• Reported sales up 5.6 percent year over year; organic sales up 1.3 percent
• Record orders over $2 billion, up double digits sequentially and year over year
• Inorganic investments contributed 1.9 percent to reported sales growth
• Diluted EPS of $3.54; Adjusted EPS of $2.41
• Updating fiscal 2021 sales growth guidance to 10.5% and organic sales growth guidance to 7% at the midpoint
• Updating fiscal 2021 Diluted EPS guidance to $12.53 - $12.93 and Adjusted EPS guidance to $8.95 - $9.35

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) today reported second quarter fiscal 2021 results.

"This is an exciting time at Rockwell. We had our first-ever $2 billion orders quarter, powered by growth in core automation platforms, Information Solutions & Connected Services (IS/CS), and recent acquisitions. The value of our portfolio of products and services has never been more evident, and we are well positioned to accelerate profitable growth as we help the world recover," said Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO.

Fiscal 2021 Q2 Financial Results

Fiscal 2021 second quarter sales were $1,776.1 million, up 5.6 percent from $1,681.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Organic sales increased 1.3 percent, currency translation increased sales by 2.4 percent, and acquisitions increased sales by 1.9 percent.

Fiscal 2021 second quarter net income attributable to Rockwell Automation was $415.0 million or $3.54 per share, compared to $132.2 million or $1.13 per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. The increases in net income attributable to Rockwell Automation and EPS were primarily due to fair-value adjustments recognized in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020 in connection with our investment in PTC (the "PTC adjustments"). Fiscal 2021 second quarter Adjusted EPS was $2.41, down 2.4 percent compared to $2.47 in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Higher volume and favorable mix were offset by the reinstatement of incentive compensation and a higher Adjusted Effective Tax Rate.

Pre-tax margin was 28.6 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to 10.0 percent in the same period last year. The increase in pre-tax margin was primarily due to the PTC adjustments.

Total segment operating earnings were $390.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021, up 5.0 percent from $371.5 million in the same period of fiscal 2020. Total segment operating margin was 22.0 percent compared to 22.1 percent a year ago.

Cash flow provided by operating activities in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was $248.9 million, compared to $217.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Free cash flow in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was $223.9 million, compared to $197.8 million in the same period last year.

Outlook

The COVID-19 pandemic and global efforts to respond to it continue to evolve. We are updating our guidance considering our performance through the first half of the year, our expectation of continued orders strength, and anticipation of continued supply chain constraints.

The following table provides guidance for projected sales growth and earnings per share for fiscal 2021:

"I’m extremely proud of the many ways our employees are helping customers meet current challenges and also accelerate their digital transformation. Our strong orders performance and increased guidance validate our confidence in delivering value today while investing for the future," Moret concluded.

Intelligent Devices

Intelligent Devices second quarter fiscal 2021 sales were $850.2 million, an increase of 8.3 percent compared to $785.0 million in the same period last year. Organic sales increased 5.8 percent and currency translation increased sales by 2.5 percent. Segment operating earnings were $202.0 million compared to $180.7 million in the same period last year. Segment operating margin increased to 23.8 percent from 23.0 percent a year ago, primarily due to higher sales and lower spend, partially offset by the reinstatement of incentive compensation.

Software & Control

Software & Control second quarter fiscal 2021 sales were $502.3 million, an increase of 12.1 percent compared to $448.2 million in the same period last year. Organic sales increased 5.6 percent, currency translation increased sales by 2.6 percent, and acquisitions increased sales by 3.9 percent. Segment operating earnings were $149.8 million compared to $136.8 million in the same period last year. Segment operating margin decreased to 29.8 percent from 30.5 percent a year ago, primarily due to the reinstatement of incentive compensation, partially offset by higher sales.

Lifecycle Services

Lifecycle Services second quarter fiscal 2021 sales were $423.6 million, a decrease of 5.5 percent compared to $448.1 million in the same period last year. Organic sales decreased 11.0 percent, currency translation increased sales by 2.2 percent, and acquisitions increased sales by 3.3 percent. Segment operating earnings were $38.3 million compared to $54.0 million in the same period last year. Segment operating margin decreased to 9.0 percent from 12.1 percent a year ago, primarily due to lower sales and the reinstatement of incentive compensation, partially offset by favorable mix and cost savings from actions taken in the prior year.

Supplemental Information

Corporate and Other - Fiscal 2021 second quarter corporate and other expense was $30.4 million compared to $17.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. The increase was primarily due to mark-to-market adjustments related to our deferred and non-qualified compensation plans.

Purchase Accounting Depreciation and Amortization - Fiscal 2021 second quarter purchase accounting depreciation and amortization expense was $13.1 million, up $3.6 million from the second quarter of fiscal 2020.

Tax - On a GAAP basis, the effective tax rate in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was 19.2 percent compared to 22.4 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. The lower effective tax rate in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was primarily due to the tax effects of the fair-value adjustments recognized in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020 in connection with our investment in PTC, partially offset by other discrete items. The Adjusted Effective Tax Rate for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was 16.7 percent compared to 12.6 percent in the prior year. The higher Adjusted Effective Tax Rate in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was primarily due to higher discrete benefits in the prior year.

Share Repurchases - During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company repurchased approximately 0.4 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $92.0 million. At March 31, 2021, $674.0 million remained available under our existing share repurchase authorization.

ROIC - Return on invested capital was 44.6 percent for the twelve months ended March 31, 2021.

Non-GAAP Measures - Organic sales, total segment operating earnings, total segment operating margin, Adjusted Income, Adjusted EPS, Adjusted Effective Tax Rate, free cash flow, and return on invested capital are non-GAAP measures that are reconciled to GAAP measures in the attachments to this release.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss the quarterly results will be held at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on April 28, 2021. The call will be an audio webcast and accessible on the Rockwell Automation website (https://ir.rockwellautomation.com/investors/). Presentation materials will also be available on the website prior to the call.

Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing the following numbers: (833) 714-0916 in the U.S. and Canada; (778) 560-2692 for other countries. Use the following passcode: 5482206. Please dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

Both the presentation materials and a replay of the call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Rockwell Automation website through May 28, 2021.

This news release contains statements (including certain projections, guidance, and business trends) that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “believe”, “estimate”, “project”, “plan”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “will”, “intend” and other similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, including but not limited to:

• the severity and duration of disruptions to our business due to pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, acts of war, strikes, terrorism, social unrest or other causes, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to manage it on the global economy, liquidity and financial markets, demand for our hardware and software products, solutions and services, our supply chain, our work force, our liquidity and the value of the assets we own;
• the availability and price of components and materials;
• macroeconomic factors, including global and regional business conditions (including adverse impacts in certain markets, such as Oil & Gas), the availability and cost of capital, commodity prices, the cyclical nature of our customers’ capital spending, sovereign debt concerns and currency exchange rates;
• laws, regulations and governmental policies affecting our activities in the countries where we do business, including those related to tariffs, taxation, and trade controls;
• the availability, effectiveness and security of our information technology systems;
• our ability to manage and mitigate the risk related to security vulnerabilities and breaches of our hardware and software products, solutions and services;
• the successful development of advanced technologies and demand for and market acceptance of new and existing hardware and software products;
• our ability to manage and mitigate the risks associated with our solutions and services businesses;
• the successful execution of our cost productivity initiatives;
• competitive hardware and software products, solutions and services and pricing pressures, and our ability to provide high quality products, solutions and services;
• our ability to attract, develop, and retain qualified personnel;
• disruptions to our distribution channels or the failure of distributors to develop and maintain capabilities to sell our products;
• the successful integration and management of strategic transactions and achievement of the expected benefits of these transactions;
• intellectual property infringement claims by others and the ability to protect our intellectual property;
• the uncertainty of claims by taxing authorities in the various jurisdictions where we do business;
• the uncertainties of litigation, including liabilities related to the safety and security of the hardware and software products, solutions and services we sell;
• risks associated with our investment in common stock of PTC Inc., including the potential for volatility in our reported quarterly earnings associated with changes in the market value of such stock;
• our ability to manage costs related to employee retirement and health care benefits; and
• other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 24,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing The Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

(in millions)

Organic Sales

We translate sales of subsidiaries operating outside of the United States using exchange rates effective during the respective period. Therefore, changes in currency exchange rates affect our reported sales. Sales by acquired businesses also affect our reported sales. We believe that organic sales, defined as sales excluding the effects of acquisitions and changes in currency exchange rates, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, provides useful information to investors because it reflects regional and operating segment performance from the activities of our businesses without the effect of acquisitions and changes in currency exchange rates. We use organic sales as one measure to monitor and evaluate our regional and operating segment performance. When we acquire businesses, we exclude sales in the current period for which there are no comparable sales in the prior period. We determine the effect of changes in currency exchange rates by translating the respective period’s sales using the same currency exchange rates that were in effect during the prior year. When we divest a business, we exclude sales in the prior period for which there are no comparable sales in the current period. Organic sales growth is calculated by comparing organic sales to reported sales in the prior year, excluding divestitures. We attribute sales to the geographic regions based on the country of destination.

The following is a reconciliation of reported sales to organic sales for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, compared to sales for the three and six months ended March 31, 2020:

The following is a reconciliation of reported sales to organic sales for our operating segments for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, compared to sales for the three and six months ended March 31, 2020:

The following is a reconciliation of reported sales growth to organic sales growth for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, compared to sales for the three and six months ended March 31, 2020:

The following is a reconciliation of reported sales growth to organic sales growth for our operating segments for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, compared to sales for the three and six months ended March 31, 2020:

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

(in millions, except per share amounts and percentages)

Adjusted Income, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Effective Tax Rate

Adjusted Income, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Effective Tax Rate are non-GAAP earnings measures that exclude net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, purchase accounting depreciation and amortization expense attributable to Rockwell Automation, non-operating pension and postretirement benefit cost, and gains and losses on investments, including their respective tax effects.

We believe that Adjusted Income, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Effective Tax Rate provide useful information to our investors about our operating performance and allow management and investors to compare our operating performance period over period. Adjusted EPS is also used as a financial measure of performance for our annual incentive compensation. Our measures of Adjusted Income, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Effective Tax Rate may be different from measures used by other companies. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for net income attributable to Rockwell Automation, diluted EPS and effective tax rate.

The following are the components of operating and non-operating pension and postretirement benefit cost (in millions):

The components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost other than the service cost component are included in the line "Other (expense) income" in the Statement of Operations.

The following are reconciliations of net income attributable to Rockwell Automation, diluted EPS, and effective tax rate to Adjusted Income, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Effective Tax Rate, respectively:

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

(in millions, except percentages)

Free Cash Flow

Our definition of free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, takes into consideration capital investments required to maintain the operations of our businesses and execute our strategy. In our opinion, free cash flow provides useful information to investors regarding our ability to generate cash from business operations that is available for acquisitions and other investments, service of debt principal, dividends and share repurchases. We use free cash flow, as defined, as one measure to monitor and evaluate our performance, including as a financial measure for our annual incentive compensation. Our definition of free cash flow may be different from definitions used by other companies.

The following table summarizes free cash flow by quarter:

The table below provides the calculation of free cash flow as a percentage of Adjusted Income ("free cash flow conversion") for the three months ended March 31, 2020, and March 31, 2021 :

Return On Invested Capital

Our press release contains information regarding Return On Invested Capital (ROIC), which is a non-GAAP financial measure. We believe that ROIC is useful to investors as a measure of performance and of the effectiveness of the use of capital in our operations. We use ROIC as one measure to monitor and evaluate our performance. Our measure of ROIC may be different from that used by other companies. We define ROIC as the percentage resulting from the following calculation:

(a) Net Income, before interest expense, income tax provision, and purchase accounting depreciation and amortization, divided by;

(b) average invested capital for the year, calculated as a five quarter rolling average using the sum of short-term debt, long-term debt, shareowners’ equity, and accumulated amortization of goodwill and other intangible assets, minus cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and long-term investments (fixed income securities), multiplied by;

(c) one minus the effective tax rate for the period.

ROIC is calculated as follows (in millions, except percentages):