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Emerson Electric Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 10 raised, 9 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales up 7%, underlying up 6%: Net sales were $4,873 million, up 7% from $4,553 million. Underlying sales rose 6%, excluding currency and significant acquisitions and divestitures. Source
  • Pretax margin up 270 basis points: Pretax earnings were $916 million against $734 million, giving an 18.8% margin against 16.1% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 13%: Adjusted EPS was $1.71 against $1.52. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.28 against $1.03, up 24%. Source
  • Software & Systems sales up 11%: Software & Systems sales were $1,644 million, up 11%. Test & Measurement rose 23% to $445 million; Control Systems & Software rose 7% to $1,199 million. Source
  • Segment EBITA margin reached 28.5%: Adjusted total segment EBITA was $1,387 million, a 28.5% margin against 27.1% a year earlier, up 140 basis points. Source
  • Underlying orders up 7%: Underlying orders rose 7%, excluding AspenTech, with Software & Systems leading the growth according to management. Source
  • Operating cash flow up 34%: Operating cash flow was $1,425 million against $1,062 million. Free cash flow was $1,323 million against $970 million, up 36%. Source

“Emerson had an outstanding third quarter with sales, margin expansion, earnings and cash flow all exceeding expectations”

Emerson President and Chief Executive Officer Lal Karsanbhai

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth SourceFiscal 2026~5%Raised from ~4.5%
Net sales growth SourceFourth quarter of 2026~5%New
Underlying sales growth SourceFiscal 2026~3.5%Raised from ~3%
Underlying sales growth SourceFourth quarter of 2026~5%New
Diluted EPS (GAAP) SourceFiscal 2026~$4.89Raised from $4.79 - $4.89
Diluted EPS (GAAP) SourceFourth quarter of 2026~$1.45New
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026~$6.55Raised from $6.45 - $6.55
Adjusted EPS SourceFourth quarter of 2026~$1.85New
Amortization of intangibles per share SourceFiscal 2026~$1.39Raised from ~$1.38
Amortization of intangibles per share SourceFourth quarter of 2026~$0.34New
Restructuring and related costs per share SourceFiscal 2026~$0.24Raised from ~$0.18
Restructuring and related costs per share SourceFourth quarter of 2026~$0.03New
Acquisition/divestiture fees per share SourceFiscal 2026~$0.09Raised from ~$0.06
Acquisition/divestiture fees per share SourceFourth quarter of 2026~$0.01New
Discrete taxes per share SourceFiscal 2026~$0.05Raised from ~$0.04
Discrete taxes per share SourceFourth quarter of 2026~$0.02New
IEEPA tariff refunds per share SourceFiscal 2026~($0.11)New
Operating cash flow SourceFiscal 2026~$4.1BRaised from $4.0B - $4.1B
Free cash flow SourceFiscal 2026~$3.6BRaised from $3.5B - $3.6B
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2026~(0.45)Kept
Capital returned to shareholders SourceFiscal 2026~$2.2B through ~$1B share repurchases and ~$1.2B of dividendsKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 guidance raised across net sales, underlying sales, EPS and cash flow. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 guidance columns added to the guidance table; the prior release showed third-quarter guidance. Source
  • New: IEEPA tariff refunds added as an adjusted EPS reconciling item of about $0.11 per share for the full year. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales up 7%, underlying up 6%: Net sales were $4,873 million, up 7% from $4,553 million. Underlying sales rose 6%, excluding currency and significant acquisitions and divestitures. Source
  • Pretax margin up 270 basis points: Pretax earnings were $916 million against $734 million, giving an 18.8% margin against 16.1% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 13%: Adjusted EPS was $1.71 against $1.52. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.28 against $1.03, up 24%. Source
  • Nine-month sales up 5%: Nine-month net sales were $13,781 million against $13,161 million, up 5% reported and 3% underlying. Source

Segments and geography

  • Software & Systems sales up 11%: Software & Systems sales were $1,644 million, up 11%. Test & Measurement rose 23% to $445 million; Control Systems & Software rose 7% to $1,199 million. Source
  • Intelligent Devices up 6%: Intelligent Devices sales were $2,677 million, up 6% reported and 5% underlying. Sensors rose 8% reported and Final Control rose 4% reported. Source
  • Safety & Productivity up 3%: Safety & Productivity sales were $552 million, up 3% reported and 2% underlying. Source
  • Americas and Asia up 8%: Quarterly sales growth by geography was 8% in the Americas, down 1% in Europe, and 8% in Asia, Middle East & Africa, all shown as reported. Source

“Demand was robust, with underlying orders up 7%, led by Software & Systems and broad-based growth in North America and Asia.”

Emerson President and Chief Executive Officer Lal Karsanbhai

Margins and cost lines

  • Segment EBITA margin reached 28.5%: Adjusted total segment EBITA was $1,387 million, a 28.5% margin against 27.1% a year earlier, up 140 basis points. Source
  • Test & Measurement margin up sharply: Test & Measurement adjusted EBITA margin was 29.6% against 22.4%. Control Systems & Software margin fell to 32.6% from 35.2%. Source
  • Intelligent Devices margin 27.9%: Intelligent Devices adjusted EBITA margin was 27.9% against 25.5%. Sensors was 29.7% and Final Control was 26.7%. Source
  • Tariff refunds lowered corporate costs: Corporate and other included an $82 million benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds. Acquisition and divestiture costs were $28 million. Source
  • Restructuring costs rose to $99 million: Restructuring and related costs were $99 million against $41 million a year earlier. Final Control accounted for $48 million of the segment total. Source

Demand and orders

  • Underlying orders up 7%: Underlying orders rose 7%, excluding AspenTech, with Software & Systems leading the growth according to management. Source
  • Secular tailwinds support growth verticals: Management said secular tailwinds continue to support sustained investment in its growth verticals. Source
  • Second-quarter orders up 5%: In the second quarter, underlying orders were up 5%, led by Software & Systems, with sustained momentum in growth verticals.
  • Middle East conflict hit second-quarter sales: In the second quarter, management said sales were impacted by the conflict in the Middle East, while margins exceeded expectations.

“We are raising our full year guidance, reflecting our strong third quarter performance and healthy demand.”

Emerson President and Chief Executive Officer Lal Karsanbhai

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Operating cash flow up 34%: Operating cash flow was $1,425 million against $1,062 million. Free cash flow was $1,323 million against $970 million, up 36%. Source
  • Nine-month capital expenditures rose: Nine-month capital expenditures were $284 million against $263 million a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month buybacks and dividends: Purchases of common stock were $898 million for the nine months against $1,147 million. Dividends paid were $935 million against $895 million. Source
  • Working capital absorbed cash: Changes in operating working capital used $320 million in the nine months against $80 million a year earlier. Cash from continuing operations was $2,902 million. Source

Balance sheet and debt

  • Cash rose to $2.18 billion: Cash and equivalents were $2,180 million at June 30, 2026, against $1,791 million at March 31, 2026 and $1,544 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Short-term borrowings reduced: Short-term borrowings and current maturities were $5,587 million, against $5,804 million at March 31. Long-term debt was $7,526 million against $7,555 million. Source
  • Intangible assets declined: Other intangible assets were $8,686 million at June 30, against $8,954 million at March 31. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payable September 10: Quarterly dividend of $0.555 per share, record date August 14, payment date September 10, 2026. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 look-ahead: Management said the company will look ahead to 2027 from a solid foundation as 2026 ends. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Underlying orders Source7%
Underlying sales growth Source6%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management described the Middle East conflict as fluid and said the company is supporting customers around the world. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The second-quarter release said 2026 was developing largely as expected, with a second half supported by orders momentum and backlog.

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.