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Rockwell Automation, Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 1%: Sales were $2,332 million. Organic sales rose 3%, while divestitures cut sales 2% and the customer tariff refund program cut reported and organic sales about 4 points. Source
  • Fourth-quarter Adjusted EPS up 16%: Adjusted EPS was $3.88 against $3.34. Diluted EPS was $3.11 against $1.23. Both figures include a favorable $0.11 net impact from IEEPA tariff refund related items. Source
  • Enterprise operating profit up 16%: Enterprise operating profit was $572 million, with Enterprise operating margin at 24.5% against 21.3%. Full-year Enterprise operating profit was $1,997 million, up 27%. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 guidance introduced: Sales and EPS guidance for fiscal 2027 was introduced with this release. The ranges are listed under guidance. Source
  • Organic ARR up 5%: Organic ARR grew 5% year over year and software ARR grew high single digits. Total ARR is measured in constant currency, and organic ARR excludes comparable ARR for divested businesses. Source
  • IEEPA tariff refunds of $103 million: The company received $103 million of IEEPA tariff refunds, which reduced cost of sales, and $5 million of related interest, which increased interest income. Source

“Our results underscore the differentiation of our strategy and operating model, as we continue to gain share, strengthen our leadership in core markets, and expand our position in high-growth areas including semiconductor and data centers”

Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported sales growth Sourcefiscal 20274.5% - 7.5%New
Organic sales growth Sourcefiscal 20276% - 9%New
Customer tariff refund benefit within sales growth Sourcefiscal 2027~1 percentage pointNew
Divestiture effect on sales Sourcefiscal 2027~(1.5)%New
Diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2027$13.78 - $14.78New
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2027$14.50 - $15.50New
Effective and adjusted effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2027~20%New
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, net of tax, per share Sourcefiscal 20270.81New
Non-operating pension credit, net of tax, per share Sourcefiscal 2027(0.09)New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 guidance for sales growth and EPS was introduced with this release. Source
  • New: Segment sales and earnings tables now carry an Other unallocated items line for tariff refund effects. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 1%: Sales were $2,332 million. Organic sales rose 3%, while divestitures cut sales 2% and the customer tariff refund program cut reported and organic sales about 4 points. Source
  • Full-year sales rose 8%: Full-year sales were $8,989 million, up 8% reported and organic. Currency added 2 points and divestitures took away 2 points; the tariff refund program reduced growth about 1 point. Source
  • Fourth-quarter Adjusted EPS up 16%: Adjusted EPS was $3.88 against $3.34. Diluted EPS was $3.11 against $1.23. Both figures include a favorable $0.11 net impact from IEEPA tariff refund related items. Source
  • Full-year EPS higher on profit: Full-year diluted EPS was $12.54 against $7.67. Adjusted EPS was $13.42, up 27% from $10.53, primarily due to higher Enterprise operating profit. Source
  • Enterprise operating profit up 16%: Enterprise operating profit was $572 million, with Enterprise operating margin at 24.5% against 21.3%. Full-year Enterprise operating profit was $1,997 million, up 27%. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 guidance introduced: Sales and EPS guidance for fiscal 2027 was introduced with this release. The ranges are listed under guidance. Source

Segments and regions

  • Intelligent Devices sales up 5%: Fourth-quarter sales were $1,144 million, up 5% reported and organic. Segment margin rose to 21.6% from 19.8% on volume, favorable currency, price/cost and mix, partly offset by compensation. Source
  • Software & Control margin 34.0%: Fourth-quarter sales were $754 million, up 15% reported and organic, and segment margin rose to 34.0% from 31.2%. Full-year sales were $2,818 million, up 18%, with organic growth of 17%. Source
  • Lifecycle Services sales down 9%: Fourth-quarter sales were $519 million, down 9%. Segment margin fell to 16.4% from 17.5% on higher compensation and unfavorable project mix. Source

“We enter fiscal 2027 from a position of strength, with healthy customer demand and significant new product releases.”

Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO

Demand and recurring revenue

  • Organic ARR up 5%: Organic ARR grew 5% year over year and software ARR grew high single digits. Total ARR is measured in constant currency, and organic ARR excludes comparable ARR for divested businesses. Source
  • Fourth-quarter organic growth by region: Organic sales grew 9% in North America, 7% in EMEA and 10% in Asia Pacific, and fell 10% in Latin America. Reported EMEA sales fell 2% in the quarter. Source
  • Lifecycle divestitures reduced full-year sales: For the full year, Lifecycle Services organic sales fell 2%, divestitures cut its sales 6%, and currency added 2%. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Fourth-quarter pre-tax margin 18.6%: Pre-tax margin rose to 18.6% from 2.7%. The company cited the prior-year Sensia impairment base, higher volume, the tariff refund items and favorable mix as drivers. Source
  • Sensia dissolution lifted segment margin: Enterprise operating margin rose on volume, tariff refund items, favorable mix and the Sensia dissolution, partly offset by higher compensation. Sensia also reduced amortization. Source
  • Amortization fell $21 million: Full-year amortization of acquisition-related intangibles was $120 million, down from $141 million, primarily due to the Sensia dissolution. Source
  • GAAP tax rate lower for the year: The GAAP effective tax rate was 20.1% in the fourth quarter and 16.5% for the year. The Adjusted effective tax rate was 19.6% for the year, against 17.1%. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Fourth-quarter free cash flow $602 million: Operating cash flow was $680 million and free cash flow $602 million, up from $454 million and $405 million. Both benefited from higher pre-tax income and $108 million of tariff refunds and interest. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow $1,701 million: Full-year operating cash flow was $1,958 million and free cash flow $1,701 million, up 27% and 25%. Capital expenditures were $257 million against $186 million. Source
  • Share repurchases of $1,254 million: The company repurchased 1.2 million shares for $500 million in the fourth quarter. For the year it repurchased 3.1 million shares for $1,254 million. Source
  • Dividends and debt balances: Cash dividends were $618 million for the year, against $591 million. At September 30, 2026, short-term debt was $711 million and long-term debt $2,569 million. Source
  • ROIC higher on pre-tax income: GAAP ROIC was 23.3% for the twelve months, against 13.2%. Adjusted ROIC was 20.4% against 14.6%. The company attributed the increase to higher pre-tax income. Source

Tariff refunds and one-time items

  • IEEPA tariff refunds of $103 million: The company received $103 million of IEEPA tariff refunds, which reduced cost of sales, and $5 million of related interest, which increased interest income. Source
  • Customer refund program accrual: The company approved a refund program for customers who paid IEEPA-related price increases. It recorded an $85 million accrual, which reduced sales and is shown as unallocated. Source
  • Charitable contribution of $50 million: A $50 million contribution was made to the Rockwell Automation Charitable Corporation in the fourth quarter. The company said it optimizes tax benefits and funds philanthropic priorities. Source

Strategy and people

  • Positioned for AI-enabled operations: The CEO said industrial operations are becoming AI-enabled and autonomous, and that Rockwell is uniquely positioned to orchestrate plant-wide workflows. Source
  • Non-GAAP measures redefined: Non-GAAP earnings measures now exclude charitable contributions and the Sensia dissolution gain. Prior years were not revised because there were no similar amounts. Source
  • Workforce of about 27,000: The company employs approximately 27,000 people in more than 100 countries as of fiscal year end 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Repurchase authorization remaining: $673 million remained available under the existing share repurchase authorization at September 30, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Organic ARR growth Source5% year over year
Software ARR growth Sourcehigh single digits year over year

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: The adjusted effective tax rate increased on BEPS Pillar Two minimum taxes, partly offset by higher discrete tax benefits. Source
  • Operational: Restructuring charges were $25 million in the fourth quarter and for the full year. Source
  • Financial: Legacy asbestos liabilities drove a prior-year accounting change and accrual increase, which management cites in comparing the two years' pre-tax results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it is committed to growing customer value, increasing market share and expanding margins. 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.