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EVERETT, Wash. - Fortive Corporation (NYSE: FTV), a diversified industrial technology firm currently valued at $24 billion, has announced an expansion of its share repurchase program, a move reflecting confidence in its financial prospects and a commitment to shareholder value. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company maintains a "GOOD" overall financial health score, and their calculations suggest the stock is currently undervalued. The company’s Board of Directors has approved the addition of approximately 15.63 million shares to its general share repurchase program, bringing the total available for future buybacks to 20 million shares. This program does not have an expiration date.
Concurrently, Fortive has set up a special purpose share repurchase program that allows for the buyback of up to $550 million worth of its common stock. This separate initiative will be funded exclusively through the proceeds of a pre-separation cash dividend of approximately $1.15 billion from Ralliant Corporation, Fortive’s precision technologies segment, as well as any additional cash received in connection with the separation. The company’s strong financial position is evidenced by its impressive 60% gross profit margin and moderate debt levels, as reported by InvestingPro.
James Lico, President and CEO of Fortive, expressed enthusiasm for the future of both Fortive and Ralliant as independent entities with distinct investment profiles. He highlighted that the board’s approval of the special purpose share repurchase program underscores their confidence in Fortive’s future and its dedication to sustained shareholder value creation.
Lico also noted that since the announcement of the Precision Technologies segment’s spin-off last year, the company has allocated roughly 75% of its free cash flow to share repurchases. The replenishment of the repurchase authorization demonstrates Fortive’s disciplined and balanced approach to capital deployment following the completion of the Ralliant spin-off, scheduled for June 28, 2025.
The repurchase programs allow Fortive to buy back shares on the open market or through other methods, including trading plans that meet Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The timing and volume of the repurchases will be determined by market conditions and other factors, with no obligation for Fortive to acquire any specific number of shares.
Looking ahead, Ralliant will host an investor day conference and innovation showcase on June 10, 2025, at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), followed by a similar event by Fortive. Both companies will provide webcasts of their presentations on their respective websites.
This strategic move is based on a press release statement from Fortive Corporation and aims to enhance the company’s ability to manage its capital structure and deliver value to its shareholders.
In other recent news, Fortive Corporation reported its Q1 2025 earnings, revealing an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.85, which met analyst expectations. However, the company’s revenue fell short of projections, coming in at $1.47 billion compared to the anticipated $1.49 billion. This revenue shortfall has raised concerns among investors, despite positive growth in Fortive’s Intelligent Operating Solutions and Advanced Healthcare Solutions segments. Additionally, Fortive has announced the appointment of Neill Reynolds as Chief Financial Officer for its upcoming spin-off, Ralliant Corporation, highlighting strategic leadership changes as the company prepares for separation by the end of Q2 2025.
Fortive has also filed a Form 10 registration statement with the SEC to facilitate the spin-off of its Precision Technologies segment into Ralliant. The company expects to address tariff impacts, which are estimated at $200 million, by mitigating 80% of this by Q4 2025. Analyst firms have not issued any upgrades or downgrades at this time, but Fortive’s guidance for 2025 projects an adjusted EPS range between $3.80 and $4.00, with low single-digit core growth anticipated for the new Fortive post-separation. Fortive’s CEO, Jim Lico, emphasized the company’s focus on execution and operational discipline, which will be crucial as Fortive navigates the current market challenges.
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