Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways RSG is benefiting from North American waste market growth and rising commercial waste volumes.RSG is using AI pricing tools and its RISE platform to boost efficiency and customer retention.Republic Services invested more than $433M in Q1 2026 acquisitions and expects 2026 deal spending above $1B. Shares of Republic Services, Inc. (RSG - Free Report) have had a decent run over the past month. The stock has risen 4.1% against the industry's 0.7% decline. The Zacks S&P 500 Composite gained 1.6% during the said time frame.

RSG has a Growth Score of B. This style score condenses key financial metrics to reflect a fair sense of the quality and sustainability of its growth.

The company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings are expected to increase 2.3% year over year. Earnings for 2026 and 2027 are projected to rise 3.7% and 10.4%, respectively, year over year. Revenues are expected to increase 3.7% in 2026 and 5.6% in 2027.

Factors That Bode Well for RSGRSG is benefiting from the expanding North American solid waste management market. The surge in the urban population across the United States and Canada is expected to boost solid waste production. Moreover, the rapid adoption of zero-waste initiatives and industrial growth across the region is driving demand for commercial and industrial waste solutions.

The company is improving pricing, customer service and operational efficiency by accelerating its digital transformation efforts through artificial intelligence and advanced technology initiatives. RSG is deploying AI-powered predictive pricing tools to optimize pricing decisions across different markets, while supporting customer retention and reducing attrition. The company is also enhancing its RISE digital platform, a cloud-native outing and logistics solution, to improve safety, service quality and route efficiency.

RSG pursues strategic acquisitions to strengthen its market position and expand service capabilities. It invested more than $433 million in acquisitions during the first quarter of 2026. Management expects acquisition spending to exceed $1 billion during 2026 for opportunities in the recycling and waste business, as well as the Environmental Solutions segment.

Republic Services consistently rewards its shareholders through dividend payments and share repurchases. In 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, the company paid $592.9 million, $650 million, $687 million and $738 million in dividends, while repurchasing shares worth $203.5 million, $261.8 million, $482 million and $870 million, respectively. These shareholder-friendly policies enhance shareholder value and make the stock attractive to investors.

Key Risks to WatchRSG faces stiff competition from large national waste management companies, multiple municipalities and several other regional and smaller companies in the solid waste industry. This puts pressure on the company to continually innovate and differentiate its offerings while maintaining cost efficiency. Therefore, the need to invest in technology and talent to maintain a competitive edge increases the challenge of balancing growth and profitability.

Republic Services' current ratio (a measure of liquidity) at the end of the first quarter of 2025 was 0.67, lower than the industry average of 1.08. A current ratio of less than 1 implies that the company might face trouble in covering its short-term obligations. 

RSG’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderRepublic Services currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). 

A couple of better-ranked stocks in the Business Services sector are Trane Technologies plc (TT - Free Report) and TransUnion (TRU - Free Report) .

Trane Technologies carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 14.6%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

TT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.7%, on average.

TransUnion also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 13.5%.

TRU beat earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 6.3%.

If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Illinois Tool Works (ITW - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.

When looking at the last two reports, this equipment manufacturer for the transportation, power, food and construction industries has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 2.98%, on average, in the last two quarters.

For the most recent quarter, Illinois Tool Works was expected to post earnings of $2.68 per share, but it reported $2.72 per share instead, representing a surprise of 1.49%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $2.69 per share, while it actually produced $2.81 per share, a surprise of 4.46%.

Price and EPS Surprise

Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Illinois Tool Works lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Illinois Tool Works has an Earnings ESP of +0.30% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on April 30, 2026.

With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

It's been tough being an income investor of late. All the excitement seems to be on growth's side of the fence. Indeed, after an alarming pullback in February and March, the S&P 500 Growth index is up nearly 13% just since the end of last month.

That seems to have come at the expense of value stocks, and at the expense of dividend stocks in particular. If income is your investing priority, though, this recent movement doesn't change anything -- other than perhaps reopening the door to an entry opportunity you might have missed.

With that as the backdrop, here's a rundown of four of the market's top dividend-paying prospects right now. Even if you're already holding one or more of them, don't rule out the idea of adding to an existing position.

^SPXG data by YCharts.

1. Illinois Tool Works Illinois Tool Works (ITW +1.17%) might be one of the stock market's best-kept secrets.

Although its forward-looking dividend yield of 2.4% is far from thrilling, this company has been able to raises its per-share payout every year for the past 62 years -- and by more than a little. Over the course of just the past 10 years, the stock's quarterly per-share payment has improved from $0.55 to $1.61. That's an annualized growth rate of more than 11%. A healthy cadence of stock buybacks has also boosted per-share profitability and payouts during this stretch.

Credit the nature of its businesses, mostly: None of them are exactly high-growth. All are consistently profitable, though, and increasingly so. These lines of business include always-marketable goods like industrial fluids, food-service equipment, welding supplies, car parts, and testing equipment.

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2. Oneok It's been a wild ride for most oil stocks since the conflict in the Middle East materialized in early March. The disruption of supply chains creates scarcity, and scarcity raises prices. Most investors have spent the last couple of months guessing as to when matters might return to normal.

The one thing that scarcity and subsequently higher oil prices don't do, however, is reduce the consumption of gasoline or diesel fuel -- or for that matter, oil itself. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports we're still using just as much as we ever have, regardless of its cost.

While this might create cost and profit havoc for the companies drilling and refining oil, it doesn't impact those simply transporting it from point A to point B. These are pipeline companies like Oneok (OKE +1.35%), which simply charges a fee for the amount of product it pushes through its pipes, regardless of the cost of the commodity traveling within their gas and oil delivery networks. This business is ideally suited for supporting recurring dividends.

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Oneok is one of the best for income investors to consider right now. It's currently offering a solid forward dividend yield of 5%, based on a payout that's been not only reliable but also steadily growing for over a decade.

3. Verizon Communications If you need your dividend stocks to also produce impressive capital gains and jaw-dropping dividend growth, you'll probably end up disappointed in Verizon Communications (VZ +2.48%). On the other hand, with newcomers stepping into a forward-looking dividend yield of 6.1%, the lack of upside potential in these other metrics may still be well worth it.

Image source: Getty Images.

The core argument for owning Verizon as an income investment is clear. When money is tight, consumers might postpone the purchase of a new automobile, or do a little less shopping. But they're unlikely to let go of their connection to the rest of the world; people will continue paying their mobile phone bills regardless of the cost.

The telecom giant has upped its payout for 19 consecutive years now. There are certainly other dividend payers out there with longer-lived growth pedigrees. Given that the company in its current form is only 26 years old, though, that's actually a pretty solid streak. Verizon is also only a few years away from becoming dividend royalty, and as such is highly incentivized to ensure it keeps paying and growing its dividend.

4. Brookfield Asset Management Finally, add Brookfield Asset Management (BAM +1.03%) to your list of dividend stocks to buy, or to buy more of even if you happen to already own some.

Just as the name suggests, Brookfield is an investment manager -- a business with lots of competition. This one is unusual in that it doesn't bother with the usual index-based or sector-themed mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Rather, it only manages a small handful of publicly traded funds, under its own name, that limit their focus to infrastructure (like data centers, pipelines, and railroads), or renewable energy businesses (like hydroelectric power, wind, and solar).

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While some might see this narrow focus as self-limiting, it's actually brilliant; it doesn't waste time, resources, or capital on businesses that aren't positioned to offer as much return on investment. Instead, it devotes resources to the best growth opportunities for the near term and the foreseeable future.

And the company isn't shy about touting its potential. It publicly says it's looking for growth of between 15% and 20% per year, and adds that right around 90% of whatever profits it produces will be passed along to shareholders in the form of dividends. You'd be stepping into a solid dividend yield of around 4%.

Wall Street analysts expect Illinois Tool Works (ITW - Free Report) to post quarterly earnings of $2.55 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year increase of 7.1%. Revenues are expected to be $4 billion, up 4.1% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has undergone a downward revision of 0.1% in the past 30 days, bringing it to its present level. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Prior to a company's earnings announcement, it is crucial to consider revisions to earnings estimates. This serves as a significant indicator for predicting potential investor actions regarding the stock. Empirical research has consistently demonstrated a robust correlation between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While it's common for investors to rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates for assessing how the business may have performed during the quarter, exploring analysts' forecasts for key metrics can yield valuable insights.

Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific Illinois Tool Works metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Operating Revenues- Test & Measurement and Electronics' will reach $693.00 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +6.3%.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Operating Revenues- Construction Products' will reach $453.41 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +2.4%.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Operating Revenues- Food Equipment' should come in at $651.53 million. The estimate suggests a change of +3.9% year over year.

Analysts forecast 'Operating Revenues- Specialty Products' to reach $448.81 million. The estimate suggests a change of +3.2% year over year.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Operating Revenues- Automotive OEM' at $806.93 million. The estimate suggests a change of +2.7% year over year.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Operating Revenues- Welding' of $498.79 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +5.7%.

Analysts expect 'Operating Revenues- Polymers & Fluids' to come in at $448.36 million. The estimate points to a change of +4.5% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus estimate for 'Operating Income- Automotive OEM' stands at $168.31 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $151.00 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts predict that the 'Operating Income- Food Equipment' will reach $178.31 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $166.00 million.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Operating Income- Test & Measurement and Electronics' should arrive at $155.54 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $139.00 million.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Operating Income- Specialty Products' reaching $135.48 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $135.00 million in the same quarter last year.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Operating Income- Polymers & Fluids' will likely reach $120.66 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $114.00 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for Illinois Tool Works here>>>

Over the past month, shares of Illinois Tool Works have returned +5.3% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +12.8% change. Currently, ITW carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggesting that its performance may align with the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Revenue of $4.02 billion, an increase of 5%Operating margin of 25.4%, an increase of 60 bps, as Enterprise Initiatives contributed 120 bpsGAAP EPS of $2.66, an increase of 12%Full Year 2026 GAAP EPS guidance raised by $0.10 to a range of $11.10 to $11.50 GLENVIEW, Ill., April 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW) today reported its first quarter 2026 results and raised full year 2026 GAAP EPS guidance.

“ITW delivered a solid start to the year, marked by five percent revenue growth, margin expansion of 60 basis points to 25.4 percent, and a 12 percent increase in GAAP earnings per share to $2.66. Positive demand trends continued in our capex-related segments, led by Welding and Test & Measurement and Electronics, which delivered organic growth of six percent and five percent, respectively, this quarter,” said Christopher A. O’Herlihy, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“As we move forward, ITW’s unique and resilient business model and ‘Do What We Say’ execution ensure that we are primed to deliver robust financial performance in any environment. With a disciplined focus on our organic growth and enterprise initiatives, we expect to continue to outperform our end markets in 2026, while further increasing profitability and margins,” O’Herlihy concluded.

First Quarter 2026 Results

First quarter revenue of $4.02 billion increased by 4.6 percent. Organic revenue growth was 0.4 percent. Foreign currency translation increased revenue by 3.9 percent and an acquisition added 0.3 percent.

GAAP EPS grew 12 percent to $2.66, while operating income increased seven percent to $1.02 billion. Operating margin expanded by 60 basis points to 25.4 percent, driven by a 120-basis point contribution from enterprise initiatives. Operating cash flow was $623 million, and free cash flow was $528 million, a six percent increase representing a 69 percent conversion of net income, in line with seasonal expectations. During the quarter, the company returned capital to shareholders through the repurchase of $375 million of its own shares. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 20.6 percent.

2026 Guidance

ITW is raising its full year 2026 GAAP EPS guidance by $0.10 to a range of $11.10 to $11.50 per share, representing eight percent growth at the mid-point. Based on current demand levels and prevailing foreign exchange rates, the company continues to project revenue growth of two to four percent and organic growth of one to three percent.

For the full year, all seven segments are expected to deliver both positive organic growth and operating margin expansion. Operating margin is projected to reach a range of 26.5 to 27.5 percent, a year-over-year improvement of approximately 100 basis points, driven by an approximate 100-basis point contribution from enterprise initiatives.

Free cash flow is projected to exceed 100 percent of net income, and the company expects to repurchase approximately $1.5 billion of its own shares. The projected effective tax rate is in the range of 23 to 24 percent.

Non-GAAP Measures

This earnings release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is included in the attached supplemental reconciliation schedule. The estimated guidance of free cash flow to net income conversion rate is based on assumptions that are difficult to predict, and estimated guidance for the most directly comparable GAAP measure and a reconciliation of this forward-looking estimate to its most directly comparable GAAP estimate have been omitted due to the unreasonable efforts required in connection with such a reconciliation and the lack of reliable forward-looking cash flow information. For the same reasons, the company is unable to address the potential significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.

Forward-looking Statements

This earnings release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding global supply chain challenges, expected impact of inflation including raw material inflation and rising interest rates, the potential impact of tariffs, the company’s projected pricing actions, the impact of enterprise initiatives, future financial and operating performance, free cash flow and free cash flow to net income conversion rate, organic and total revenue, operating and incremental margin, price/cost impact, statements regarding diluted income per share, expected dividend payments, after-tax return on invested capital, effective tax rates, exchange rates, expected timing and amount of share repurchases, end market economic and regulatory conditions, the impact of recent or potential acquisitions and/or divestitures, and the company’s 2026 guidance. These statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Important risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company’s expectations include those that are detailed in ITW’s Form 10-K for 2025 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC.

About Illinois Tool Works

ITW (NYSE: ITW) is a Fortune 300 global multi-industrial manufacturing leader with revenue of $16 billion in 2025. The company’s seven industry-leading segments leverage the unique ITW Business Model to drive solid growth with best-in-class margins and returns in markets where highly innovative, customer-focused solutions are required. ITW’s approximately 43,000 dedicated colleagues around the world thrive in the company’s decentralized and entrepreneurial culture. www.itw.com.

Investor Relations & Media Contact:                                                  
Erin Linnihan
Tel: 224.661.7431
[email protected] | [email protected]                

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENT OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
   Three Months Ended March 31,In millions except per share amounts 2026   2025 Operating Revenue$4,016  $3,839 Cost of revenue 2,256   2,161 Selling, administrative, and research and development expenses 722   706 Amortization and impairment of intangible assets 18   21 Operating Income 1,020   951 Interest expense (73)  (68)Other income (expense) 20   12 Income Before Taxes 967   895 Income Taxes 199   195 Net Income$768  $700     Net Income Per Share:   Basic$2.66  $2.39 Diluted$2.66  $2.38     Cash Dividends Per Share:   Paid$1.61  $1.50 Declared$1.61  $1.50     Shares of Common Stock Outstanding During the Period:   Average 288.3   293.6 Average assuming dilution 289.1   294.5          ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (UNAUDITED)
    In millionsMarch 31, 2026 December 31, 2025Assets   Current Assets:   Cash and equivalents$827  $851 Trade receivables 3,380   3,227 Inventories 1,726   1,659 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 402   463 Total current assets 6,335   6,200     Net plant and equipment 2,230   2,230 Goodwill 5,083   5,098 Intangible assets 574   591 Deferred income taxes 505   519 Other assets 1,537   1,510  $16,264  $16,148     Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity   Current Liabilities:   Short-term debt$2,545  $2,286 Accounts payable 609   522 Accrued expenses 1,534   1,636 Cash dividends payable 463   465 Income taxes payable 180   217 Total current liabilities 5,331   5,126     Noncurrent Liabilities:   Long-term debt 6,603   6,683 Deferred income taxes 158   154 Other liabilities 942   959 Total noncurrent liabilities 7,703   7,796     Stockholders' Equity:   Common stock 6   6 Additional paid-in-capital 1,817   1,771 Retained earnings 30,454   30,150 Common stock held in treasury (27,246)  (26,875)Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (1,802)  (1,827)Noncontrolling interest 1   1 Total stockholders' equity 3,230   3,226  $16,264  $16,148  ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT DATA (UNAUDITED)
 Three Months Ended March 31, 2026Dollars in millionsTotal RevenueOperating IncomeOperating MarginAutomotive OEM$820 $173 21.0%Food Equipment 637  157 24.7%Test & Measurement and Electronics 715  164 22.9%Welding 507  163 32.1%Polymers & Fluids 452  126 28.0%Construction Products 458  135 29.4%Specialty Products 431  135 31.3%Intersegment (4) — —%Total Segments 4,016  1,053 26.2%Unallocated —  (33)—%Total Company$4,016 $1,020 25.4%          ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT DATA (UNAUDITED)
 Q1 2026 vs. Q1 2025 Favorable/(Unfavorable)Operating RevenueAutomotive OEMFood EquipmentTest & Measurement and ElectronicsWeldingPolymers & FluidsConstruction ProductsSpecialty ProductsTotal ITWOrganic(0.9)%(2.8)%4.6%6.0%1.7%(1.3)%(4.7)%0.4%Acquisitions/
Divestitures—%—%1.8%—%—%—%—%0.3%Translation5.3%4.5%3.2%1.3%3.7%4.7%3.7%3.9%Operating Revenue4.4%1.7%9.6%7.3%5.4%3.4%(1.0)%4.6%                 Q1 2026 vs. Q1 2025 Favorable/(Unfavorable)Change in Operating MarginAutomotive OEMFood EquipmentTest & Measurement and ElectronicsWeldingPolymers & FluidsConstruction ProductsSpecialty ProductsTotal ITWOperating Leverage(20) bps(60) bps130 bps100 bps40 bps(20) bps(80) bps—Changes in Variable Margin & OH Costs110 bps(130) bps50 bps(110) bps110 bps30 bps70 bps40 bpsTotal Organic90 bps(190) bps180 bps(10) bps150 bps10 bps(10) bps40 bpsAcquisitions/
Divestitures——(60) bps————(10) bpsRestructuring/Other80 bps10 bps30 bps(30) bps—10 bps50 bps30 bpsTotal Operating Margin Change170 bps(180) bps150 bps(40) bps150 bps20 bps40 bps60 bps         Total Operating Margin % *21.0%24.7%22.9%32.1%28.0%29.4%31.3%25.4%         * Includes unfavorable operating margin impact of amortization expense from acquisition-related intangible assets30 bps10 bps140 bps10 bps100 bps10 bps20 bps50 bps **** Amortization expense from acquisition-related intangible assets had an unfavorable impact of ($0.05) on GAAP earnings per share for the first quarter of 2026.  ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
GAAP to NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS (UNAUDITED)AFTER-TAX RETURN ON AVERAGE INVESTED CAPITAL (UNAUDITED)

   Three Months Ended March 31,Dollars in millions 2026   2025 Numerator:   Net Income$768  $700 Discrete tax benefit related to the first quarter 2026 (34)  — Discrete tax benefit related to the first quarter 2025 —   (21)Interest expense, net of tax (1) 56   52 Other (income) expense, net of tax (1) (15)  (9)Operating income after taxes$775  $722     Denominator:   Invested capital:   Cash and equivalents$827  $873 Trade receivables 3,380   3,153 Inventories 1,726   1,663 Net plant and equipment 2,230   2,085 Goodwill and intangible assets 5,657   5,475 Accounts payable and accrued expenses (2,143)  (2,071)Debt (9,148)  (8,263)Other, net 701   327 Total net assets (stockholders' equity) 3,230   3,242 Cash and equivalents (827)  (873)Debt 9,148   8,263 Total invested capital$11,551  $10,632     Average invested capital (2)$11,447  $10,432     Net income to average invested capital (3) 26.8%  26.9%After-tax return on average invested capital (3) 27.1%  27.7% (1) Effective tax rate used for interest expense and other (income) expense for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 was 24.1% and 24.0%, respectively.

(2) Average invested capital is calculated using the total invested capital balances at the start of the period and at the end of the periods presented.

(3) Returns for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 were converted to an annual rate by multiplying the calculated return by 4.

A reconciliation of the tax rate for the three month period ended March 31, 2026, excluding the first quarter 2026 discrete tax benefit of $34 million primarily related to the resolution of a U.S. tax audit, is as follows:

 Three Months Ended March 31, 2026Dollars in millionsIncome Taxes Tax RateAs reported$199 20.6%Discrete tax benefit related to the first quarter 2026 34 3.5%As adjusted$233 24.1%       A reconciliation of the tax rate for the three month period ended March 31, 2025, excluding the first quarter 2025 discrete tax benefit of $21 million related to the reversal of a valuation allowance on net operating loss carryforwards, is as follows:

 Three Months Ended March 31, 2025Dollars in millionsIncome Taxes Tax RateAs reported$195 21.7%Discrete tax benefit related to the first quarter 2025 21 2.3%As adjusted$216 24.0%       AFTER-TAX RETURN ON AVERAGE INVESTED CAPITAL (UNAUDITED)
   Twelve Months EndedDollars in millionsDecember 31, 2025Numerator: Net income$3,066 Net discrete tax benefit related to the third quarter 2025 (27)Discrete tax benefit related to the first quarter 2025 (21)Interest expense, net of tax (1) 222 Other (income) expense, net of tax (1) (32)Operating income after taxes$3,208   Denominator: Invested capital: Cash and equivalents$851 Trade receivables 3,227 Inventories 1,659 Net plant and equipment 2,230 Goodwill and intangible assets 5,689 Accounts payable and accrued expenses (2,158)Debt (8,969)Other, net 697 Total net assets (stockholders' equity) 3,226 Cash and equivalents (851)Debt 8,969 Total invested capital$11,344   Average invested capital (2)$10,959   Net income to average invested capital 28.0%After-tax return on average invested capital 29.3% (1) Effective tax rate used for interest expense and other (income) expense for the year ended December 31, 2025 was 23.9%.

(2) Average invested capital is calculated using the total invested capital balances at the start of the period and at the end of each quarter within the period presented.

A reconciliation of the 2025 effective tax rate, excluding the third quarter 2025 net discrete tax benefit of $27 million, which included a favorable discrete tax benefit of $43 million related to the estimated U.S. federal tax liability for 2024, partially offset by a $16 million discrete tax expense related primarily to the resolution of a foreign tax audit, and excluding the first quarter 2025 discrete tax benefit of $21 million related to the reversal of a valuation allowance on net operating loss carryforwards, is as follows:

 Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2025Dollars in millionsIncome Taxes Tax RateAs reported$900 22.7%Net discrete tax benefit related to the third quarter 2025 27 0.7%Discrete tax benefit related to the first quarter 2025 21 0.5%As adjusted$948 23.9%       FREE CASH FLOW (UNAUDITED)

 Three Months Ended March 31,Dollars in millions 2026   2025 Net cash provided by operating activities$623  $592 Less: Additions to plant and equipment (95)  (96)Free cash flow$528  $496     Net income$768  $700     Net cash provided by operating activities to net income conversion rate 81%  85%Free cash flow to net income conversion rate 69%  71%

Illinois Tool Works (ITW - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $2.66 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.55 per share. This compares to earnings of $2.38 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +4.22%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this equipment manufacturer for the transportation, power, food and construction industries would post earnings of $2.68 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.72, delivering a surprise of +1.49%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

Illinois Tool Works, which belongs to the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, posted revenues of $4.02 billion for the quarter ended March 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.46%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $3.84 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Illinois Tool Works shares have added about 7.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 4.2%.

What's Next for Illinois Tool Works?While Illinois Tool Works has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Illinois Tool Works was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $2.83 on $4.17 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $11.26 on $16.6 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Manufacturing - General Industrial is currently in the bottom 39% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Another stock from the same industry, ATS (ATS - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2026.

This automation services provider is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.32 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +14.3%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

ATS's revenues are expected to be $546.61 million, up 36.7% from the year-ago quarter.

Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

May 08, 2026 13:35 ET  | Source: Illinois Tool Works Inc.

GLENVIEW, Ill., May 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW) declared a dividend on the company's common stock of $1.61 per share for the second quarter of 2026. The dividend equates to $6.44 per share on a full-year basis. The dividend will be paid on July 10, 2026 to shareholders of record as of June 30, 2026.

About Illinois Tool Works
ITW (NYSE: ITW) is a Fortune 300 global multi-industrial manufacturing leader with revenue of $16 billion in 2025. The company’s seven industry-leading segments leverage the unique ITW Business Model to drive solid growth with best-in-class margins and returns in markets where highly innovative, customer-focused solutions are required. ITW’s approximately 43,000 dedicated colleagues around the world thrive in the company’s decentralized and entrepreneurial culture. www.itw.com.

Investor Relations & Media Contact:
Erin Linnihan
Tel: 224.661.7431
[email protected] | [email protected]

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New welding automation additions support a wider range of applications and production needs

APPLETON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, a leading worldwide manufacturer of Miller® brand arc welding equipment, announces the expansion of its Copilot family with two new product variations: Copilot Builder with FANUC CRX‑30 and Copilot with XR-AlumaPro™ CB torch. These build on the Copilot platform’s promise of making robotic welding easier to adopt, more flexible to configure and capable of growing alongside evolving production needs while addressing a wider array of welding applications.

“One of the biggest barriers to robotic welding is complexity,” says Sam Harvey, business unit director, Miller Welding Automation. “By expanding the Copilot family, we’re making it easier for teams to automate more challenging applications while maintaining the simplicity and confidence Copilot is known for. The introduction of new variations lets you reimagine your workflow and advances the platform to meet a wider range of operational requirements.”

Copilot™ Builder™ With FANUC CRX‑30

Copilot Builder with FANUC CRX‑30 is designed for customers looking to take on larger weldments, particularly those already using FANUC robotics and seeking equipment standardization across their operations. It’s available in either air- or water-cooled versions, and it includes the same features as the Copilot Builder system with through-arc seam tracking built into the FANUC arm.

Key features and benefits include:

Enhanced reach for larger weldments: The CRX‑30’s 70‑inch reach unlocks the ability to weld larger assemblies that may be difficult or impractical with shorter‑reach arms. Improved waypoint accuracy: Miller AccuGuide™ positioning control allows for higher precision when setting waypoints, a task that can be challenging when programming long‑arm welding applications. Simplified programming: Compared to native FANUC programming and many traditional robotic platforms, Copilot Builder offers a more straightforward, welder‑friendly programming experience. Standardization advantages: Ideal for customers already invested in FANUC robotics, the system supports equipment standardization, including aligned preventative maintenance schedules across robotic assets. Copilot™ and Copilot™ Builder With XR-AlumaPro CB Torch

Copilot with Aluminum is engineered to help manufacturers successfully automate aluminum welding applications, including those involving more challenging wire types. Available for both the Copilot and Copilot Builder, and in air- and water-cooled models, the system pairs specialized hardware with advanced software features to deliver consistent feeding and enhanced control over weld quality.

Key features and benefits include:

Consistent aluminum wire feeding: The push‑pull XR‑AlumaPro CB torch enables accurate and reliable feeding of aluminum wire, including 4XXX series wires, helping reduce feeding issues and improve process stability. Advanced software control: Miller software includes advanced features and waveforms, such as Accu-Pulse® with Profile Pulse™ sequencing capabilities, providing greater control over welding parameters to help increase weld quality and consistency for aluminum applications. Extending the Copilot™ Family

With these new additions, Miller continues to evolve the Copilot platform to address a broader range of welding challenges while preserving the core attributes that define the Copilot experience. Whether tackling larger weldments, expanding into aluminum or configuring a more flexible automation system with Copilot Builder, manufacturers can now arrange a Copilot system tailored to their specific needs.

To learn more about the Copilot family and explore how Miller continues to drive innovation in welding automation, visit millerwelds.com/products/copilot.

About Miller

Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, is a leading worldwide manufacturer of Miller® brand arc welding products and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW). For more information, visit MillerWelds.com, call 1-800-4-A-Miller (800-426-4553), email [email protected], fax 877-327-8132, or write to Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, P.O. Box 100, Lithonia, GA 30058.

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Investors interested in Auto-Tires-Trucks stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Has Cummins (CMI - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Auto-Tires-Trucks peers, we might be able to answer that question.

Cummins is a member of our Auto-Tires-Trucks group, which includes 101 different companies and currently sits at #13 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.

The Zacks Rank is a successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. Cummins is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMI's full-year earnings has moved 8.9% higher within the past quarter. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.

Based on the most recent data, CMI has returned 37.7% so far this year. At the same time, Auto-Tires-Trucks stocks have lost an average of 2%. As we can see, Cummins is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

Custom Truck One Source, Inc. (CTOS - Free Report) is another Auto-Tires-Trucks stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has returned 70.8%.

In Custom Truck One Source, Inc.'s case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 237.2% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Cummins belongs to the Automotive - Internal Combustion Engines industry, a group that includes 1 individual stocks and currently sits at #11 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 37.1% so far this year, so CMI is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

Custom Truck One Source, Inc., however, belongs to the Automotive - Original Equipment industry. Currently, this 52-stock industry is ranked #163. The industry has moved +2% so far this year.

Going forward, investors interested in Auto-Tires-Trucks stocks should continue to pay close attention to Cummins and Custom Truck One Source, Inc. as they could maintain their solid performance.

On May 12, 2026, Cummins Inc CMI shares rose 3.7% to $704.56, continuing a strong upward trend over the past year. The stock has traded within a range of $305.13 to $718.08 over the last 52 weeks, reflecting significant volatility and investor interest.

GF Value™ verdict: Current price is $704.56, significantly above the GF Value™ of $317.43, indicating the stock is 122.0% overvalued.GF Score™ of 86/100 suggests that Cummins Inc is a strong company with solid fundamentals.Notable signal: Insiders sold $11.3M worth of stock in the last 3 months, with no buying activity reported. Is CMI Overvalued or Undervalued? The current price of Cummins Inc at $704.56 is significantly above the GF Value™ of $317.43, indicating that the stock is 122.0% overvalued. This overvaluation suggests a lack of margin of safety for potential investors, as the high market price does not reflect the estimated intrinsic value derived from GF Value™ methodology. GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates.

Given that GF Valuation is labeled as "Significantly Overvalued," investors face the risk that the stock price could decline to align more closely with its intrinsic value over time. Such an adjustment could occur due to various factors including market corrections, changes in investor sentiment, or shifts in the broader economic environment. Therefore, prospective investors should exercise caution when considering Cummins Inc at its current valuation level.

How Does CMI's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 36.6x 16.0x Forward P/E 24.4x - Cummins Inc's current P/E (TTM) of 36.6x is significantly higher than its 5-year median P/E of 16.0x, indicating that the stock is trading at a premium compared to its historical valuation. This analysis aligns with the GF Value™ verdict of overvaluation, reinforcing the notion that the current market price may not be sustainable based on historical earnings multiples.

What Does CMI's GF Score™ Tell Us? Metric Rating GF Score™ 86/100 Financial Strength 7/10 Profitability 9/10 Growth 10/10 Valuation 1/10 Momentum 9/10 The GF Score™ of 86/100 indicates that Cummins Inc has strong fundamentals, particularly in Growth (10/10) and Profitability (9/10). However, the Valuation rank of 1/10 highlights significant concerns regarding the current market price relative to its intrinsic value. This suggests that while the company may exhibit robust operational metrics, the high valuation may pose risks to investors.

What Are Insiders Doing with CMI Stock? Recent insider activity for Cummins Inc has shown that insiders sold $11.3 million worth of stock in the last three months, with no reported purchases. This trend may indicate a lack of confidence among insiders regarding the stock's current valuation and future performance, as they appear to be liquidating rather than accumulating shares. Such activity can be interpreted as a negative signal, suggesting that insiders may believe the stock is overvalued at its current price.

What This Means for Investors Based on the analysis of GF Value™, Cummins Inc is currently overvalued. The significant difference between the current price and the intrinsic value suggests that the stock may not provide a favorable risk-reward proposition for investors at this time.

For the complete analysis, visit the Cummins Inc CMI stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions What is CMI's GF Score™?

CMI's GF Score™ is 86/100, indicating that the company possesses strong fundamentals and is likely to generate higher long-term returns.

Is CMI overvalued or undervalued?

CMI is currently overvalued, with a GF Value™ of $317.43 compared to the current price of $704.56.

What is CMI's P/E ratio?

CMI's P/E ratio is 36.6x (TTM), which is significantly above its 5-year median P/E of 16.0x, indicating that the stock is trading at a premium compared to its historical valuation.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE: AI), the Enterprise AI application software company, today announced that on May 19, 2026, a jury in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware returned a unanimous verdict in favor of C3 AI in its lawsuit against Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), finding that Cummins misappropriated C3 AI’s trade secrets.

C3 AI brought the case in November 2023, alleging that its licensee, Columbus, Indiana-based Cummins, misappropriated trade secrets. C3 AI became aware of this scheme when a Cummins employee inadvertently shared internal meeting notes documenting Cummins’ plan with C3 AI.

C3 AI made repeated attempts to resolve the matter amicably with Cummins management. C3 AI placed calls that Cummins did not return, sent a formal demand letter, and twice agreed to meet in person. Cummins twice cancelled.

“We are grateful to the members of the jury for their service, their attention, and their care,” said Thomas M. Siebel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of C3 AI. “We placed our faith in the United States justice system, and the justice system worked. The jurors heard the evidence, applied the law, and unanimously concluded that Cummins misappropriated C3 AI’s trade secrets. This verdict is a rebuke of Cummins’ actions that reflect poorly on Cummins’ executive management.”

This is not an isolated event. In December 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release stating: “The Justice Department reached an initial agreement with Cummins Inc. to settle claims that, over the past decade, the company unlawfully altered hundreds of thousands of engines to bypass emissions tests in violation of the Clean Air Act. As part of the agreement, the Justice Department will require Cummins to pay $1.675 billion, the largest civil penalty we have ever secured under the Clean Air Act.” This same Cummins now stands unanimously adjudged by a jury in Delaware to have engaged in misappropriation of intellectual property.

“I respectfully suggest that the Board of Directors of Cummins take a long and hard look at the ethical grounding and core values of its senior management, including its CEO,” Mr. Siebel said. “Cummins was an iconic American company. Its founder, Clessie Cummins, built it on innovation, quality, and integrity. The Cummins workforce, the Cummins shareholders, and the Cummins legacy deserve better.”

About C3.ai, Inc.

C3 AI is the Enterprise AI application software company. C3 AI delivers a family of fully integrated products including the C3 Agentic AI Platform, an end-to-end platform for developing, deploying, and operating Enterprise AI applications and C3 AI applications, a portfolio of industry-specific SaaS Enterprise AI applications that enable the digital transformation of organizations globally, and C3 Generative AI, a suite of domain-specific generative AI offerings for the enterprise. Learn more at: www.c3.ai.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the anticipated outcome of post-trial proceedings, the pursuit of enhanced damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs, and the litigation generally. Actual results may differ materially. Statements regarding the conduct of Cummins Inc. and its executive leadership reflect the verdict returned by the jury, the public record of the trial, and the publicly reported consent decree entered into by Cummins with the United States Department of Justice and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Opinions expressed by Mr. Siebel are his own. C3 AI assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.

Cummins raised its financial targets for 2030 at its Thursday New York City investor event.

Cummins Inc. (CMI) Analyst/Investor Day Transcript

Applied Digital chairman and CEO Wes Cummins joins CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street' discuss the company's new $7.5 billion hyperscaler lease, the demand for hyperscaler and spending trends.

For those looking to find strong Auto-Tires-Trucks stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Has Cummins (CMI - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Auto-Tires-Trucks peers, we might be able to answer that question.

Cummins is one of 100 individual stocks in the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #12 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.

The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Cummins is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMI's full-year earnings has moved 13% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.

According to our latest data, CMI has moved about 30.8% on a year-to-date basis. At the same time, Auto-Tires-Trucks stocks have lost an average of 1.5%. This shows that Cummins is outperforming its peers so far this year.

Another stock in the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector, Custom Truck One Source, Inc. (CTOS - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 69.8%.

For Custom Truck One Source, Inc., the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 322.9% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Cummins belongs to the Automotive - Internal Combustion Engines industry, which includes 1 individual stocks and currently sits at #10 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained an average of 29.8% so far this year, so CMI is performing better in this area.

Custom Truck One Source, Inc., however, belongs to the Automotive - Original Equipment industry. Currently, this 52-stock industry is ranked #106. The industry has moved +5.5% so far this year.

Investors interested in the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector may want to keep a close eye on Cummins and Custom Truck One Source, Inc. as they attempt to continue their solid performance.

Cummins (CMI) delivered strong Q1'26 results, with Power Systems EBITDA margin reaching a record 29.5% and full-year guidance raised across revenue and margins. CMI's truck market recovery is materializing faster than expected, driving improved outlooks for Engines and Components, but margin compression in Engines remains a key concern. Power Systems benefits from durable data center demand, supporting higher valuation multiples, yet the stock trades at a demanding 14x forward EV/EBITDA versus historical 7-10x.

Cummins Inc. (CMI) Presents at 16th Annual Wells Fargo Industrials & Materials Conference Transcript

Release integrates more motor control components, improves diagnostics and simplifies control panel design

, /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced new capabilities of its EtherNet/IP™ In-cabinet Solution, expanding support for additional motor control and protection devices. The update enables manufacturers to connect more components inside the control panel, simplify wiring and gain deeper diagnostic insight, without redesigning their existing architecture.

Rockwell Automation expands EtherNet/IP In-cabinet Solution with new motor control and power connection capabilities As manufacturers work to increase productivity and reduce downtime, they often face challenges related to limited data access and complex panel installations. The EtherNet/IP In-cabinet Solution addresses these issues by streamlining communication between devices inside the panel, improving real-time data availability and making it easier to install, scale and maintain motor control systems over time.

The expanded release adds a supplemental power tap and extends EtherNet/IP connectivity to additional motor control components, including 140ME Motor Protective Switching Devices and E100 Electronic Overload Relays through a 100-E Contactor communication module. These enhancements help manufacturers build smarter, more connected control panels while improving diagnostics and overall system visibility.

"The EtherNet/IP In‑cabin­et Solution continues to transform how customers design and deploy control panels," said Kelly Passineau, product manager at Rockwell Automation. "With the addition of a supplemental power tap­ and connections for additional panel components, we're giving them even more ways to reduce installation time, improve diagnostics and build intelligent, data- driven systems with less complexity."

Key benefits of this new release include:

Supplemental power tap: Helps maintain stable performance as device counts increase, reducing the need for oversized power supplies or additional interposing relays and enabling scalable motor control architectures. Expanded smart motor control capabilities: Extends EtherNet/IP communication to 140ME Motor Protective Switching Devices and E100 Electronic Overload Relays using a 100-E Contactor communication module. Faster installation: In certain case studies, EtherNet/IP In-cabinet Solution has been shown to reduce wiring time by up to 80% compared to traditional hard-wired installations when implemented according to recommended standards. Optimized space: Compact components allow more devices to fit within the same footprint, helping reduce overall panel size. Improved data access: Real-time communication between devices boosts productivity and supports smarter decision making. With expanded connectivity across more components, users gain access to more data and meaningful insights. Scalability: Easily adapts to future networking needs without major redesigns or infrastructure changes. "The EtherNet/IP In-cabinet Solution isn't just a product—it's a growing portfolio designed to evolve alongside your system," said Jimmy Alvarez, director of Portfolio and Business Management at Rockwell Automation. "This release is the next step on our roadmap that includes expanding support for additional panel components, deeper data access and richer diagnostic capabilities that enhance visibility and performance over time. As your operational needs change, the solution is built to scale with you, offering a flexible, long-term path toward smarter, connected in-cabinet architectures."

Learn more about the EtherNet/IP In-cabinet Solution on Rockwell's website.

What's new in the latest EtherNet/IP In‑cabinet Solution release?
This release adds a supplemental power tap and expands connectivity to additional motor control and protection devices, including 140ME Motor Protective Switching Devices and E100 Electronic Overload Relays.

Who is this solution for?
This portfolio is designed for panel builders, manufacturers and OEMs looking to streamline industrial networking, simplify in-panel wiring and gain better diagnostics from their control panels with more connected devices.

How does this help manufacturers?
The EtherNet/IP In-cabinet Solution reduces wiring time and complexity, improves access to real‑time data and allows manufacturers to scale systems without major redesign.

About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries as of fiscal year end 2025. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise® to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

SOURCE Rockwell Automation, Inc.

/PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), das weltweit größte Unternehmen für industrielle Automatisierung und digitale Transformation, hat heute

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MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) SVP, Intelligent Devices, Tessa Myers, and VP, Investor Relations and Market Strategy, Aijana Zellner, will present at Baird's 2026 Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference on Tuesday, June 2, in New York.

The fireside chat will be webcast beginning at approximately 10:15 a.m. EDT and will be available on the Rockwell Automation Investor Relations website at www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/investors.html.

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries as of fiscal year end 2025. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

More News From Rockwell Automation, Inc.

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It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

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To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Rockwell Automation (ROK - Free Report) Based in Milwaukee, WI, Rockwell Automation provides industrial automation and information solutions worldwide. The company has a wide network spanning more than 100 countries. The United States generates around 50% of the company’s total sales. Outside the United States, the company’s primary markets are Canada, China, Mexico, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

ROK is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Momentum investors should take note of this Computer and Technology stock. ROK has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 3% over the past four weeks.

Nine analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.61 to $12.74 per share. ROK boasts an average earnings surprise of +10.2%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, ROK should be on investors' short list.

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Rockwell Automation (ROK - Free Report) Based in Milwaukee, WI, Rockwell Automation provides industrial automation and information solutions worldwide. The company has a wide network spanning more than 100 countries. The United States generates around 50% of the company’s total sales. Outside the United States, the company’s primary markets are Canada, China, Mexico, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

ROK is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. ROK has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 21.9% for the current fiscal year.

Nine analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.71 to $12.84 per share. ROK also boasts an average earnings surprise of +10.2%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, ROK should be on investors' short list.

Rockwell Automation to Present at Wells Fargo Industrials & Materials Conference Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) SVP, Software & Control, Matheus Bulho, and VP, Investor Relations and Market Strategy, Aijana Zellner, will present at the 2026 Wells Fargo Industrials & Materials Conference on Thursday, June 11, in Chicago.

The fireside chat will be webcast beginning at approximately 10:15 a.m. CDT and will be available on the Rockwell Automation Investor Relations website at www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/investors.html.

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries as of fiscal year end 2025. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

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Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK) Presents at 2026 Baird Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference Transcript