Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) Given Average Recommendation of "Hold" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Analyst sentiment is neutral: Rockwell Automation has an average “Hold” rating from 21 analysts, including 12 holds and nine buys. The average 12-month price target is $469.14, above the reported share price of $428.77.
• Recent results exceeded expectations: The company reported quarterly EPS of $3.49 versus the $3.38 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 7.9% year over year to $2.31 billion. Management issued fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $13.00–$13.30.
• Shareholder and insider activity: Rockwell authorized a $1 billion stock-buyback program, covering up to 2% of outstanding shares. Insiders sold $1.16 million of stock over the past 90 days, while institutional investors own 75.75% of the company.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of "Hold" from the twenty-one analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and nine have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $469.1429.

ROK has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Robert W. Baird set a $514.00 target price on shares of Rockwell Automation in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $501.00 to $514.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, August 14th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $555.00 to $536.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Weiss Ratings restated a "buy (b-)" rating on shares of Rockwell Automation in a report on Thursday, June 18th. Finally, DA Davidson cut their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $500.00 to $490.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 21st.

Insider Transactions at Rockwell Automation

In other Rockwell Automation news, Director Patricia A. Watson sold 1,100 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $431.43, for a total value of $474,573.00. Following the sale, the director owned 6,385 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,754,680.55. The trade was a 14.70% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Christian E. Rothe sold 590 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $434.30, for a total value of $256,237.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 10,429 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,529,314.70. This trade represents a 5.35% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 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. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 2,711 shares of company stock valued at $1,164,880. 0.76% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Rockwell Automation by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,038 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $501,000 after buying an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Richards Merrill & Peterson Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Richards Merrill & Peterson Inc. now owns 1,358 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $487,000 after acquiring an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 574 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $206,000 after acquiring an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 3,719 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $1,544,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. increased its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 1,412 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $549,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.75% of the company's stock.

Rockwell Automation Stock Up 1.8%

Shares of Rockwell Automation stock opened at $428.77 on Friday. Rockwell Automation has a 1 year low of $332.71 and a 1 year high of $497.36. The business has a 50-day moving average of $448.65 and a two-hundred day moving average of $429.36. The company has a market capitalization of $47.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.74.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The industrial products company reported $3.49 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.38 by $0.11. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 39.83% and a net margin of 13.39%.The company had revenue of $2.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.24 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.82 earnings per share. Rockwell Automation's revenue was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Rockwell Automation has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.000-13.300 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Rockwell Automation will post 13.23 EPS for the current year.

Rockwell Automation announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback plan on Tuesday, June 9th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the industrial products company to reacquire up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

About Rockwell Automation

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

Its portfolio includes programmable logic controllers, industrial computers, sensors, motor control and drives, motion-control systems, safety equipment, human-machine interfaces and industrial networking technologies.

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