Tearsheet

Acuity (AYI)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $368.05 | Market Cap: $11.3 Bil
Sector: Industrials | Industry: Electrical Components & Equipment

Acuity (AYI)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $368.05
Market Cap: $11.3 Bil
Sector: Industrials
Industry: Electrical Components & Equipment

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Strong revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 13%
Trading close to highs
Dist 52W High is -0.3%, Dist 3Y High is -0.3%
 
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 14%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 12%
  
2 Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 5.0%
  
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 32%
  
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Smart Buildings & Proptech, and Sustainable & Green Buildings. Themes include IoT for Buildings, Building Management Systems, Show more.
  
0 Strong revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 13%
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 14%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 12%
2 Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 5.0%
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 32%
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Smart Buildings & Proptech, and Sustainable & Green Buildings. Themes include IoT for Buildings, Building Management Systems, Show more.
5 Trading close to highs
Dist 52W High is -0.3%, Dist 3Y High is -0.3%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

AYI Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Acuity (AYI) experienced significant positive stock movement between August 31, 2025, and December 4, 2025, driven by several key factors:

1. Strong Fiscal Fourth-Quarter 2025 Earnings: Acuity Brands reported robust fiscal fourth-quarter 2025 results on October 1, 2025. The company announced an adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $5.20, surpassing analysts' forecasts of $4.77 by 9.01%. Despite revenue of $1.2 billion slightly missing the anticipated $1.23 billion, it still represented a substantial 17% increase year-over-year, leading to a pre-market stock rise of 4.54% following the announcement.

2. Positive Analyst Sentiment and Upgraded Price Targets: Multiple financial analysts reiterated favorable ratings and increased their price targets for Acuity's stock during this period. For example, William Blair reiterated an "Outperform" rating on October 1, 2025, contributing to a 9% jump in the stock price. Oppenheimer maintained an "Outperform" rating, raising its price target to $435.00, while TD Cowen increased its target to $390 from $330. Morgan Stanley also lifted its price objective from $365.00 to $425.00, assigning an "overweight" rating.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
AYI Return-12%75%-22%24%43%25%169%
Peers Return9%27%-6%17%-5%7%54%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
AYI Win Rate50%67%42%58%75%70% 
Peers Win Rate55%68%42%60%40%60% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
AYI Max Drawdown-48%-4%-31%-9%-2%-24% 
Peers Max Drawdown-51%-6%-27%-9%-22%-32% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: LFUS, ENS, BDC, HI, AIN. See AYI Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventAYIS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-34.7%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven53.2%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven565 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-50.3%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven101.4%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven357 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-55.9%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven126.8%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1862 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-68.9%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven221.5%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1275 days1480 days

Compare to LFUS, ENS, BDC, HI, AIN


In The Past

Acuity's stock fell -34.7% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 11/9/2021. A -34.7% loss requires a 53.2% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Acuity (AYI)

Better Bets than Acuity (AYI)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to AYI. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
2.2%2.2%0.0%
AYI_11302021_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11302021AYIAcuityQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
-13.0%-6.2%-27.2%
AYI_10312020_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10312020AYIAcuityDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
108.5%131.2%0.0%
AYI_2292020_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield02292020AYIAcuityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
8.2%20.5%-30.9%
AYI_5312019_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield05312019AYIAcuityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
6.0%-30.0%-42.3%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
2.2%2.2%0.0%
AYI_11302021_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11302021AYIAcuityQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
-13.0%-6.2%-27.2%
AYI_10312020_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10312020AYIAcuityDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
108.5%131.2%0.0%
AYI_2292020_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield02292020AYIAcuityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
8.2%20.5%-30.9%
AYI_5312019_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield05312019AYIAcuityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
6.0%-30.0%-42.3%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Acuity

Peers to compare with:

Financials

AYILFUSENSBDCHIAINMedian
NameAcuity Littelfu.EnerSys Belden Hillenbr.Albany I. 
Mkt Price369.51257.11145.95120.1031.8448.02133.02
Mkt Cap11.36.45.54.72.31.45.1
Rev LTM4,3462,3223,7252,6612,8591,1492,760
Op Inc LTM594322490297174-26310
FCF LTM53338132721411389270
FCF 3Y Avg5333303252249883275
CFO LTM601456435369155157402
CFO 3Y Avg600409429356153169383

Growth & Margins

AYILFUSENSBDCHIAINMedian
NameAcuity Littelfu.EnerSys Belden Hillenbr.Albany I. 
Rev Chg LTM13.1%5.8%6.2%13.4%-8.0%-9.4%6.0%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg3.0%-1.6%1.8%1.8%17.8%5.1%2.4%
Rev Chg Q17.1%10.1%7.7%6.6%-23.9%-12.4%7.1%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM4.2%2.5%1.8%1.7%-6.2%-3.1%1.8%
Op Mgn LTM13.7%13.9%13.2%11.2%6.1%-2.2%12.2%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg13.6%14.6%11.5%11.5%8.5%8.3%11.5%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.0%0.1%0.1%-0.1%-0.7%-11.9%-0.1%
CFO/Rev LTM13.8%19.6%11.7%13.9%5.4%13.7%13.8%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg14.9%17.6%11.7%14.0%5.4%14.3%14.2%
FCF/Rev LTM12.3%16.4%8.8%8.0%3.9%7.8%8.4%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg13.2%14.2%8.8%8.8%3.5%6.9%8.8%

Valuation

AYILFUSENSBDCHIAINMedian
NameAcuity Littelfu.EnerSys Belden Hillenbr.Albany I. 
Mkt Cap11.36.45.54.72.31.45.1
P/S2.42.81.11.80.51.31.6
P/EBIT19.528.59.716.19.1-56.912.9
P/E26.754.212.520.8-78.9-28.916.7
P/CFO17.614.19.712.99.29.811.4
Total Yield3.9%2.9%8.9%4.9%3.2%-1.3%3.6%
Dividend Yield0.2%1.1%0.9%0.1%4.4%2.1%1.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg7.1%5.2%8.1%5.0%4.4%3.8%5.1%
D/E0.10.10.30.31.20.30.3
Net D/E0.10.00.20.21.10.20.2

Returns

AYILFUSENSBDCHIAINMedian
NameAcuity Littelfu.EnerSys Belden Hillenbr.Albany I. 
1M Rtn1.1%3.5%16.2%2.2%0.7%-14.9%1.6%
3M Rtn11.2%1.3%44.8%-5.3%29.5%-20.9%6.3%
6M Rtn40.3%20.2%71.6%11.2%62.5%-27.2%30.3%
12M Rtn14.0%5.8%52.8%-2.0%-3.1%-41.3%1.9%
3Y Rtn97.0%7.4%92.8%49.8%-35.1%-52.2%28.6%
1M Excs Rtn1.1%3.5%16.2%2.2%0.7%-14.9%1.7%
3M Excs Rtn3.6%-6.0%36.6%-12.6%19.3%-28.6%-1.2%
6M Excs Rtn25.6%5.5%56.9%-3.5%47.8%-41.9%15.5%
12M Excs Rtn1.9%-8.0%39.0%-15.3%-16.5%-54.7%-11.6%
3Y Excs Rtn26.0%-60.9%31.4%-16.4%-101.7%-123.2%-38.7%

Financials

Segment Financials

Assets by Segment

$ Mil20252024202320222021
Goodwill1,099    
Accounts receivable and Inventories883    
Cash and cash equivalents846    
Intangible assets, net440    
Property, plant, and equipment, net304    
Prepayments and other current assets75    
Acuity Intelligent Spaces685454  
Operating lease right-of-use assets66    
Other long-term assets32    
Deferred income taxes2    
Acuity Brands Lighting 8701,098  
Unallocated corporate amounts 2,4852,329  
Total3,8153,4083,480  


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity602,975
Short Interest: % Change Since 103120253.6%
Average Daily Volume174,024
Days-to-Cover Short Interest3.46
Basic Shares Quantity30,700,000
Short % of Basic Shares2.0%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
83120251027202510-K 8/31/2025
5312025626202510-Q 5/31/2025
2282025403202510-Q 2/28/2025
11302024108202510-Q 11/30/2024
83120241028202410-K 8/31/2024
5312024627202410-Q 5/31/2024
2292024403202410-Q 2/29/2024
11302023109202410-Q 11/30/2023
83120231026202310-K 8/31/2023
5312023629202310-Q 5/31/2023
2282023404202310-Q 2/28/2023
11302022109202310-Q 11/30/2022
83120221026202210-K 8/31/2022
5312022630202210-Q 5/31/2022
2282022405202210-Q 2/28/2022
11302021107202210-Q 11/30/2021

Insider Activity

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 OwnerTitleFiling DateActionPriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
0GOLDMAN BARRY RSVP & General Counsel10302025Sell362.801,007365,3403,460,386Form