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Fortive Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Core growth rose to 7.2%: Core revenue growth was 7.2%, against 6.7% in the prior quarter. Reported revenue growth was 7.8%, against 7.9% a quarter earlier. Revenue was $1.11 billion. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS grew 13%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.77 against $0.68, and GAAP diluted EPS was $0.57 against $0.35. Management called this the fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit adjusted EPS growth. Source
  • Intelligent Operating Solutions grew 9.8%: Segment revenue was $767.1M, up 9.8% reported and 9.1% core. GAAP operating profit was $223.4M against $180.7M, with operating margin of 29.1% against 25.9%. Source
  • Advanced Healthcare margin declined 230 bps: Segment adjusted EBITDA was $88M against $92M, down 4.8%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 25.8% against 28.1% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • IEEPA tariff refunds added $18.0M: The company recorded an $18.0M pretax refund recovery in cost of sales and excludes it from adjusted results. The prior quarter's pretax refund recovery was $4.5M. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $284M: GAAP operating cash flow was $313M against $295M, and free cash flow was $284M against $266M. Trailing twelve month free cash flow was $1,062M. Source
  • About $300M repurchased in quarter: Share repurchases in the quarter were about $300M, representing about 5 million shares or about 2% of diluted shares outstanding. Source
  • Accelerated strategy investments cited: Management said it sees growing evidence that investments in innovation acceleration, commercial acceleration and recurring customer value are contributing to faster revenue growth. Source

“Q3 was another quarter of strong and accelerating performance for Fortive.”

Olumide Soroye, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFY 2026$3.10 to $3.14Raised from $2.95 to $3.05
Adjusted EPS growth SourceFY 2026up ~15% year-over-year at the midpoint

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: FY 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance moved up to $3.10 to $3.14 from $2.95 to $3.05. Source
  • New: Non-GAAP adjustments now include a pretax exclusion for non-cash impairment of capitalized software; the prior release did not list this item. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Core growth rose to 7.2%: Core revenue growth was 7.2%, against 6.7% in the prior quarter. Reported revenue growth was 7.8%, against 7.9% a quarter earlier. Revenue was $1.11 billion. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS grew 13%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.77 against $0.68, and GAAP diluted EPS was $0.57 against $0.35. Management called this the fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit adjusted EPS growth. Source
  • GAAP net earnings rose 47%: GAAP net earnings from continuing operations were $172.5M against $117.0M. The prior-year quarter included $38.3M of pretax acquisition, divestiture and Separation related items, against $1.0M this quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 9.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $338.8M against $309.4M. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 30.6% against 30.1% in the prior-year quarter. Source

Segment results

  • Intelligent Operating Solutions grew 9.8%: Segment revenue was $767.1M, up 9.8% reported and 9.1% core. GAAP operating profit was $223.4M against $180.7M, with operating margin of 29.1% against 25.9%. Source
  • Intelligent Operating Solutions EBITDA margin up: Segment adjusted EBITDA was $274.7M against $241.9M, up 13.6%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 35.8% against 34.6%. Source
  • Advanced Healthcare revenue rose 3.7%: Segment revenue was $340.4M against $328.3M, up 3.7% reported and 3.1% core. GAAP operating profit was $38.2M against $42.5M, down 10.1%. Source
  • Advanced Healthcare margin declined 230 bps: Segment adjusted EBITDA was $88M against $92M, down 4.8%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 25.8% against 28.1% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Corporate other costs narrowed: The Other category, covering unallocated corporate and other costs, was a $25.7M operating loss against $63.6M. The prior-year quarter included $33M of stock-based compensation tied to the PT Separation. Source

“We are excited about our progress and continue to see meaningful opportunities to accelerate profitable growth, deploy capital with discipline and build investor trust”

Olumide Soroye, President and CEO

Costs and margins

  • Gross profit rose on higher sales: Gross profit was $710.6M against $649.2M, on sales of $1,107.5M against $1,027.1M. Cost of sales was $396.9M against $377.9M. Source
  • IEEPA tariff refunds added $18.0M: The company recorded an $18.0M pretax refund recovery in cost of sales and excludes it from adjusted results. The prior quarter's pretax refund recovery was $4.5M. Source
  • Selling and administrative expense fell: Selling, general and administrative expense was $406.5M against $427.6M. Research and development expense was $68.2M against $62.0M. Source
  • Net interest expense increased: Net interest expense was $38.8M against $25.4M in the prior-year quarter. Income taxes were $29.8M against $18.0M. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow reached $284M: GAAP operating cash flow was $313M against $295M, and free cash flow was $284M against $266M. Trailing twelve month free cash flow was $1,062M. Source
  • About $300M repurchased in quarter: Share repurchases in the quarter were about $300M, representing about 5 million shares or about 2% of diluted shares outstanding. Source
  • Cumulative repurchases reach $2.3B: Since the launch of new Fortive, total share repurchases are about $2.3 billion, representing about 43 million shares or about 13% of shares outstanding. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $3.5B: Long-term debt was $3,514.2M at October 2, 2026, against $2,306.5M at December 31, 2025. The current portion of long-term debt was nil, against $899.5M. Source
  • Shares outstanding fell to 298.1M: Shares outstanding were 298.1M at October 2, 2026, against 313.4M at December 31, 2025. Cash and equivalents were $377.3M at quarter end. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Accelerated strategy investments cited: Management said it sees growing evidence that investments in innovation acceleration, commercial acceleration and recurring customer value are contributing to faster revenue growth. Source
  • Acquisition spending in nine months: Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash received, was $58.1M in the nine months to October 2, 2026, against nil in the prior-year period. Capital expenditure was $84.2M against $74.7M. Source

Non-GAAP items and share count

  • Amortization adds $0.29 to EPS: Pretax amortization of acquisition related intangible assets was $89.3M, or $0.29 per diluted share, against $91.5M, or $0.27, in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Average diluted share count fell: Average diluted shares were 303.9M against 333.4M. Adjusted net earnings were $235.4M against $228.3M in the prior-year quarter. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management said the timing and amount of IEEPA tariff refund gains may not reflect operating results in a given period. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains fully confident in its ability to deliver on the medium-term financial framework shared at the last Investor Day. Source
  • Not stated: The discrete restructuring plan started in Q4 2024 is now expected to complete by end of 2026; the prior release said second half of 2026. 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.