AIT vs PH

For growth investors, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.

(AIT) is the stronger pick with 1. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 4% for Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH). Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) offers the better valuation at 31. 2x trailing P/E (29. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) a "Buy" — based on 15 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.

(AIT) is the cheapest at 31. 2x versus Parker-Hannifin Corporation at 33. 3x. On forward P/E, Parker-Hannifin Corporation is actually cheaper at 29. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. wins at 0. 39x versus Parker-Hannifin Corporation's 1. 22x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.

(AIT) delivered a total return of +212. 5%, compared to +194. 8% for Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PH returned +741. 1% versus AIT's +631. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

00β versus Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 07β — meaning AIT is approximately 7% more volatile than PH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 70% for Parker-Hannifin Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.

(AIT) is pulling ahead at 1. 9% versus -0. 4% for Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Parker-Hannifin Corporation grew EPS 24. 2% year-over-year, compared to 3. 0% for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PH leads at 7. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

8% net margin versus 8. 6% for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PH leads at 20. 5% versus 10. 9% for AIT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PH leads at 36. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 39x versus Parker-Hannifin Corporation's 1. 22x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH) trades at 29. 1x forward P/E versus 29. 5x for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. — 0. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PH: 15. 4% to $1042. 08.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH) offers the highest yield at 0. 7%, versus 0. 5% for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (AIT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

00), 0. 7% yield, +741. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PH: +741. 1%, AIT: +631. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.