Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Forecast for ROK Earnings

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q1 2028 earnings estimates for Rockwell Automation in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, July 24th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the industrial products company will post earnings per share of $3.63 for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $3.62. Zacks Research currently has a “Strong-Buy” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Rockwell Automation’s current full-year earnings is $13.06 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Rockwell Automation’s Q2 2028 earnings at $3.86 EPS, Q3 2028 earnings at $4.03 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $16.21 EPS.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 5th. The industrial products company reported $3.30 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.88 by $0.42. Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 12.36% and a return on equity of 37.54%. The company had revenue of $2.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.16 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.45 earnings per share. Rockwell Automation’s revenue was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Rockwell Automation has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.500-13.100 EPS.

A number of other research firms have also commented on ROK. HSBC upped their price target on Rockwell Automation from $445.00 to $490.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 6th. Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $365.00 to $378.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. Argus upped their target price on Rockwell Automation from $465.00 to $530.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 24th. DA Davidson initiated coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research report on Tuesday, June 16th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $500.00 target price for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $360.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $469.33.

Rockwell Automation Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE:ROK opened at $467.12 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $51.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. Rockwell Automation has a 12-month low of $305.44 and a 12-month high of $497.36. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $462.56 and a 200 day simple moving average of $422.55.

Rockwell Automation declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Tuesday, June 9th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the industrial products company to reacquire up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Rockwell Automation Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Investors of record on Monday, August 17th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 17th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. Rockwell Automation’s dividend payout ratio is presently 57.38%.

Insider Activity at Rockwell Automation

In related news, VP Scott Genereux sold 550 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $447.73, for a total transaction of $246,251.50. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 2,764 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,237,525.72. This trade represents a 16.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, SVP Matthew W. Fordenwalt sold 377 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $460.51, for a total value of $173,612.27. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 4,437 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,043,282.87. The trade was a 7.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 9,361 shares of company stock worth $4,189,886 over the last quarter. 0.76% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ROK. Oak Thistle LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,556,000. Brighton Jones LLC bought a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter worth $281,000. Mandatum Life Insurance Co Ltd grew its position in Rockwell Automation by 26.9% in the 1st quarter. Mandatum Life Insurance Co Ltd now owns 22,200 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $7,967,000 after purchasing an additional 4,700 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB grew its position in Rockwell Automation by 24.6% in the 4th quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 169,457 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $65,931,000 after purchasing an additional 33,413 shares during the period. Finally, Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. increased its stake in Rockwell Automation by 197.9% during the 4th quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 13,905 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $5,410,000 after purchasing an additional 9,238 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.75% of the company’s stock.

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation is a global industrial automation and digital transformation company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The firm designs, manufactures and supports control systems, industrial control hardware and software, and related services that help manufacturers and industrial operators automate processes, improve productivity and enable data-driven decision making. Rockwell traces its heritage to the Allen-Bradley and Rockwell automation businesses and positions itself as a provider of integrated automation solutions across discrete and process industries.

The company’s product portfolio includes programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), variable frequency drives, sensors, safety components and other industrial control hardware, often marketed under the Allen-Bradley brand.