Is AYI a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our 6-factor quantitative model, ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) receives a "Reduce" rating with a composite score of 42.5/100. It is ranked #3,017 out of 4,446 stocks. Key factor scores: Quality 50/100, Value 45/100, Momentum 35/100. The timing signal is "Bearish". This is quantitative analysis only — not investment advice.

What is the stock rating for AYI?

ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) has a "Reduce" rating and 2-star score. The composite score of 42.5 ranks it #3,017 among 4,446 U.S. stocks. Ratings are updated weekly using academically-proven factor models.

What sector is AYI in?

ACUITY BRANDS INC operates in the Industrials sector (Electrical Equipment industry) with a market cap of $8.80 billion. It is classified as a mid-cap stock.

Does AYI pay a dividend?

AYI does not currently pay a regular dividend. The company may be reinvesting profits for growth.

What is AYI's P/E ratio?

AYI has a trailing P/E ratio of 20.81x. The Industrials sector average is 28.3x. This P/E is in a moderate range relative to the broader market.

How profitable is AYI?

AYI's quality factor score is 50/100. Gross margin: 48.1%. ROE: 13.8% vs sector average 8.9%. Margins are moderate to low, reflecting competitive market dynamics.

How is AYI valued compared to peers?

AYI's value factor score is 45/100 (higher = cheaper). Key multiples: P/E 20.8x, EV/EBITDA 15.1x. Valuation is roughly in line with peers.

What is AYI's debt level?

AYI's debt-to-equity ratio is 60%. Sector average: 70%. Moderate leverage is normal for established companies.

AYI has a beta of 1.20, meaning it tracks the market. Stability score: 59/100.

Does AYI have high short interest?

AYI's short interest factor score is 32/100 (higher = less short selling). Elevated short interest may indicate bearish sentiment or short squeeze potential.

AYI Stock Analysis: Top Mid-Cap Reduce (Score 42.5/100) | Blank Capital Research

Data Series	1D	5D	1M	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y
AYI	+0.60%	+4.92%	+2.04%	-22.66%	+19.09%	-	-	-
Industry Proxy XLU	-0.40%	+1.34%	+0.86%	+10.00%	-37.72%	-	-	-
U.S. Market SPY	-0.07%	+3.60%	+0.34%	-0.36%	+29.52%	-	-	-
Alpha vs Market	+0.67%	+1.32%	+1.71%	-22.30%	-10.43%	-	-	-
Alpha vs Sector	+1.00%	+3.58%	+1.19%	-32.66%	+56.81%	-	-	-

Metric	AYI	Benchmark
P/E Ratio	20.8x	-27%
EV/EBITDA	15.1x	+164%
Price / Book	2.9x

Stock Entity	Score▼	Quality	Value	Momentum	P/E Ratio	ROE	Gross Margin	Net Margin	Rev Growth	D/E Ratio	Market Cap	Compare
STNG Scorpio Tankers Inc.	64	43	96	73	-	93.3%	63.1%	53.8%	-	30.0x	$3.8B	VS
TNK TEEKAY TANKERS LTD.	62	50	97	71	6.4x	91.9%	67.0%	32.8%	-	0.0x	$2.5B	VS
TEN TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LTD	61	50	86	75	7.6x	42.1%	97.8%	22.6%	-	103.0x	$1.2B	VS
HAFN Hafnia Ltd	60	42	79	77	-	439.1%	48.5%	27.0%	-	0.0x	$3.8B	VS
TPH Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.	57	50	67	66	13.6x	8.8%	47.5%	7.9%	-26.0%	50.0x	$4.0B	VS
GLDD Great Lakes Dredge & Dock CORP	57	50	69	70	16.3x	13.5%	22.2%	8.1%	14.8%	73.0x	$1.1B	VS
SOBO South Bow Corp	57	39	79	66	22.0x	48.4%	82.3%	14.9%	-	219.0x	$6.8B	VS
IMPP Imperial Petroleum Inc./Marshall Islands	54	44	98	58	2.8x	47.7%	100.0%	34.0%	-19.7%	0.0x	$156M	VS
CCO Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.	52	48	58	69	59.3x	-	53.4%	-0.3%	7.7%	-	$1.2B	VS
IMXI International Money Express, Inc.	52	50	73	52	11.6x	25.5%	0.0%	6.4%	-9.7%	221.0x	$476M	VS
AYI ACUITY BRANDS INC	43	50	45	35	20.8x	13.8%	48.2%	8.9%	10.9%	60.0x	$8.8B

Key Ratio	TTM	2026	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
Gross Margin %	0.5%	0.5%	0.5%	0.5%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%
Operating Margin %	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.2%
EBITDA Margin %	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.2%	0.1%	0.1%	0.2%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.2%
Net Margin %	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
FCF Margin %	-	-	-	14.5%	-	-	10.5%	13.5%	12.0%	8.4%	7.7%
ROE %	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.1%	0.1%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%
ROA %	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
ROIC %	15.1%	3.7%	16.3%	21.5%	18.6%	21.1%	16.5%	14.2%	20.2%	18.5%	24.3%

Key Ratio

TTM

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Gross Margin %

0.5%

0.4%

Operating Margin %

0.1%

0.2%

EBITDA Margin %

0.1%

0.2%

0.1%

0.2%

0.1%

0.2%

Net Margin %

0.1%

FCF Margin %

14.5%

10.5%

13.5%

12.0%

8.4%

7.7%

ROE %

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

0.2%

0.1%

0.2%

ROA %

0.1%

0.0%

0.1%

ROIC %

15.1%

3.7%

16.3%

21.5%

18.6%

21.1%

16.5%

14.2%

20.2%

18.5%

24.3%

Line Item	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
	$4.4B	$4.3B	$3.8B	$4.0B	$4.0B	$3.5B	$3.3B	$3.7B	$3.7B	$3.5B	$3.3B	$2.7B
	—	$2.3B	—	$2.2B	$2.3B	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	$2.1B	$2.1B	$1.8B	$1.7B	$1.7B	$1.5B	$1.4B	$1.5B	$1.5B	$1.5B	$1.4B	$1.1B
Gross Margin	48.1%	47.8%	46.4%	43.4%	41.8%	42.6%	42.2%	40.3%	40.4%	42.3%	43.6%	42.3%
	—	$1.5B	—	$1.2B	$1.2B	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Research & Development	—	$140M	—	$97M	$95M	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Depreciation	—	—	$91M	—	—	$100M	$101M	$88M	$80M	$75M	$63M	$46M
Total Operating Expenses	—	$1.5B	—	$1.2B	$1.2B	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	$543M	$564M	$553M	$473M	$510M	$428M	$354M	$463M	$455M	$528M	$475M	$376M
EBIT	$543M	$564M	$553M	$473M	$510M	$428M	$354M	$463M	$455M	$528M	$475M	$376M
EBITDA	$543M	$564M	$631M	$473M	$510M	$520M	$449M	$547M	$540M	$600M	$539M	$421M
Operating Margin	12.4%	13.0%	14.4%	12.0%	12.7%	12.3%	10.6%	12.6%	12.5%	15.0%	14.4%	13.9%
EBITDA Margin	12.4%	13.0%	16.4%	12.0%	12.7%	15.0%	13.5%	14.9%	14.7%	17.1%	16.4%	15.6%
	—	—	—	$28M	$27M	$23M	$23M	$33M	$34M	$33M	$32M	$32M
	—	$500M	—	$447M	$494M	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Income Tax Expense	—	$104M	$126M	$101M	$110M	$90M	$76M	$95M	$76M	$171M	$154M	$122M
	$393M	$397M	$423M	$346M	$384M	$306M	$248M	$330M	$350M	$322M	$291M	$222M
Net Margin	8.9%	9.1%	11.0%	8.8%	9.6%	8.8%	7.5%	9.0%	9.5%	9.2%	8.8%	8.2%
	$3.16	$12.85	$13.68	$10.88	$11.23	$8.44	$6.29	$8.32	$8.54	$7.46	$6.67	$5.13
Diluted EPS	$3.16	$12.53	$13.68	$10.76	$11.08	$8.44	$6.29	$8.32	$8.54	$7.46	$6.67	$5.13
Weighted Avg Basic	—	31M	—	32M	34M	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Weighted Avg Diluted	—	32M	—	32M	35M	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Line Item

TTM

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

$4.4B

$4.3B

$3.8B

$4.0B

$3.5B

$3.3B

$3.7B

$3.5B

$3.3B

$2.7B

—

$2.3B

—

$2.2B

$2.3B

—

$2.1B

$1.8B

$1.7B

$1.5B

$1.4B

$1.5B

$1.4B

$1.1B

Gross Margin

48.1%

47.8%

46.4%

43.4%

41.8%

42.6%

42.2%

40.3%

40.4%

42.3%

43.6%

42.3%

—

$1.5B

—

$1.2B

—

Research & Development

—

$140M

—

$97M

$95M

—

Depreciation

—

$91M

—

$100M

$101M

$88M

$80M

$75M

$63M

$46M

Total Operating Expenses

—

$1.5B

—

$1.2B

—

$543M

$564M

$553M

$473M

$510M

$428M

$354M

$463M

$455M

$528M

$475M

$376M

EBIT

$543M

$564M

$553M

$473M

$510M

$428M

$354M

$463M

$455M

$528M

$475M

$376M

EBITDA

$543M

$564M

$631M

$473M

$510M

$520M

$449M

$547M

$540M

$600M

$539M

$421M

Operating Margin

12.4%

13.0%

14.4%

12.0%

12.7%

12.3%

10.6%

12.6%

12.5%

15.0%

14.4%

13.9%

EBITDA Margin

12.4%

13.0%

16.4%

12.0%

12.7%

15.0%

13.5%

14.9%

14.7%

17.1%

16.4%

15.6%

—

$28M

$27M

$23M

$33M

$34M

$33M

$32M

—

$500M

—

$447M

$494M

—

Income Tax Expense

—

$104M

$126M

$101M

$110M

$90M

$76M

$95M

$76M

$171M

$154M

$122M

$393M

$397M

$423M

$346M

$384M

$306M

$248M

$330M

$350M

$322M

$291M

$222M

Net Margin

8.9%

9.1%

11.0%

8.8%

9.6%

8.8%

7.5%

9.0%

9.5%

9.2%

8.8%

8.2%

$3.16

$12.85

$13.68

$10.88

$11.23

$8.44

$6.29

$8.32

$8.54

$7.46

$6.67

$5.13

Diluted EPS

$3.16

$12.53

$13.68

$10.76

$11.08

$8.44

$6.29

$8.32

$8.54

$7.46

$6.67

$5.13

Weighted Avg Basic

—

31M

—

32M

34M

—

Weighted Avg Diluted

—

32M

—

32M

35M

—

ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast

Last updated: April 2026

Company Overview — What Does ACUITY BRANDS INC Do?

Acuity Brands, Inc. provides lighting and building management solutions in North America and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (ABL); and the Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG). The ABL segment provides commercial, architectural, and specialty lighting solutions, as well as lighting controls and components for various indoor and outdoor applications under the Lithonia Lighting, Holophane, Peerless, Gotham, Mark Architectural Lighting, Winona Lighting, Juno, Indy, Aculux, Healthcare Lighting, Hydrel, American Electric Lighting, Sunoptics, eldoLED, nLight, Sensor Switch, IOTA, A-Light, Cyclone, Eureka, Lumniaire LED, Luminis, Dark to Light, and RELOC Wiring Solutions brands. This segment serves electrical distributors, retail home improvement centers, electric utilities, national accounts, digital retailers, lighting showrooms, and energy service companies. The ISG segment offers building management systems and location-aware applications under the Distech Controls, Atrius, and Rockpile Ventures brands. This segment serves system integrators, as well as retail stores, airports, and enterprise campuses. Acuity Brands, Inc. was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) is classified as a mid-cap stock in the Industrials sector, specifically within the Electrical Equipment industry. The company is led by CEO Neil M. Ashe and employs approximately 13,200 people, headquartered in ATLANTA, Georgia. With a market capitalization of $8.8B, AYI is one of the notable companies in the Industrials sector.

ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)

As of April 2026, ACUITY BRANDS INC receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 42.5/100 and 2 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.AYI ranks #3,017 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Industrials sector, ACUITY BRANDS INC ranks #505 of 752 stocks, placing it in the lower half of its Industrials peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).

AYI Stock Price and 52-Week Range

ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) currently trades at $278.45. The stock gained $1.66 (0.6%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for AYI is $380.17, which means the stock is currently trading -26.8% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $216.81, putting the stock 28.4% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 355K shares, suggesting relatively thin trading activity.

Is AYI Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis

ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) carries a value factor score of 45/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 20.81x, compared to the Industrials sector average of 28.33x — a discount of 27%. The price-to-book ratio stands at 2.88x, versus the sector average of 2.23x. The price-to-sales ratio is 1.87x, compared to 0.50x for the average Industrials stock. On an enterprise value basis, AYI trades at 15.06x EV/EBITDA, versus 5.70x for the sector.

Overall, AYI's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.

ACUITY BRANDS INC Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score

ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) earns a quality factor score of 50/100, indicating solid business quality with consistent operational execution. The return on equity (ROE) is 13.8%, compared to the Industrials sector average of 8.9%, which is within a healthy range. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at 8.6% versus the sector average of 3.3%.

On a margin basis, ACUITY BRANDS INC reports gross margins of 48.1%, compared to 35.8% for the sector. The operating margin is 12.4% (sector: 6.2%). Net profit margin stands at 8.9%, versus 3.9% for the average Industrials stock. Revenue growth is running at 10.9% on a trailing basis, compared to 6.4% for the sector. The overall profitability profile is adequate, though there may be room for margin expansion.

AYI Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health

ACUITY BRANDS INC has a debt-to-equity ratio of 60.0%, compared to the Industrials sector average of 70.0%. Leverage is within a manageable range for the industry, though investors should monitor debt trends over time. The current ratio is 2.07x, indicating strong short-term liquidity.

AYI has a beta of 1.20, meaning it is roughly in line with the broader market in terms of price volatility. The stability factor score for ACUITY BRANDS INC is 59/100, reflecting average volatility within the normal range for its sector.

ACUITY BRANDS INC Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend

In TTM 2026, ACUITY BRANDS INC reported revenue of $4.38B and earnings per share (EPS) of $3.16. Net income for the quarter was $393M. Gross margin was 48.1%. Operating income came in at $543M.

In Q2 2026, ACUITY BRANDS INC reported revenue of $1.06B and earnings per share (EPS) of $3.16. Net income for the quarter was $97M. Gross margin was 49.3%. Revenue grew 4.9% year-over-year compared to Q2 2025. Operating income came in at $133M.

In Q1 2026, ACUITY BRANDS INC reported revenue of $1.14B and earnings per share (EPS) of $3.92. Net income for the quarter was $121M. Gross margin was 48.4%. Revenue grew 20.2% year-over-year compared to Q1 2025. Operating income came in at $160M.

In FY 2025, ACUITY BRANDS INC reported revenue of $4.35B and earnings per share (EPS) of $12.85. Net income for the quarter was $397M. Gross margin was 47.8%. Revenue grew 13.1% year-over-year compared to FY 2024. Operating income came in at $564M.

Over the past 8 quarters, ACUITY BRANDS INC has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $3.84B to $4.38B. Investors analyzing AYI stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.

AYI Dividend Yield and Income Analysis

ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) does not currently pay a dividend. This is common among smaller companies in the Electrical Equipment industry that prefer to reinvest cash flows into business expansion rather than returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors looking for Industrials dividend stocks may want to explore other Industrials stocks or use the stock screener to filter by dividend yield.

AYI Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile

ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) has a momentum factor score of 35/100, signaling weak relative price performance. Stocks with low momentum scores have historically tended to continue underperforming in the near term. The investment factor score is 29/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 32/100 signals elevated short interest, which can indicate bearish sentiment among institutional investors.

AYI vs Competitors — Industrials Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison

Within the Industrials sector, ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) ranks #505 out of 752 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places AYI in the lower half of all Industrials stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include South Bow Corp (SOBO) with a score of 56.5/100, TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LTD (TEN) with a score of 61.4/100, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock CORP (GLDD) with a score of 56.7/100, Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (TPH) with a score of 57.3/100, and Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (CCO) with a score of 52.2/100.

Comparing AYI against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full AYI vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how ACUITY BRANDS INC stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.

AYI Next Earnings Date

No upcoming earnings date has been announced for ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.

Should You Buy AYI? — Investment Thesis Summary

The quantitative profile for ACUITY BRANDS INC suggests caution. Momentum is weak at 35/100, a headwind for near-term performance.

In summary, ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) earns a Reduce rating with a composite score of 42.5/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on AYI stock.

Related Resources for AYI Investors

Explore more research and tools: AYI vs S&P 500 comparison, top Industrials stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare AYI head-to-head with peers: AYI vs SOBO, AYI vs TEN, AYI vs GLDD.

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ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast

Company Overview — What Does ACUITY BRANDS INC Do?

ACUITY BRANDS INC (AYI) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)

AYI Stock Price and 52-Week Range

Is AYI Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis

ACUITY BRANDS INC Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score

AYI Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health

ACUITY BRANDS INC Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend

AYI Dividend Yield and Income Analysis

AYI Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile

AYI vs Competitors — Industrials Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison

AYI Next Earnings Date

Should You Buy AYI? — Investment Thesis Summary

Related Resources for AYI Investors

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