Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) Given New $500.00 Price Target at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Key Points

• Deutsche Bank raised Rockwell Automation’s price target to $500 from $469 while maintaining a “hold” rating, implying approximately 15.9% upside from the prior close.
• Rockwell reported quarterly EPS of $3.49, exceeding estimates of $3.38, while revenue rose 7.9% year over year to $2.31 billion. Analysts maintain an overall “Hold” consensus with an average target of $469.82.
• The company authorized a $1 billion share-repurchase program, equivalent to up to 2% of outstanding shares; institutional investors own approximately 75.75% of the stock.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) had its price target lifted by research analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $469.00 to $500.00 in a note issued to investors on Wednesday. The firm currently has a "hold" rating on the industrial products company's stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft's price target points to a potential upside of 15.91% from the company's previous close.

ROK has been the subject of a number of other reports. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Rockwell Automation in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $426.00 price target for the company. Robert W. Baird set a $514.00 price objective on Rockwell Automation in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Rockwell Automation from $525.00 to $545.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 2nd. Citigroup lowered their target price on Rockwell Automation from $555.00 to $536.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b-)" rating on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research report on Monday, September 14th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $469.82.

Rockwell Automation Stock Up 0.0%

Rockwell Automation stock opened at $431.37 on Wednesday. Rockwell Automation has a 52 week low of $332.71 and a 52 week high of $497.36. The stock has a market cap of $47.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.43, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.52. The company's 50-day moving average price is $438.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $432.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The industrial products company reported $3.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.38 by $0.11. Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 13.39% and a return on equity of 39.83%. The business had revenue of $2.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.24 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.82 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. Rockwell Automation has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.000-13.300 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Rockwell Automation will post 13.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Tuesday, June 9th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the industrial products company to repurchase up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often a sign that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Patricia A. Watson sold 1,100 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $431.43, for a total value of $474,573.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 6,385 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,754,680.55. This trade represents a 14.70% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Christian E. Rothe sold 590 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $434.30, for a total value of $256,237.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 10,429 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,529,314.70. The trade was a 5.35% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders sold 2,711 shares of company stock valued at $1,164,880 over the last ninety days. 0.76% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Rockwell Automation

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation in the second quarter worth $6,129,376,000. State Street Corp lifted its stake in Rockwell Automation by 5.3% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,323,990 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $2,635,801,000 after acquiring an additional 265,978 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in Rockwell Automation by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,104,985 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $818,986,000 after acquiring an additional 24,719 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new stake in Rockwell Automation during the 2nd quarter worth about $394,905,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Rockwell Automation by 12.7% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 964,878 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $375,427,000 after acquiring an additional 108,403 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.75% of the company's stock.

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc is a global provider of industrial automation and digital transformation technologies. The company helps manufacturers and other industrial organizations improve productivity, quality, safety, and operational efficiency by connecting industrial equipment, control systems, software, and data.

Its offerings include programmable logic controllers, industrial computers, motor control and drives, sensors, safety systems, human-machine interfaces, and other control and electrical products.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.