Applied Industrial Technologies reports Q3 adjusted EPS $2.38, consensus $2.15

Reports Q3 revenue $1.1B, consensus $1.12B. CEO Neil Schrimsher commented, "We reported another solid quarter as sales grew over 15% with ongoing support from our industry position. We continued to expand gross margins while remaining focused on managing costs given the current backdrop. These dynamics drove strong EBITDA margin expansion and earnings growth. At the same time, we remain focused on our investments in talent, technology, and our service solutions as we further enhance our capabilities and operational strength for the future…Looking ahead, we remain constructive on underlying industrial sector fundamentals within North America. Customer feedback remains generally positive, while our internal initiatives and technical capabilities are supporting new growth opportunities. That said, consistent with our prior outlook and recent macroeconomic industrial reports, we expect underlying market demand and orders to continue to moderate near term as broader industry activity normalizes and customers rebalance spending levels against current macro uncertainty. Month to date in April, sales are trending up by a high single-digit percent on an organic basis compared to the prior year. Our diverse mix of growth tailwinds and business evolution puts us in a favorable position to sustain above-market growth, and our track record highlights our ability to execute across all parts of the cycle. Lastly, our balance sheet and liquidity are in a solid position, and we expect stronger cash generation going forward."