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Rockwell Automation, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 1 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 12%, organic sales 9%: Sales were $2,239 million, up 12%. Organic sales increased 9% and currency translation added 3%. Source
  • Enterprise operating margin reached 22.5%: Enterprise operating profit was $504 million, up 32%. Margin was 22.5% against 19.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $3.10: Net income attributable to Rockwell was $350 million, or $3.10 per diluted share, against $2.22. Management linked the increase to higher pre-tax margin. Source
  • Software and Control sales up 20%: Software & Control sales were $684 million, up 20%. Organic sales rose 17% and currency added 3%. Source
  • Software and Control margin rose to 34.9%: Segment operating earnings were $239 million. Margin rose from 30.1%, driven by volume and price/cost, partly offset by compensation. Source
  • Demand improved in four named markets: Management named improving demand in warehouse automation, data center, semiconductor and energy as the leading drivers this quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $275 million: Free cash flow was $275 million against $171 million. Free cash flow conversion was 74% against 60%. Source
  • Sensia divested businesses excluded from second half: After the April 1, 2026 dissolution, Sensia's sales, earnings and cash flows are excluded from second-half guidance. Source

“We are focused on execution of our growth and performance objectives, with differentiated technology, expanded coverage of customers in high-growth end markets, and disciplined capital allocation.”

Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported sales growth SourceFiscal 20265% - 9%Raised from 3% - 7%
Reported sales midpoint SourceFiscal 2026~$8.9BRaised from ~$8.8B
Organic sales growth SourceFiscal 20265% - 9%Raised from 2% - 6%
Divestiture effect on sales growth SourceFiscal 2026~ (1.5)%New
Currency translation effect on sales growth SourceFiscal 2026~ 1.5%Raised from ~ 1%
Diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$11.88 - $12.48Raised from $10.75 - $11.55
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$12.50 - $13.10Raised from $11.40 - $12.20
Effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2026~ 18.5%Kept
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2026~ 19.5%Kept
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, net of tax (per diluted share) SourceFiscal 20260.81
Sensia dissolution cost, net of tax (per diluted share) SourceFiscal 2026(0.13)
Non-operating pension credit, net of tax (per diluted share) SourceFiscal 2026(0.09)

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 reported sales growth and organic sales growth ranges were updated upward. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 diluted EPS and Adjusted EPS ranges were updated upward. Source
  • Ended: The Sensia joint venture was dissolved on April 1, 2026. Source
  • New: Enterprise operating profit and Enterprise operating margin introduced as performance measures, including Corporate and other expenses. Source
  • New: Non-GAAP earnings definitions now exclude Sensia dissolution cost and tax items; prior years not revised. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose 12%, organic sales 9%: Sales were $2,239 million, up 12%. Organic sales increased 9% and currency translation added 3%. Source
  • Enterprise operating margin reached 22.5%: Enterprise operating profit was $504 million, up 32%. Margin was 22.5% against 19.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $3.10: Net income attributable to Rockwell was $350 million, or $3.10 per diluted share, against $2.22. Management linked the increase to higher pre-tax margin. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 32%: Adjusted EPS was $3.30 against $2.50, attributed mainly to higher Enterprise operating margin. Source
  • Pre-tax margin widened to 19.7%: Income before income taxes was $440 million, against $299 million a year earlier. Pre-tax margin was 19.7% against 14.9%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Software and Control sales up 20%: Software & Control sales were $684 million, up 20%. Organic sales rose 17% and currency added 3%. Source
  • Software and Control margin rose to 34.9%: Segment operating earnings were $239 million. Margin rose from 30.1%, driven by volume and price/cost, partly offset by compensation. Source
  • Intelligent Devices sales up 13%: Intelligent Devices sales were $1.0 billion, up 13%, with organic sales up 9%. Segment operating earnings were $211 million, margin 20.9% against 17.7%. Source
  • Lifecycle Services organic sales declined: Lifecycle Services sales were $547 million, up 2%. Organic sales decreased 1%; segment margin was 14.6% against 14.5%. Source
  • Regional reported growth ranged 9% to 20%: North America rose 10% and EMEA 20%, with currency adding 11 points there. Asia Pacific rose 13%; Latin America rose 9% with organic sales down 1%. Source

“Our performance this quarter reflects the strength of our portfolio and the team’s ability to execute in a dynamic global environment”

Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO

Demand and end markets

  • Demand improved in four named markets: Management named improving demand in warehouse automation, data center, semiconductor and energy as the leading drivers this quarter. Source
  • Capital spending muted in other verticals: Management said capital investment remains muted in other key verticals, while improvement appeared in several additional end markets. Source
  • Recurring revenue growth at 6%: Total annual recurring revenue grew 6% against the prior-year quarter-end. The first-quarter release reported 7% growth. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rose to 50.2%: Gross profit was 50.2% of sales against 48.6%. Six-month gross profit was 49.3% against 47.7%. Source
  • SG&A fell to 21.3% of sales: SG&A was 21.3% of sales against 23.4%. Engineering and development was 8.0% of sales against 8.1%. Source
  • Volume, price and mix lifted margins: Management attributed higher pre-tax and Enterprise margins to sales volume, positive price/cost including productivity, and favorable mix, partly offset by higher compensation. Source
  • Tax rate rose year over year: GAAP effective tax rate was 20.2% against 17.1%. Adjusted effective tax rate was 20.6% against 17.7%. Source

“These actions position us to deliver near-term results while accelerating the creation of long-term value”

Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose to $320 million: Cash provided by operations was $320 million against $199 million. Six-month operating cash flow was $554 million against $563 million. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $275 million: Free cash flow was $275 million against $171 million. Free cash flow conversion was 74% against 60%. Source
  • Quarterly buyback of $454 million: The company repurchased about 1.2 million shares at a cost of $454 million during the quarter. Source
  • About $318 million left on authorization: At March 31, 2026, about $318 million remained under the existing share repurchase authorization. Source
  • Short-term debt rose to $1,118 million: Short-term debt was $1,118 million against $610 million at September 30, 2025. Long-term debt was $2,571 million against $2,614 million. Source
  • Six-month dividends and buybacks: Six-month cash dividends were $309 million against $297 million. Treasury stock purchases were $599 million against $232 million. Source

Sensia and reporting changes

  • Sensia divested businesses excluded from second half: After the April 1, 2026 dissolution, Sensia's sales, earnings and cash flows are excluded from second-half guidance. Source
  • Amortization of acquired intangibles lower: Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets was $29 million in the quarter, against $36 million a year earlier. Source
  • Engineering and development reclassified: Engineering and development was moved out of cost of sales, and the prior year was recast to match. Source
  • Legacy asbestos charges recast: Legacy asbestos and environmental charges were moved out of Corporate and other, and the prior-year quarter was recast. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • Second-half organic growth basis adjusted: Organic sales growth for the third and fourth quarters will reflect adjustments for comparable prior-year periods. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total ARR growth, year over year Source6%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Sensia dissolution costs and other items are not included in guidance because management cannot project their future values. Source
  • Regulatory: The higher effective tax rate was attributed to application of BEPS Pillar Two minimum tax rules. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said second-quarter earnings exceeded its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release expected gradual sequential improvement through the year; the second-quarter release does not restate this.

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.