ABB reported its first-ever quarterly orders above $10 billion in Q4 2025, driven by strong demand from AI data centers and electrification projects.

Q4 orders rose 36% year-on-year to $10.316 billion. Operating EBITA increased 19% to $1.588 billion, with margins improving to 17.6%. Full-year 2025 operating EBITA reached $6.314 billion, up 13%, while annual orders grew 17% to $36.765 billion.

Following the results, ABB shares surged more than 9% intraday.

Growth was broad-based across Electrification, Motion, and Process Automation, with data centers, ports, airports, tunnels, and utilities acting as key drivers.

Electrification was the strongest-performing segment. Q4 revenue increased 26% to $4.702 billion, while orders rose 36% to $5.323 billion. Data centers contributed around $600 million in incremental orders, including multiple contracts above $100 million.

ABB CEO Morten Wierod highlighted partnerships with Applied Digital and Nvidia as key examples of its role in next-generation AI data center infrastructure. ABB is supporting 800V DC architectures for gigawatt-scale AI facilities and expanding solutions in power distribution, backup systems, and digital monitoring.

Around 40% of ABB’s electrification R&D is focused on data center technologies, including electrical architecture, DC distribution, protection systems, and cooling.

ABB also secured contracts with VoltaGrid for U.S. AI infrastructure projects and expanded collaboration with Applied Digital for a new AI data center campus in North Dakota.

The rapid growth of AI is accelerating the shift from traditional data centers to AI-native infrastructure. Global data center numbers are expected to exceed 8,400 by 2030, with HVDC systems becoming the fastest-growing segment.

Process Automation and Motion also showed solid momentum. Process Automation orders rose 49% to $2.817 billion, driven by marine and port projects. Motion revenue reached a record $2.26 billion, up 11%, supported by rail demand and strong motor and drive sales.

ABB continued portfolio restructuring. In October 2025, it agreed to sell its robotics business to SoftBank for $5.375 billion, with completion expected in 2026. Robotics will be reported as discontinued operations, while B&R will be integrated into Process Automation.

ABB is also investing in AI-related technologies. It invested in OctaiPipe to optimize data center cooling, acquired IPEC to enhance predictive maintenance, and acquired Netcontrol to strengthen grid digitalization capabilities.