% 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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

23.77%

Max: 36.60%
VRT: 23.77%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	AIT	VRT
ROE (TTM)	22.51%	46.57%
ROA (TTM)	11.43%	11.94%
Net Margin (TTM)	8.39%	16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.12%	23.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)	30.40%	38.12%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Vertiv (VRT) at 27.69% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Applied Industrial (AIT) at 8.84% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for VRT.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Vertiv (VRT) reports EPS growth of 166.41%, ranked against its industry; Applied Industrial (AIT) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	AIT	VRT
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.84%	27.69%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.02%	21.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	166.41%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.40%	340.11%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.89 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Vertiv (VRT) at 1.39 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VRT.

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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

1.39

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
VRT: 1.39
Min: 0.36

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Vertiv (VRT): 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 Vertiv (VRT) at 0.61 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

0.61

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
VRT: 0.61
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Vertiv (VRT): 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 Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	AIT	VRT
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.89	1.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.15	0.61
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.27	-0.11

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 0.71% and Vertiv (VRT) at 0.11% 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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

0.11%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
VRT: 0.11%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Vertiv (VRT): 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 Vertiv (VRT) at 4.67% 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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

4.67%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
VRT: 4.67%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	AIT	VRT
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.71%	0.11%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.63%	4.67%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 25.10 and Vertiv (VRT) at 34.18 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

34.18

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
VRT: 34.18
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Vertiv (VRT): 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 Vertiv (VRT) at 5.37 sits in the pricier quartile — VRT 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

5.37

Max: 7.54
VRT: 5.37
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. Vertiv (VRT): 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 Vertiv (VRT) at 12.80 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

12.80

VRT: 12.80
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	AIT	VRT
P/E Ratio (TTM)	25.10	34.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.05	5.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.50	12.80
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.24%	4.21%