Rockwell Automation stock downgraded by Wells Fargo on valuation concerns

Published 08/08/2025, 10:56
Rockwell Automation stock downgraded by Wells Fargo on valuation concerns

Investing.com - Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) downgraded Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) stock rating to Equal Weight from Overweight while lowering its price target to $345.00 from $365.00. According to InvestingPro data, the stock currently trades at a P/E ratio of 38.6x, significantly above industry averages, with a market capitalization of $37.4 billion.

The downgrade comes as Wells Fargo anticipates Rockwell will issue fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings per share guidance of $10.75-$11.75, with the $11.25 midpoint falling below the consensus estimate of approximately $11.50.

Wells Fargo noted that while this initial guidance could prove conservative, and management has recently demonstrated effective expectation setting, the stock faces near-term challenges given its current valuation premium.

The research firm pointed out that Rockwell shares currently trade at approximately 30% premium to the Electrical Equipment & Multi-Industry sector based on next-twelve-months price-to-earnings ratio.

Wells Fargo’s earnings bridge for Rockwell includes operational tailwinds from mid-single-digit organic growth and a 35% incremental margin, while acknowledging potential upside exists but expecting increased market focus on the company’s starting point.

In other recent news, Rockwell Automation reported its third-quarter earnings for 2025, surpassing analyst expectations with an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.82, compared to the forecasted $2.67. The company also reported revenues of $2.14 billion, exceeding the anticipated $2.07 billion. Despite these positive financial results, some concerns about customer pre-buying and below-the-line headwinds into fiscal 2026 have emerged. KeyBanc responded to these earnings by raising its price target for Rockwell Automation to $380, citing stronger pricing and operational excellence initiatives. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) also increased its price target to $385, maintaining an Overweight rating on the stock. Both firms acknowledged the company’s achievement of its $250 million year-over-year savings target a quarter earlier than expected. These developments reflect ongoing investor interest and analyst confidence in Rockwell Automation’s financial performance and strategic initiatives.

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