For the quarter ended September 2026, Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT Quick QuoteAIT - Free Report) reported revenue of $1.29 billion, up 7.6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.97, compared to $2.63 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.3% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.3 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $2.86, the EPS surprise was +3.85%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Applied Industrial Technologies performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Net Sales- Engineered Solutions: $475.82 million compared to the $471.65 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +14.1% year over year.
• Net Sales- Service Center: $815.35 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $823.68 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +4.2%.
• Operating income- Engineered Solutions: $60.92 million compared to the $55.98 million average estimate based on three analysts.
• Operating income- Service Center: $105.32 million compared to the $110.07 million average estimate based on three analysts.

View all Key Company Metrics for Applied Industrial Technologies here>>>

Shares of Applied Industrial Technologies have returned -3.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.