Donaldson Company, Inc. (DCI) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: DCIAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

DCI AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI) is a global manufacturer of filtration systems and replacement parts across its Engine Products and Industrial Products segments. In FY2026, the company generated $3.89B in revenue and $453.8M in net income, supported by a healthy return on equity of 28.2%. The business maintains strong shareholder returns with $426.3M in free cash flow and 40 consecutive years of dividend payments.

Market cap
$10.19B
Revenue (TTM)
$3.89B
P/E
22.8x
fwd 19.9x
1Y return
8.3%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$100.40
14.1% vs last close

Bull case

  • DCI delivered $426.3M in free cash flow in FY2026, comfortably funding $141.2M in dividends and $111.2M in share repurchases.
  • Trailing twelve months return on equity reached 28.2%, supported by an operating margin of 17.0%.
  • Analyst consensus targets a mean price of $100.40, representing 14.1% potential upside from the closing price of $87.97.

Bear case

  • DCI's forward P/E of 19.9x trades at a premium to the US-listed Industrials peer median of 17.2x.
  • The stock has lagged the broader market over multiple horizons, returning 8.3% over 1 year versus 16.8% for the S&P 500, and 61.6% over 5 years versus 83.0%.
  • Revenue growth decelerated to 2.9% in FY2025 before a modest recovery to 5.3% in FY2026, below its 5-year CAGR of 6.4%.

What Donaldson does

Donaldson Company, Inc. is a global manufacturer and distributor of filtration systems and replacement parts, operating through two segments: Engine Products and Industrial Products. The Engine Products segment manufactures replacement filters, complete air and liquid filtration systems for fuel, lube, and hydraulic applications, as well as exhaust systems and monitoring solutions. It serves original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in construction, mining, agriculture, aerospace, defense, and transportation, alongside independent distributors and fleet operators. The Industrial Products segment provides dust, fume, and mist collectors, compressed air purification systems, and gas and liquid filtration systems for industrial, food, and beverage processes, as well as gas turbine solutions.

Growth and profitability

Between FY2022 and FY2026, Donaldson's revenue increased from $3.31B to $3.89B, reflecting a 5-year revenue CAGR of 6.4%. In FY2026, revenue rose 5.3% year-over-year, while net income increased to $453.8M with a net margin of 11.7%, and diluted EPS reached $3.98. Operating margin was 15.4% in FY2026, up from 13.4% in FY2022. For the trailing twelve months, operating margin stands at 17.0%, and profit margin is 11.7%. In the latest quarter ended July 31, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 8.0% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings expanded by 14.0%.

DCI income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of July 31, 2026, Donaldson reported $250.4M in cash and short-term investments alongside total debt of $1.38B, resulting in net debt of $1.13B. Total assets stood at $3.99B against shareholders' equity of $1.76B, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 2.08. In FY2026, the company generated $493.7M in operating cash flow and invested $67.4M in capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $426.3M. Capital allocation in FY2026 included $111.2M spent on share buybacks and $141.2M paid in dividends, contributing to a 5-year share count reduction of 6.7%.

DCI balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

At $87.97 per share, Donaldson holds a market capitalization of $10.19B and an enterprise value of $11.13B. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 22.8x, compared to 24.8x for the median of its US-listed Industrials peers. Its forward P/E of 19.9x trades at a premium to the peer median of 17.2x. DCI carries an EV/EBITDA of 15.3x versus the peer median of 13.9x, and a price-to-sales ratio of 2.6x against the peer median of 1.5x. Over the past year, DCI gained 8.3% compared to a 16.8% return for the S&P 500 (SPY), and its 5-year return of 61.6% trailed the index's 83.0% gain.

DCI key metrics →

DCI dividend

Donaldson pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward payout of $1.24 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 1.41%. The company has paid dividends for 40 consecutive years and delivered a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 6.9%. The payout ratio is 31.2%, and the last ex-dividend date was August 17, 2026.

DCI dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 2 Strong Buy, 5 Hold, and 1 Sell ratings among 8 analysts. The mean price target is $100.40, representing an upside of 14.1% over the last close of $87.97. For the fiscal year ending July 31, 2027, consensus estimates project EPS of $4.33 (growth of 8.8%) on revenue of $4.19B. For the following fiscal year, analysts expect EPS of $4.86 on revenue of $4.40B. The company beat EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings report scheduled for December 3, 2026.

DCI forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Net debt of $1.13B and total debt of $1.38B require ongoing cash allocation in an environment where cash balances stand at $250.4M.
  • Quarterly revenue growth of 8.0% sits below the US-listed Industrials peer median quarterly growth of 9.1%.
  • The stock is trading 2.9% below its 200-day moving average and remains down from its 52-week high of $112.84.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this DCI AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Donaldson Company, Inc. (DCI). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: DCI income statement, DCI balance sheet, DCI key metrics, DCI analyst forecast, DCI chart. See the DCI stock overview for the latest quote and news.

DCI AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Donaldson's dividend policy and track record?

Donaldson has paid dividends for 40 consecutive years. It offers an annualized forward dividend of $1.24 per share, translating to a 1.41% yield and a payout ratio of 31.2%.

When does Donaldson report its next quarterly earnings?

Donaldson's next earnings release is scheduled for December 3, 2026. In the prior four quarters, the company topped consensus EPS estimates 3 times.

How does Donaldson's valuation compare to sector peers?

DCI trades at a forward P/E of 19.9x and EV/EBITDA of 15.3x, compared to median metrics of 17.2x and 13.9x, respectively, for US-listed Industrials peers.

What are analysts forecasting for DCI's financial performance?

For the fiscal year ending July 31, 2027, analysts estimate EPS of $4.33 on revenue of $4.19B, followed by EPS of $4.86 on revenue of $4.40B the subsequent year.

More Industrials AI stock analysis