Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK)

Rockwell Automation reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 sales of $2,313 million on 4 August 2026, up 8 percent from $2,144 million a year earlier 1. Organic sales, which leave out acquisitions, sales of businesses and currency swings, rose 10 percent 1. Diluted earnings per share were $3.65, against $2.60 a year before 1.

The company said semiconductor, data center and warehouse automation drove the growth, with improving activity in automotive and life sciences 1. It raised its fiscal 2026 outlook to organic sales growth of 7.5 percent to 9.5 percent and adjusted earnings per share of $13.00 to $13.30 1.

The company completed the dissolution of its Sensia joint venture on 1 April 2026, and the sale of those businesses cut Lifecycle Services sales by 11 percent in the quarter 1. That segment's sales fell 12 percent to $482 million 1.

Scott Genereux, the chief revenue officer, told the company on 21 September 2026 that he will retire effective 31 December 2026 4. He stopped serving as chief revenue officer on 30 September 2026 4.

The company continues the business founded as the Allen-Bradley Company in 1903 2. The Allen-Bradley Company was a privately owned North American maker of industrial automation equipment when the former Rockwell International bought it in 1985 2.

In a reorganization completed on 6 December 1996, the company was incorporated in Delaware and divested its former aerospace and defense businesses to Boeing 2.

In October 2023 it bought Clearpath Robotics, including its OTTO Motors division, which builds autonomous robots for industrial use 2. The cash price, net of cash acquired, was $566 million, and the total purchase consideration was $609 million 2.

Sales were $9,058 million in fiscal 2023, $8,264 million in fiscal 2024 and $8,342 million in fiscal 2025 2.

In fiscal 2025 sales rose 1 percent 2. Prices added about 3 percentage points, while lower volume, mostly in Intelligent Devices, took away about 2 points 2.

Net income attributable to the company fell to $869 million in fiscal 2025 from $953 million a year earlier 2. The company said the main causes were a lower pre-tax margin, 11.0 percent against 13.3 percent, and a higher tax rate 2.

A $224 million non-cash impairment charge on the Sensia joint venture raised the company's purchase accounting costs 2. In the fourth quarter of 2025 it also changed how it accounts for legacy asbestos defense costs and recorded $136 million of pre-tax expense 2.

The Sensia dissolution was completed on 1 April 2026 and brought a $40 million cash payment from the joint venture partner 3. The company recognized a pre-tax gain of $20 million on it 3.

Intelligent Devices

Intelligent Devices makes drives, motion products, advanced material handling, safety and sensing products, and industrial components 2. Its brands include PowerFlex for AC drives and Clearpath and Otto for mobile robots 2.

Segment sales were $3,756 million in fiscal 2025, down from $3,804 million, and its operating margin was 18.0 percent 2. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026 sales rose 12 percent to $1.1 billion, with a margin of 20.0 percent 1.

Software and Control

Software & Control covers control and visualization software and hardware, digital twin and simulation software, and network and security infrastructure 2. Its software and cloud brands include FactoryTalk, Plex Systems and Fiix 2.

Segment sales were $2,383 million in fiscal 2025, up from $2,187 million, at a 29.7 percent operating margin 2. Third-quarter fiscal 2026 sales rose 19 percent to $751 million, at a margin of 34.8 percent 1.

Lifecycle Services

Lifecycle Services sells digital consulting, engineered projects, and recurring services such as cybersecurity, safety and remote monitoring 2.

Segment sales were $2,203 million in fiscal 2025, down from $2,273 million, at a 14.5 percent margin 2. Third-quarter fiscal 2026 sales fell 12 percent to $482 million, and organic sales fell 2 percent 1.

Customers, regions and rivals

The company does business in more than 100 countries, serving discrete markets such as automotive and semiconductor, hybrid markets such as food and beverage, and process markets such as energy and mining 2.

Sales in North America were $5,270 million in fiscal 2025, up 4 percent 2. Its filing names Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric, Emerson Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Honeywell and Dassault Systemes as major competitors 2.

Plants and people

The owned headquarters in Milwaukee holds product development, manufacturing and executive offices 2. At 30 September 2025 the company had about ten principal manufacturing sites, mostly in the U.S., Mexico, Poland, India, Canada and Singapore 2.

It had about 26,000 employees at 30 September 2025 2. Blake Moret is chairman, president and chief executive, and Christian Rothe has been chief financial officer since 19 August 2024 2.

Current problems

The company is named, with hundreds of other companies, in lawsuits alleging personal injury from asbestos used in certain components of its products many years ago 3. It says it has meritorious defenses 3.

It had not recognized an asset for any refund of tariffs previously paid under the IEEPA as of 30 June 2026 3.

The umbrella, in words

The main brands are Allen-Bradley, ControlLogix, CompactLogix, PowerFlex, FactoryTalk, Plex Systems, Fiix, Clearpath, Otto and Verve, the last an asset inventory and vulnerability management system 2.

Exhibit 21 lists certain subsidiaries, such as Rockwell Automation Technologies in Ohio and Asem in Italy, each 100 percent owned 5. It also listed Sensia LLC at 53 percent as of 30 September 2025, before the joint venture was dissolved 5.

On 4 August 2026 the company guided fiscal 2026 reported sales growth of 7.5 percent to 9.5 percent, with sales near $9.0 billion at the midpoint 1. It guided diluted earnings per share of $12.72 to $13.02 and adjusted earnings per share of $13.00 to $13.30 1.

The company said the guidance leaves out sales, earnings and cash flows of the divested Sensia businesses in the second half of fiscal 2026 1.

Its long-term framework calls for continued double-digit growth in annual recurring revenue and an average of 1 percent a year of growth from acquisitions 2.

The annual report said new minimum tax rules, BEPS Pillar Two, would raise its effective tax rate by about 3 percent from fiscal 2026 2.

At 30 June 2026 about $1.2 billion remained under its share repurchase authorizations 1. Genereux is due to retire on 31 December 2026 4.