greeksoup/ stock research

Emerson Electric Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 February 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales up 4%, underlying 2%: Net sales were $4,346 million, up 4% reported and 2% underlying. Underlying sales exclude currency translation and significant acquisitions and divestitures. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 6% to $1.46: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.46 against $1.38, up 6%. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.07 against $1.02, up 5%. Adjusted EPS excludes amortization, restructuring, deal fees and discrete taxes. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 guidance was updated: The company updated its full-year fiscal 2026 guidance in this release. The release gives new figures but not prior ones, so the direction of each change is not stated. Source
  • Test & Measurement grew fastest: Test & Measurement sales were $409 million, up 14% reported and 11% underlying. Its adjusted segment EBITA margin rose to 29.7% from 25.5%. Source
  • Fourth straight quarter of order growth: The release describes underlying orders growth as the fourth consecutive quarter of growth. The order measure excludes AspenTech. Source
  • Segment margin down 30 basis points: Adjusted segment EBITA was $1,203 million, a 27.7% margin against 28.0%. Adjusted segment EBITA is segment earnings less restructuring and intangibles amortization. Source
  • Free cash flow down 13%: Operating cash flow was $699 million against $777 million, and free cash flow was $602 million against $694 million, down 13%. Working capital absorbed $357 million, against $154 million. Source
  • Software-defined automation releases: Management said the new releases advance capabilities in software-defined automation and further enhance its leadership position in high-growth verticals. Source

“Emerson met sales commitments and exceeded expectations for profitability as our global teams continue to execute well,”

Emerson President and Chief Executive Officer Lal Karsanbhai

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth, reported SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 20263% - 4%
Net sales growth, reported SourceFiscal 2026 full year~5.5%
Underlying sales growth SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 20261% - 2%
Underlying sales growth SourceFiscal 2026 full year~4%
Currency effect on reported growth SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026~(2 pts)
Currency effect on reported growth SourceFiscal 2026 full year~(1.5 pts)
Diluted EPS, GAAP SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026$1.06 - $1.11
Diluted EPS, GAAP SourceFiscal 2026 full year$4.78 - $4.93
Adjusted EPS SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026$1.50 - $1.55
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026 full year$6.40 - $6.55
Amortization of intangibles per share SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026~$0.35
Amortization of intangibles per share SourceFiscal 2026 full year~$1.38
Restructuring and related costs per share SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026~$0.06
Restructuring and related costs per share SourceFiscal 2026 full year~$0.14
Acquisition/divestiture fees per share SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026~$0.02
Acquisition/divestiture fees per share SourceFiscal 2026 full year~$0.06
Discrete taxes per share SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026~$0.01
Discrete taxes per share SourceFiscal 2026 full year~$0.04
Operating cash flow SourceFiscal 2026 full year$4.0B - $4.1B
Free cash flow SourceFiscal 2026 full year$3.5B - $3.6B
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2026 full year~(0.45)
Share repurchases SourceFiscal 2026 full year~$1.0B
Dividends SourceFiscal 2026 full year~$1.2B

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Capital allocation pivots toward returning cash to shareholders, with the 2026 guidance assuming share repurchases and dividends. Source

Quarter results and growth

  • Net sales up 4%, underlying 2%: Net sales were $4,346 million, up 4% reported and 2% underlying. Underlying sales exclude currency translation and significant acquisitions and divestitures. Source
  • Pretax earnings flat at $775 million: Pretax earnings were $775 million in both quarters; the pretax margin was 17.8% against 18.6%, a decline the release shows as 80 basis points. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 6% to $1.46: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.46 against $1.38, up 6%. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.07 against $1.02, up 5%. Adjusted EPS excludes amortization, restructuring, deal fees and discrete taxes. Source
  • Fewer diluted shares outstanding: Diluted average shares were 564.1 million against 571.1 million. Net earnings to common stockholders were $605 million against $585 million. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance

  • Fiscal 2026 guidance was updated: The company updated its full-year fiscal 2026 guidance in this release. The release gives new figures but not prior ones, so the direction of each change is not stated. Source
  • Per-share bridge to adjusted EPS: Second-quarter and full-year guidance shows amortization, restructuring, acquisition and divestiture fees, and discrete taxes per share, all excluded from adjusted EPS. Source
  • Underlying growth excludes currency and deals: Underlying growth guidance excludes currency translation and significant acquisitions and divestitures, and is shown separately from reported growth. Source

“Emerson is accelerating innovation, introducing new products and delivering on the critical programs we highlighted at our 2025 investor conference.”

Emerson President and Chief Executive Officer Lal Karsanbhai

Segments and regions

  • Test & Measurement grew fastest: Test & Measurement sales were $409 million, up 14% reported and 11% underlying. Its adjusted segment EBITA margin rose to 29.7% from 25.5%. Source
  • Software & Systems sales up 5%: Software & Systems sales were $1,453 million, up 5% reported and 3% underlying. Control Systems & Software was $1,044 million, up 2% reported and flat underlying. Source
  • Intelligent Devices and Final Control rose: Intelligent Devices sales were $2,390 million, up 4% reported and 2% underlying. Final Control was $1,394 million, up 4% reported and 2% underlying. Source
  • Sensors and Safety & Productivity rose modestly: Safety & Productivity sales were $503 million, up 3% reported and 1% underlying. Sensors sales were $996 million, up 2% reported and 1% underlying. Source
  • Regional sales growth split: Sales growth by geography was 3% in the Americas and 3% in Europe, with Asia, Middle East & Africa shown as nil. The release does not state the basis of these figures. Source

Demand and orders

  • Fourth straight quarter of order growth: The release describes underlying orders growth as the fourth consecutive quarter of growth. The order measure excludes AspenTech. Source
  • Automation demand led by Software & Systems: Management said demand for its automation technology was led by Software & Systems, with strength in North America, India and the Middle East & Africa. Source
  • AspenTech excluded from orders: Underlying orders do not include AspenTech, while underlying sales exclude currency and significant acquisitions and divestitures. The release gives no AspenTech order figures. Source

Costs and margins

  • Segment margin down 30 basis points: Adjusted segment EBITA was $1,203 million, a 27.7% margin against 28.0%. Adjusted segment EBITA is segment earnings less restructuring and intangibles amortization. Source
  • Interest expense rose sharply: Interest expense, net rose to $90 million from $8 million. Income taxes were $169 million against $182 million. Source
  • Cost of sales and SG&A rose: Cost of sales was $2,035 million against $1,940 million. SG&A expenses were $1,242 million against $1,224 million. Source
  • Amortization and restructuring lower: Amortization of intangibles was $254 million against $278 million. Restructuring and related costs were $11 million against $13 million. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow down 13%: Operating cash flow was $699 million against $777 million, and free cash flow was $602 million against $694 million, down 13%. Working capital absorbed $357 million, against $154 million. Source
  • Share repurchases fell: Purchases of common stock were $250 million against $899 million. Dividends paid were $312 million against $301 million. Source
  • Short-term debt rose, long-term debt fell: Short-term borrowings and current maturities rose to $5,832 million from $4,797 million. Long-term debt fell to $7,575 million from $8,319 million. Source
  • Cash balance rose: Cash and equivalents were $1,748 million at December 31, 2025, against $1,544 million at September 30, 2025. Source

Strategy, products and innovation

  • Software-defined automation releases: Management said the new releases advance capabilities in software-defined automation and further enhance its leadership position in high-growth verticals. Source
  • Company positioning as automation leader: The release describes Emerson as a global automation leader engineering the autonomous future, enabling customers to optimize operations and accelerate innovation. Source
  • 2025 investor conference programs: Management said the company is introducing new products and delivering on critical programs highlighted at its 2025 investor conference. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 February 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payable March 10: The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.555 per share, payable March 10, 2026 to holders of record on February 13, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Underlying orders growth Source9%

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the company met its sales commitments and exceeded expectations for profitability. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it is delivering on the critical programs highlighted at its 2025 investor conference. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.