On Friday, Oppenheimer maintained its Outperform rating and a $305.00 price target for Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) following the announcement of the company's agreement to acquire Hydradyne, LLC. The transaction, valued at $272 million, is expected to close within the current fiscal second quarter of 2025.
Hydradyne, known as one of the largest U.S. distributors focused on fluid power and motion control systems, is anticipated to contribute $260 million in sales and $30 million in EBITDA. Applied Industrial Technologies has been considering Hydradyne as a part of its pipeline for a while, benefiting from a strong relationship between the two companies.
While details on integration and synergies will be released after the deal's closure, preliminary estimates suggest an accretion of approximately $0.20 or more to Applied Industrial Technologies' year one earnings per share (EPS), excluding any potential early-ownership-stage integration costs. This is after taking into account initial amortization, depreciation, and forgone interest income.
Hydradyne's entering EBITDA margin of about 11.5% closely aligns with Applied Industrial Technologies' projected EBITDA margin of 12.1-12.3% for fiscal year 2025. The acquisition is also expected to be accretive to the gross margins of both Applied Industrial Technologies and its Engineered Solutions segment, one of the segments with higher gross margins within the company.
In other recent news, Applied Industrial Technologies has announced its acquisition of Hydradyne, a prominent fluid power solutions company. This strategic move is expected to bolster Applied's Engineered Solutions segment and solidify its standing in the technical industry. The acquisition is projected to bring in roughly $260 million in sales and $30 million in EBITDA to Applied's revenues, excluding anticipated synergies.
In addition to the acquisition, recent developments include mixed results in Applied's Q1 FY2025 earnings call. Despite a 3% decline in organic daily sales year-over-year, the company generated a record free cash flow, nearly doubling from the previous year. The company also raised its EPS guidance for FY2025, indicating optimism for market conditions in the latter half of the fiscal year.
Despite some challenges, including a 1.4% organic sales decline in the Service Center segment and a 6% organic sales decline in the Engineered Solutions segment, Applied Industrial Technologies continues to focus on strategic investments and acquisitions to drive future growth. The company maintains its sales guidance between a 2.5% decline and a 2.5% increase. These are the latest developments for the company, which remains committed to enhancing shareholder value as FY2025 progresses.
InvestingPro Insights
Applied Industrial Technologies' (NYSE:AIT) recent acquisition of Hydradyne aligns well with the company's strong financial performance and market position. According to InvestingPro data, AIT boasts a market capitalization of $10.61 billion and has demonstrated impressive revenue of $4.48 billion over the last twelve months as of Q1 2025. The company's operating income margin stands at a healthy 10.89%, indicating efficient operations.
InvestingPro Tips highlight AIT's financial strength and shareholder-friendly policies. The company has maintained dividend payments for 54 consecutive years and has raised its dividend for 15 consecutive years, showcasing its commitment to returning value to shareholders. Additionally, AIT's cash flows sufficiently cover interest payments, suggesting a solid financial foundation to support the Hydradyne acquisition.
The stock's recent performance has been particularly strong, with a 67.51% price total return over the past year and a 57.02% return year-to-date. This positive momentum is further emphasized by the stock trading near its 52-week high, with its current price at 99.72% of the 52-week high.
Investors considering AIT should note that InvestingPro offers 17 additional tips for a more comprehensive analysis of the company's prospects. These insights could provide valuable context for evaluating the potential impact of the Hydradyne acquisition on AIT's future performance.
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