Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

David Wells: Sure. I’d expect working capital as we talked about in the script to be a bit of a tailwind as we move across Q3, but more pronounced in Q4. So, we did see some stabilization. To your point, we did see further increase, once again, really driven by those project focused businesses and that strong backlog position that we enjoy there. Did see some stabilization though, I said, as we move through November and December in terms of inventory levels, would anticipate kind of that being flattish as we move across Q3 as we continue to work through some of that project backlog and see some of those supplier constraints start to ease further. And then, we’d be targeting a reduction in inventory as we move in Q4. So, a tailwind when you think about the cash generation.

Chris Dankert: Understood. And if I could just sneak one last one in here. Given the rise interest rates and just kind of what we’re seeing in very low leverage from you guys today, I mean has the target leverage range change from kind of that 1.5 to three times just given what interest rates are doing, or is it still that’s kind of the long-term target for debt?

David Wells: We talked about longer term in a more normalized environment, 2% to 2.5% being the target, putting the balance sheet to work, working at accretive M&A that we’ve been so successful in driving value with. We are sensitive to the interest rate environment and the implications and leverage, continue to be improved in terms of the M&A and kind of really stay focused on the priorities. So, we’ll be cognizant of that. But on the longer term over cycle is still a two to 2.5 times target in terms of that leverage ratio as we move forward.

Chris Dankert: Got it. Thanks so much for the color and best of luck in the back half of you guys.

Neil Schrimsher: Thanks Chris.

Operator: Thank you. Next question is from the line of David Manthey with Baird. Please go ahead. Your line is now open.

David Manthey: Thank you. Good morning everyone. To dig in a little bit more here on the guidance, just so I understand, is it a fair statement to say that your assumption for the economic backdrop has shifted a few months to the right based on your new starting point that you’ve seen here in the first half of the fiscal year? Or has there been in fact a change in your view on the depth and/or duration of the downturn?

Neil Schrimsher: I can start. David, I would say it’s — it could be a shift to the right. We know what we can see from a visibility standpoint. And so, we touched on January and a solid start. We know the comps get a little more challenging in February and March in that side. And so, our view is we feel like we have very good line of sight to Q3 with that sales up to the mid-teens and expectations around margins and thus, those mid-teen incrementals. So, we see that. We just can ignore what could potentially be some of these cross currents and when they develop. We know our Service Center segment in Q4 has a tougher comparable. I think last year, it was up plus 21% in the side and even around the Engineered Solutions segment, it was good last quarter as well. So, we just want to be mindful as we inform or lay out the guidance.

David Manthey: That’s very rational. You made a comment in the release that said the business is more resilient in past — than in past cycles due to your channel strategy. Could you elaborate on what you mean by that?