Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2026, underlying sales increased by 2% year-over-year, with adjusted segment EBITDA margin at 27.7% and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) at $1.46, reflecting a 6% increase year-over-year [9][10][17] - The company expects full-year sales growth of approximately 4% and adjusted EPS guidance raised to $6.40-$6.55 per share [10][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The software and systems segment saw underlying sales growth of 3%, driven by strong performance in test and measurement, which grew 11% [20][24] - Intelligent devices grew by 2%, while safety and productivity increased by 1% [20][22] - The Ovation business experienced a significant increase of 74% in orders, driven by large project wins [12][29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America, India, and the Middle East and Africa showed robust demand, with North America orders up 18% [12][32] - Europe and China experienced ongoing softness, with orders in Europe down low single digits and China down high single digits [12][32] - The overall order growth was 9%, with significant contributions from power and LNG sectors [12][29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to return $10 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, with a focus on organic growth and operational excellence [5][10] - Emerson's automation portfolio is aligned with secular trends such as electrification and energy security, expected to drive growth over the next three years [4][5] - The company is committed to enhancing adjusted segment EBITDA margins by 240 basis points by 2028 [4] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving 2026 targets, supported by a strong start to the year and operational excellence [9][10] - The company noted that AI capabilities integrated into their software offerings are expected to accelerate growth rather than disrupt it [33] - Concerns were raised about the softness in Europe and China, particularly in the chemical sector, but there are signs of growth in test and measurement and power generation [44][60] Other Important Information - Emerson completed $250 million in share repurchases in Q1 and plans to return approximately $2.2 billion to shareholders [10][23] - The company was recognized as the 2026 Industrial IoT Company of the Year, highlighting its leadership in industrial IoT technology [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you break down the 9% order growth in Q1 between process and hybrid? - Management noted that the growth was predominantly driven by modernization and behind-the-meter power generating capacity at data centers, with significant activity in test and measurement [29][30] Question: What are the expectations for the impact of AI on software growth? - Management indicated that AI capabilities are expected to complement and accelerate growth in software offerings, with minimal disruption anticipated [33] Question: How should we think about the cadence of longer-cycle orders translating into sales? - Management stated that the backlog supports mid-single-digit growth and that the build is across various business segments, particularly in control systems and software [40] Question: What is the outlook for the chemical sector in Europe and China? - Management acknowledged continued flat activity in Europe, particularly in chemicals, and a bearish outlook for China, with expectations of low single-digit declines [44][60] Question: What is the company's strategy regarding the opportunity in Venezuela? - Management highlighted a long-established history in Venezuela and plans to mobilize resources to capitalize on potential growth opportunities in the region, particularly in power generation [54][56]