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Rockwell Automation (ROK) Q4 Earnings Beats, Sales Lag

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Rockwell Automation (ROK - Free Report) is the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation. Its products, services and solutions address a broad range of challenges in every major industrial sector, from automotive and tire to mining and oil and gas, from pharmaceuticals to food and beverage. Its brands include Allen-Bradley, Reliance Electric and Rockwell Software.

Rockwell’s growth and performance strategy seeks to achieve growth rates in excess of the automation market by expanding its served market, diversifying sales streams by broadening portfolio of products, solutions and services, expanding its global presence, growing market share and making acquisitions. Heavy industry end markets including oil and gas have not yet stabilized, and Rockwell Automation foresees continued softness in key emerging markets. In the U.S., its largest market, a strong dollar is adversely affecting producers and OEMs. Moreover, weakness in the mining industry and lack of major projects also remain concerns.

Investors have thus been eagerly awaiting the company’s fiscal 2016 fourth quarter earnings report. Let’s have a quick look at the earnings release of this Milwaukee, WI-based provider industrial automation power, control, and information solutions.

Estimate Trend & Surprise History: The earnings estimate revisions for Rockwell Automation has remained static prior to the earnings release. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 currently stands at $1.49. As regards earnings surprise, Rockwell Automation outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the past four quarters, with an average beat of 2.34%.

ROCKWELL AUTOMT Price and EPS Surprise
 

ROCKWELL AUTOMT Price and EPS Surprise | ROCKWELL AUTOMT Quote
 

Earnings: Rockwell Automation beat estimates by a margin of 2%. Our consensus called for fourth quarter fiscal 2016 EPS of $1.49, while the company reported adjusted EPS of $1.52.

Revenue: Rockwell Automation beat on the revenue front. It reported fourth quarter fiscal 2016 revenues of $1,538.6 million, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,514 million.

Key Developments to Note: Rockwell Automation witnessed strong sequential growth in its product businesses over the last two quarters and the company expects this momentum to continue in fiscal 2017 as well. The company expects heavy industries to be about flat year-over-year, with continued growth in its automotive and consumer verticals.

For 2017, the company expects adjusted EPS in the range of $5.85 to $6.25 per share. The company forecasts reported sales growth to be in the range of 1% to 5%.

Zacks Rank: Currently, Rockwell Automation has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). However, since the latest earnings performance is yet to be reflected in the estimate revisions, the rank is subject to change.

Market Reaction: Rockwell Automation’s shares were up 3.27% following the release. It would be interesting to see how the market reacts to the results during the trading session today.

Check back later for our full write up on this Rockwell Automation earnings report later!

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