Is It Too Late To Consider Rockwell Automation (ROK) After Its 56% One-Year Rally?
Rockwell Automation, Inc. ROK | 0.00 |
- If you are wondering whether Rockwell Automation's current share price lines up with its underlying worth, this article walks through what the data actually says about value.
- The stock last closed at US$448.55, with returns of 9.7% over 7 days, 21.4% over 30 days, 12.5% year to date, 56.4% over 1 year, 74.6% over 3 years and 83.8% over 5 years.
- Recent coverage has focused on how Rockwell Automation fits into themes like automation, robotics and industrial digitization, which often draw attention when investors reassess growth potential or risk. These stories provide important context when looking at how the stock has traded over the shorter and longer term.
- Despite the strong share price track record, Rockwell Automation currently scores 0 out of 6 on Simply Wall St's valuation checks, as shown by its valuation score. The next sections compare different valuation methods to this score and then finish with a more holistic way to think about what the stock might be worth.
Rockwell Automation scores just 0/6 on our valuation checks. See what other red flags we found in the full valuation breakdown.
Approach 1: Rockwell Automation Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
A Discounted Cash Flow, or DCF, model estimates what a stock could be worth by projecting future cash flows and discounting them back to today using a required rate of return. It focuses on cash that could ultimately be available to shareholders, not just reported earnings.
For Rockwell Automation, the model used is a 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity approach based on cash flow projections. The latest twelve month free cash flow is about US$1.32b. Analyst and extrapolated projections used in the model range from around US$1.44b in 2026 to roughly US$2.54b by 2035, all expressed in US$. These projected cash flows are discounted back to today and summed.
On this basis, the DCF model points to an estimated intrinsic value of about US$252.29 per share. Compared with the recent share price of US$448.55, the model suggests Rockwell Automation is around 77.8% overvalued using these inputs and assumptions.
Result: OVERVALUED
Our Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis suggests Rockwell Automation may be overvalued by 77.8%. Discover 51 high quality undervalued stocks or create your own screener to find better value opportunities.
Approach 2: Rockwell Automation Price vs Earnings
For profitable companies, the P/E ratio is a straightforward way to gauge how much you are paying for each dollar of earnings. It ties directly to what the business is currently generating, rather than relying only on long range forecasts. This makes it a useful cross check on more complex models such as a DCF.
What counts as a “normal” P/E depends on how the market views a company’s growth outlook and risk. Higher expected growth or lower perceived risk can justify a higher P/E, while slower expected growth or higher risk usually supports a lower one.
Rockwell Automation trades on a P/E of 45.96x. That is above the Electrical industry average of 36.68x and above the peer group average of 38.10x. Simply Wall St’s Fair Ratio for Rockwell Automation is 33.65x. This Fair Ratio is a proprietary estimate of what the P/E might be based on factors such as earnings growth, profit margins, industry, market cap and company specific risks. Because it blends these inputs, it can give a more tailored reference point than a simple comparison with peers or the broad industry.
Comparing the Fair Ratio of 33.65x with the current P/E of 45.96x suggests the stock is overvalued on this measure.
Result: OVERVALUED
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Upgrade Your Decision Making: Choose your Rockwell Automation Narrative
Earlier it was mentioned that there is an even better way to understand valuation. Narratives bring your view of Rockwell Automation together with the numbers by letting you tell a story about its future revenue, earnings and margins, link that story to a forecast and Fair Value, then compare it with the current price to decide whether the stock looks attractive or expensive for you.
On Simply Wall St’s Community page, Narratives are easy to use and update automatically when fresh information such as news or earnings is added, so your Fair Value does not stay static while the world moves.
For Rockwell Automation, one investor might build a more cautious Narrative that lines up with a Fair Value around US$248, while another might see a much more optimistic path that supports a Fair Value closer to US$495. Those different stories are made explicit through their chosen growth, margin and P/E assumptions.
For Rockwell Automation, however, we will make it really easy for you with previews of two leading Rockwell Automation Narratives:
Fair Value: US$495.00 per share
Current price vs this Fair Value: about 37.3% above this narrative's estimate
Revenue growth assumption: 7.18% a year
- Assumes Rockwell Automation benefits from factory digitalization, Industry 4.0 adoption and reshoring, which support higher recurring software revenue and margins.
- Builds in profit margins rising from 11.5% to 17.6% by 2029, with earnings of about US$1.9b and a P/E of 39.0x on those earnings.
- Sees the current price as requiring confidence in stronger growth, higher margins and a premium P/E compared with the wider US Electrical industry.
Fair Value: US$317.37 per share
Current price vs this Fair Value: about 41.3% above this narrative's estimate
Revenue growth assumption: 5.64% a year
- Focuses on risks from geopolitics, supply chain localization, open source competition and cyber security, which could limit revenue growth and pricing power.
- Assumes margins still improve, from 11.5% to 15.3% by 2029, with earnings of about US$1.5b and a P/E of 30.0x, below the US Electrical industry level used here.
- Views the current share price as high relative to these more cautious earnings and P/E assumptions, even with ongoing buybacks and efficiency efforts.
These two Narratives show how different views on growth, margins and appropriate P/E can lead to very different ideas of Fair Value. Your own stance on Rockwell Automation will likely sit somewhere along this spectrum.
To see how these results tie into long-term growth, risks, and valuation, check out the full range of community narratives for Rockwell Automation on Simply Wall St. Add the company to your watchlist or portfolio so you'll be alerted when the story evolves.
Do you think there's more to the story for Rockwell Automation? Head over to our Community to see what others are saying!
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
