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Rockwell Automation, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 10 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales up 14%: Sales were $2,316 million against $2,035 million a year earlier; organic sales rose 13% and currency translation added 1%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 32% in quarter: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EPS was $3.34 against $2.53, attributed to higher sales volume and segment operating margin; full-year Adjusted EPS was $10.53, up 7%. Source
  • Operating cash flow up 79%: Operating cash flow was $1,544 million against $864 million; free cash flow was $1,358 million against $639 million, up 113%. Source
  • Sensia dissolution agreed with SLB: After a strategic review, Rockwell and SLB agreed to pursue an orderly dissolution of the Sensia joint venture. Source
  • Fourth-quarter impairment of $110 million: A non-cash impairment charge of $110 million, or $0.97 per share net of tax and non-controlling interest, was recorded in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Asbestos accounting charges of $136 million: Pre-tax charges of $136 million, or $0.91 per share, came from a change in accounting for defense costs and an indemnity accrual increase. Source
  • Guidance excludes Sensia dissolution: Fiscal 2026 guidance covers sales growth and diluted and Adjusted EPS, and excludes the anticipated effect of the Sensia dissolution. Source

“We entered fiscal 2025 with a clear view of the challenges ahead, and we delivered.”

Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported sales growth Sourcefiscal 20263% - 7%New
Organic sales growth Sourcefiscal 20262% - 6%New
Currency translation Sourcefiscal 2026~ 1%New
Diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$10.40 - $11.40New
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$11.20 - $12.20New
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026~ 20%New
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026~ 20%New
Non-operating pension and postretirement benefit cost, per share (Adjusted EPS bridge) Sourcefiscal 2026(0.12)New
Purchase accounting depreciation, amortization and impairment, per share (Adjusted EPS bridge) Sourcefiscal 20261.09New
Net legacy asbestos and environmental charges, per share (Adjusted EPS bridge) Sourcefiscal 20260.04New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2026 guidance was introduced; the prior release covered fiscal 2025 guidance only. Source
  • New: The company announced dissolution of the Sensia joint venture, expected to close in the first half of fiscal 2026. Source
  • New: Legacy asbestos defense costs moved from expensing as incurred to accruing for all future defense costs, with an insurance recovery receivable. Source
  • New: Adjusted Income and Adjusted EPS definitions now exclude net legacy asbestos and environmental charges, with all periods recast. Source
  • New: Engineering and development is now a separate statement line, previously included in cost of sales; prior periods were recast. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter sales up 14%: Sales were $2,316 million against $2,035 million a year earlier; organic sales rose 13% and currency translation added 1%. Source
  • Full-year sales up 1%: Full-year sales were $8,342 million, a reported and organic increase of 1% from $8,264 million in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Quarterly EPS fell on one-time charges: Diluted EPS was $1.23 in the fourth quarter against $2.09; the company said accounting adjustments and one-time charges reduced diluted EPS by $1.88. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 32% in quarter: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EPS was $3.34 against $2.53, attributed to higher sales volume and segment operating margin; full-year Adjusted EPS was $10.53, up 7%. Source
  • Pre-tax margin fell on charges: Full-year pre-tax margin was 11.0% against 13.3%; the company attributed the decrease to higher compensation, the Sensia impairment and the asbestos accounting change. Source
  • Recurring revenue ARR up 8%: Total ARR, the annual contract value of recurring contracts, grew 8% on a constant-currency basis, including acquisitions. Source

Segments and regions

  • Software & Control sales up 31%: Quarterly organic growth was 30% and segment margin reached 31.2% against 22.4%, which the company linked to volume and price realization. Source
  • Intelligent Devices sales up 15%: Quarterly sales rose 15% with organic growth of 14%; full-year sales fell 1% and segment margin was 18.0% against 18.4%. Source
  • Lifecycle Services sales declined: Full-year sales fell 3% to $2,203 million, and segment margin fell to 14.5% from 16.1%, attributed to higher compensation. Source
  • North America led quarterly growth: Quarterly organic growth was 19% in North America and 6% in EMEA, per the regional growth table. Source
  • Full-year regional organic sales mixed: Full-year organic growth was 4% in North America, (3)% in EMEA, (4)% in Asia Pacific and (6)% in Latin America. Source

“We believe that greater stability in trade policy could serve as a powerful catalyst for unlocking additional investment.”

Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO

Costs, margins and tax

  • Full-year margin up on productivity: Full-year total segment operating margin was 20.4% against 19.3%, with productivity and price realization offset in part by compensation and currency. Source
  • Gross margin and SG&A ratios improved: Gross profit reached 48.1% of sales for fiscal 2025 against 46.6%, and SG&A fell to 22.9% of sales from 24.2%. Source
  • GAAP tax rate rose sharply: The GAAP effective tax rate was 52.4% in the fourth quarter against 13.1%; the adjusted rate was 17.8% against 15.3%. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow up 79%: Operating cash flow was $1,544 million against $864 million; free cash flow was $1,358 million against $639 million, up 113%. Source
  • Cost actions and tax payments aided cash: The company attributed cash gains to cost reduction and margin actions, no fiscal 2024 incentive payout in the first quarter, and lower tax payments, partly offset by a $70 million pension contribution. Source
  • Fourth-quarter free cash flow $405 million: Free cash flow included a $70 million voluntary pension contribution; operating cash flow for the quarter was $454 million. Source
  • Quarterly buybacks of $69 million: The company repurchased about 200 thousand shares in the fourth quarter at a cost of $69 million. Source
  • Repurchase authorization at $927 million: Remaining availability under the existing share repurchase authorization was $927 million at fiscal year-end. Source
  • Return on invested capital eased: The company reported ROIC of 14.6% for fiscal 2025 against 15.2% for fiscal 2024. Source

“With our differentiated portfolio and relentless focus on execution, we are well positioned for continued profitable growth in FY26 and beyond”

Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO

Sensia joint venture dissolution

  • Sensia dissolution agreed with SLB: After a strategic review, Rockwell and SLB agreed to pursue an orderly dissolution of the Sensia joint venture. Source
  • Fourth-quarter impairment of $110 million: A non-cash impairment charge of $110 million, or $0.97 per share net of tax and non-controlling interest, was recorded in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Rockwell takes process automation business: On dissolution, Rockwell takes ownership of the process automation business it originally contributed to the joint venture. Source

Accounting and reporting changes

  • Asbestos accounting charges of $136 million: Pre-tax charges of $136 million, or $0.91 per share, came from a change in accounting for defense costs and an indemnity accrual increase. Source
  • Engineering and development shown separately: Engineering and development costs moved out of cost of sales into their own line, and all prior periods were recast to match. Source
  • Adjusted EPS excludes asbestos and environmental costs: Adjusted Income and Adjusted EPS now exclude legacy asbestos and environmental charges, previously in Corporate and other; all periods were recast. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance and workforce

  • Guidance excludes Sensia dissolution: Fiscal 2026 guidance covers sales growth and diluted and Adjusted EPS, and excludes the anticipated effect of the Sensia dissolution. Source
  • Seasonally low first quarter expected: Management said the first quarter is seasonally low, with gradual sequential improvement through the year. Source
  • Adjusted EPS bridge adjustments listed: The guidance bridge adds back purchase accounting amortization and impairment, along with pension and asbestos items, to reach Adjusted EPS. Source
  • Headcount about 26,000 at year-end: The company reported about 26,000 employees at fiscal year-end 2025, against about 27,000 at fiscal year-end 2024 in the prior release. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2025

  • Sensia closing expected in first half: Closing is expected in the first half of fiscal 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total ARR growth Source8% year over year

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management referred to continued macro and geopolitical uncertainty alongside its fiscal 2026 plans. Source
  • Financial: The asbestos accounting change and accrual increase reduced fourth-quarter pre-tax margin, alongside the Sensia impairment. Source
  • Financial: Valuation allowances and tax effects tied to the Sensia impairment raised the GAAP effective tax rate. Source
  • Operational: Higher compensation costs and a prior-year earnout accrual adjustment reduced Intelligent Devices segment margin in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Lower Intelligent Devices sales volume, along with compensation and an earnout adjustment, reduced full-year segment margin. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release set a fiscal 2025 Adjusted EPS range of $9.80 to $10.20; this release does not state whether it was met.

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.