Zacks Research Has Bullish Outlook for ROK FY2026 Earnings

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised Rockwell Automation’s FY2026 EPS estimate to $13.15 from $12.86, with forecasts of $14.22 for FY2027 and $16.69 for FY2028. Despite the improved outlook, Zacks maintained a “Hold” rating.
• Rockwell’s latest quarterly results exceeded expectations, with EPS of $3.49 versus the $3.38 consensus and revenue of $2.31 billion versus $2.24 billion expected. The company reaffirmed FY2026 guidance of $13.00–$13.30 EPS.
• The stock remains broadly rated “Hold”, with a consensus price target of $468.67, while Rockwell supports shareholders through a $1 billion buyback authorization and a quarterly dividend of $1.38, yielding about 1.3%.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Zacks Research increased their FY2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Rockwell Automation in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, August 18th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the industrial products company will post earnings per share of $13.15 for the year, up from their prior estimate of $12.86. Zacks Research currently has a "Hold" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Rockwell Automation's current full-year earnings is $13.22 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Rockwell Automation's Q4 2026 earnings at $3.61 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.97 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $3.54 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $3.74 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $3.98 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $14.22 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $3.76 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $4.12 EPS, Q3 2028 earnings at $4.15 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $16.69 EPS.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $555.00 to $536.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. DA Davidson began coverage on Rockwell Automation in a report on Tuesday, June 16th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $500.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley restated an "overweight" rating and set a $525.00 price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation in a report on Wednesday, May 6th. Argus lifted their price target on Rockwell Automation from $465.00 to $530.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 24th. Finally, Mizuho set a $445.00 price objective on Rockwell Automation in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $468.67.

Rockwell Automation Trading Down 2.5%

Shares of ROK stock opened at $433.41 on Wednesday. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $463.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $426.80. Rockwell Automation has a twelve month low of $332.71 and a twelve month high of $497.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK - Get Free Report) last posted its 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. The firm had revenue of $2.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.24 billion. Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 13.39% and a return on equity of 39.83%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.82 earnings per share. Rockwell Automation has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.000-13.300 EPS.

Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 17th will be given a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 17th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. Rockwell Automation's payout ratio is currently 51.73%.

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

Insider Transactions at Rockwell Automation

In other news, SVP Matthew W. Fordenwalt sold 377 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $460.51, for a total transaction of $173,612.27. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 4,437 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,043,282.87. This trade represents a 7.83% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.76% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Rockwell Automation

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Archer Investment Corp purchased a new stake in Rockwell Automation during the second quarter worth about $72,000. Rakuten Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Rockwell Automation by 9.5% in the second quarter. Rakuten Investment Management Inc. now owns 18,263 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $8,809,000 after acquiring an additional 1,584 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in Rockwell Automation by 159.8% in the second quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 25,938 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $12,841,000 after acquiring an additional 15,954 shares during the last quarter. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 11.2% during the 2nd quarter. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,155 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $2,552,000 after acquiring an additional 519 shares during the period. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 12.3% during the 2nd quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 7,385 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $3,656,000 after acquiring an additional 811 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 75.75% of the company's stock.

Trending Headlines about Rockwell Automation

Here are the key news stories impacting Rockwell Automation this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised most of its Rockwell Automation earnings forecasts. The firm increased its FY2026 EPS estimate to $13.15 from $12.86, FY2027 to $14.22 from $13.90, and FY2028 to $16.69 from $16.23. It also lifted estimates for several quarterly periods, including Q4 2026, Q2 and Q3 2027, and Q1 through Q3 2028. The revisions suggest improving expectations for the industrial automation company’s longer-term earnings growth.
• Positive Sentiment: Long-term investment optimism provided additional support. Jim Cramer called Rockwell Automation “one ugly chart” but described it as a “great long-term situation,” while a separate analysis reiterated a “Strong Buy” view and cited durable margin expansion and reshoring momentum as reasons for a $564 price target. Jim Cramer article Rockwell Automation Strong Buy analysis
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks maintained a “Hold” rating. Although the earnings outlook improved overall, the firm cut its Q1 2027 EPS estimate slightly to $2.97 from $2.99. Its FY2026 forecast of $13.15 also remains just below the broader consensus estimate of $13.22, tempering the bullish effect of the revisions.
• Neutral Sentiment: The broader analyst consensus is still “Hold.” This reinforces that investors may view the estimate increases as incremental rather than a major change in Rockwell Automation’s earnings outlook. Rockwell Automation consensus recommendation

Rockwell Automation Company Profile

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.

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