Rockwell Automation has raised its fiscal 2026 financial outlook following stronger-than-expected third-quarter performance, providing a fresh indication that demand for industrial automation, control systems, and digital manufacturing technologies remains strong.

The company reported fiscal third-quarter sales of approximately $2.31 billion for the period ended June 30, 2026, compared with $2.14 billion during the same period a year earlier. Net income attributable to Rockwell Automation increased to $408 million, while adjusted earnings per share reached $3.49, representing a 22% increase compared with the same quarter of fiscal 2025.

The updated outlook is particularly relevant to the global PLC and industrial control market. Rockwell now expects fiscal 2026 reported sales to be approximately $9.0 billion at the midpoint, with reported and organic sales growth both expected to range between 7.5% and 9.5%. The company also raised its adjusted EPS guidance to between $13.00 and $13.30.

One of the strongest areas was Rockwell’s Software & Control business. Third-quarter sales in this segment reached $751 million, increasing 19% year over year, while organic sales increased 18%. The Intelligent Devices business also delivered solid growth, with sales increasing 12% to approximately $1.08 billion.

These results highlight an important trend across industrial automation. Manufacturers are continuing to invest not only in traditional PLC hardware, but also in software, intelligent devices, industrial networking, data collection, and connected control architectures.

For system integrators and plant operators, this trend means automation projects are increasingly being evaluated as complete digital ecosystems rather than isolated control installations. PLCs, HMIs, drives, industrial Ethernet, safety systems, MES platforms, and analytics tools are becoming more closely connected.

The stronger performance also suggests that manufacturers continue to prioritize productivity, operational efficiency, and digital transformation despite economic uncertainty in some industrial sectors.

For the international automation market, Rockwell’s latest results are therefore more than a financial update. They indicate continued investment in technologies that connect machines, control systems, production data, and enterprise operations.

As factories move toward more connected and software-driven production environments, demand for reliable PLC systems, industrial controllers, I/O modules, automation components, and lifecycle services is expected to remain an important part of the global manufacturing landscape.