Parker-Hannifin Corporation is a global leader in motion and control technologies, operating in the industrial manufacturing sector.
It is widely recognized as a premier industrial supplier, defined by its diversified portfolio and longstanding reputation for reliability and innovation.
Updated: January 14, 2026, 16:00 EST
Based on the provided data, here is a comprehensive analysis of Parker-Hannifin (PH).
Technical Analysis PH is in a strong technical uptrend, having significantly outperformed the market over the past three months. However, the stock is currently testing resistance at its 52-week high, indicating it is technically overbought. The high beta and substantial historical drawdown suggest investors should be prepared for volatility and the potential for a near-term pullback.
Fundamental Analysis & Valuation Fundamentally, PH demonstrates robust profitability and a solid financial health profile. The primary concern lies in its valuation, which appears significantly elevated. Metrics like a P/E over 30 and an exceptionally high EV/EBITDA of 77 suggest the stock's price may have run far ahead of its current earnings and projected growth. The negative PEG ratio is a notable red flag, implying the market is pricing in expectations that are not yet supported by earnings growth.
Risk Assessment & Investment Thesis The key risk is valuation compression, especially if the company's earnings growth fails to meet the high expectations baked into the current price. While the strong momentum and profitability are positive, the stock's price already reflects a highly optimistic scenario. This creates a vulnerable position if there is any negative fundamental news or a broader market shift away from premium-priced stocks.
Recommendation: HOLD Based on this analysis, a "Buy" recommendation is not warranted at this time. The stock's substantial run-up and premium valuation present a high entry risk. While the underlying business is healthy, a more attractive entry point would likely materialize after a market correction or a period of consolidation that realigns the price closer to fundamental value. Investors should monitor for a pullback or signs of accelerating earnings growth that could justify the current premium.
Based on the comprehensive analysis provided, here is a 12-month outlook for Parker-Hannifin (PH):
12-Month Outlook for Parker-Hannifin (PH)
The primary catalysts for PH over the next year are the continuation of its strong operational performance and market momentum, which could drive the stock higher if earnings growth accelerates sufficiently to justify its premium valuation. The key risk remains valuation compression, as the stock is highly vulnerable to any negative earnings surprise or a broader market shift away from expensive equities, given its extreme multiples and technically overbought condition. Without analyst targets available, a realistic price range is difficult to establish, but upside appears limited near-term; a pullback towards more historically supportable valuation levels (e.g., a P/E in the mid-20s) would likely present a more attractive risk/reward profile than the current price of $938.35.
Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about PH's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $936.21, indicating expected upside potential.
Overall, PH has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.
Of course. Here is the technical analysis of PH's price performance.
Overall Assessment PH has demonstrated exceptionally strong bullish momentum over the past three months, significantly outpacing the broader market.
Short-term Performance The stock's 27.02% surge over three months, coupled with a 23.65% outperformance relative to the market, confirms a powerful uptrend. While the more modest 4.36% one-month gain suggests some near-term consolidation, the overall short-term trajectory remains decisively positive. Its beta of 1.253 indicates the stock has been more volatile than the market, which is consistent with its sharp upward move.
Current Position Trading at $938.35, PH is currently at the very top of its 52-week range, sitting just below its 52-week high of $939.97. This positioning, following a substantial rally, places the stock in a technically overbought condition and suggests key resistance is being tested. Investors should be cautious of a potential pullback, especially considering the significant 26.85% maximum drawdown witnessed over the past year, which highlights the stock's inherent volatility despite the strong recent performance.
| Period | PH Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | +5.8% | +1.3% |
| 3m | +30.6% | +5.7% |
| 6m | +32.3% | +10.6% |
| 1y | +42.6% | +16.5% |
| ytd | +4.7% | +1.1% |
Revenue & Profitability PH's quarterly revenue declined from $5.24 billion to $5.08 billion, marking a sequential contraction. However, the company maintained strong profitability with a gross margin of 37.5% and a net income margin of 15.9%, demonstrating effective cost control despite the slight revenue dip.
Financial Health The company maintains a moderate debt profile with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75 and a healthy interest coverage ratio of 10.2x. The cash conversion cycle of 83 days appears extended, though the current ratio of 1.07 indicates adequate short-term liquidity coverage.
Operational Efficiency PH shows modest efficiency metrics with a return on equity of 5.9% and asset turnover of 0.17, suggesting moderate capital utilization. The operating cash flow to sales ratio of 15.4% indicates reasonable cash generation, though overall operational returns appear somewhat constrained.
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Try Now & Get Tesla Stock RewardValuation Level: PH exhibits elevated valuation metrics across multiple measures, with a TTM PE of 32.19, forward PE of 29.67, PB of 8.5, and PS of 5.85. The exceptionally high EV/EBITDA of 77.03 and negative PEG ratio of -2.50 suggest the stock is significantly overvalued relative to its fundamentals and growth prospects. These metrics collectively indicate a premium valuation that appears disconnected from underlying financial performance.
Peer Comparison: Without industry average data for benchmarking, a definitive peer comparison cannot be established. However, the extremely high PB ratio of 8.5 and PS ratio of 5.85 would typically indicate substantial premium pricing relative to most industrial sectors. The negative PEG ratio particularly stands out as unusual, suggesting earnings growth concerns that warrant careful consideration against sector norms.
Based on PH's Beta of 1.253, the stock exhibits higher volatility than the broader market, implying greater price fluctuations. This is further evidenced by a significant 1-year maximum drawdown of -26.85%, indicating a substantial historical peak-to-trough decline that highlights the potential for considerable capital depreciation during market downturns. An investor should be prepared for above-average price swings compared to the market.
Other risk factors appear moderate. The absence of significant short interest suggests that the market does not have a strong, concentrated bearish sentiment against the stock. While this is a positive signal, investors should still consider general liquidity risks and the potential impact of company-specific news or adverse sector-wide conditions that are not captured by short interest data.
Neutral. While PH shows strong momentum and analyst support, its premium valuation (P/E of 32, negative PEG) and recent revenue decline present risks. The stock is suitable for growth-oriented, risk-tolerant investors who can stomach potential volatility, but not ideal for value seekers.
Based on the provided analysis, PH stock is overvalued.
Key valuation metrics signal a significant premium: a high trailing PE of 32.19, an elevated Price-to-Sales ratio of 5.85, and a particularly concerning negative PEG ratio of -2.50. The negative PEG ratio indicates that the market's high earnings multiple is not justified by the company's growth prospects.
The primary reason for this overvaluation appears to be a disconnect between the stock's price and its fundamental performance. While the company maintains solid profitability (15.9% net margin), it is experiencing a revenue decline and only modest operational efficiency (ROE of 5.9%). The exceptionally high EV/EBITDA of 77.03 further confirms that the valuation is stretched relative to its core earnings power.
Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding PH stock, ordered by importance:
1. Market Risk: The stock's high beta (1.253) and significant historical maximum drawdown (-26.85%) indicate it is prone to substantially larger price declines than the broader market during downturns. 2. Business/Operational Risk: A sequential quarterly revenue decline, coupled with modest operational efficiency metrics (e.g., ROE of 5.9%), suggests potential challenges in driving growth and achieving strong returns on capital. 3. Financial/Liquidity Risk: An extended cash conversion cycle (83 days) indicates capital is tied up in operations for longer periods, which could pressure working capital and liquidity, especially given a current ratio (1.07) that provides only a slim margin of short-term liquidity coverage.
Of course. Here is the Parker-Hannifin (PH) stock forecast through 2026.
1. Target Price Range: * Base Case (2026): $1,100 - $1,350 * Bull Case (2026): $1,500 - $1,700
2. Key Growth Drivers: * Integration of Meggitt Acquisition: Realizing the full synergy potential from this major acquisition, particularly in the high-growth aerospace sector, is a primary driver for margin expansion and revenue diversification. * Industrial Automation & Aerospace Cycles: Sustained demand from factory automation and a multi-year recovery in commercial aerospace build rates will be crucial for top-line growth. * Parker's Win Strategy™: Continued execution of this operating model focused on lean initiatives, strategic pricing, and cash flow generation is key to maintaining its strong profitability metrics.
3. Main Assumptions: * The global industrial economy avoids a severe recession. * The company successfully executes on the Meggitt integration, achieving stated synergy targets without significant operational disruptions. * Current premium valuation multiples are sustained by consistent earnings growth.
4. Uncertainty of the Forecast: This forecast is highly sensitive to macroeconomic conditions, particularly industrial capital expenditure cycles. The largest risk is a de-rating of its valuation multiples if growth slows or if integration challenges emerge, which could significantly pressure the stock price from its current elevated level.