ABB vs. Rockwell: Which Industrial Automation Stock has Better Prospects?

Core Insights - ABB Ltd and Rockwell Automation, Inc. are key players in the industrial automation and electrification sectors, with ABB focusing on power and automation technologies while Rockwell is known for its industrial automation and information technologies [1][2] ABB Analysis - ABB's Process Automation segment is currently the strongest driver of its business, benefiting from robust project activity in marine, ports, and energy industries [3] - In Q2 2025, orders in the Process Automation segment increased by 45%, with revenues rising by 5% year over year, and a significant order worth $600 million was booked [4] - The Electrification segment is also performing well, with orders and revenues increasing by 11% and 14% respectively in Q2 [5] - The Motion segment saw orders and revenues rise by 5% and 6% year over year, supported by strong performance in commercial building HVAC and power generation markets [6] - However, the Robotics & Discrete Automation segment is facing challenges due to weak demand in chemicals, pulp & paper, and mining industries [7] - ABB's long-term debt increased to $8.26 billion from $6.65 billion at the end of 2024, with short-term debt surging by 90% [8] Rockwell Automation Analysis - Rockwell is expanding its portfolio of hardware and software products, benefiting from investments in cloud technologies [9] - The company's FactoryTalk Design Studio, which includes a copilot for automation system design, is an industry first and is expected to drive growth [9] - Rockwell's annual recurring revenues (ARR) grew in double digits in fiscal 2024 and are projected to grow by 10% in fiscal 2025 [13] - The company maintains a strong financial position, having repurchased 0.5 million shares for $129 million in Q2 2025 [14] - Rockwell's stock has appreciated by 28.9% over the past year, outperforming ABB's 18.7% increase [17] Financial Performance and Valuation - ABB's forward P/E ratio is 25.27X, while Rockwell's is higher at 31.49X, indicating that ABB may be more attractively valued [10][20] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ABB's 2025 sales and EPS implies growth of 6.1% and 14.1% respectively, although EPS estimates have decreased recently [18] - In contrast, Rockwell's fiscal 2025 sales estimates indicate a decline of 1.8%, but EPS estimates show a 1% increase, with positive trends for both fiscal 2025 and 2026 [19] Conclusion - ABB's strengths in Electrification and Process Automation are offset by weaknesses in Robotics and high debt levels [22] - Rockwell's market leadership and investments position it for strong growth, making it a more favorable investment option compared to ABB [23][24]