Rockwell Automation to Detail AI and Software Strategy at Barclays

MILWAUKEE, WI – January 30, 2026 – Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) is set to provide a crucial update on its strategic direction and financial outlook next month, as its top executives take the stage at a prominent investor conference. Chairman and CEO Blake Moret will be joined by Matheus Bulho, the company's Senior Vice President of Software and Control, for a fireside chat at the Barclays 43rd Annual Industrial Select Conference in Miami Beach, Florida, on February 18, 2026.

The presentation, scheduled for approximately 8:40 a.m. EST, offers a significant platform for the industrial automation giant to address the investment community. Analysts and shareholders will be keenly watching for details on how Rockwell plans to navigate a landscape of macroeconomic uncertainty and slower capital spending while advancing its ambitious agenda in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and high-margin software services.

The Spotlight on Software and Control

The inclusion of Matheus Bulho, who was appointed to lead the Software & Control segment in April 2024, signals the immense strategic importance the company places on this division. This segment, which includes control and visualization software, information software, and network infrastructure, has become the primary engine for Rockwell's growth and margin expansion.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, the Software and Control segment delivered a staggering 30% organic sales growth year-over-year, with its operating margin expanding to an impressive 31.2%. This performance is central to the company's broader strategy of shifting towards more predictable, high-value revenue streams. A key metric for investors, Rockwell's total Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) grew by 8% in fiscal 2025, underscoring the successful transition to a subscription-based model for many of its software offerings.

During the conference, Bulho is expected to elaborate on recent innovations, such as the company’s new cloud-native Manufacturing Execution System (MES) solutions. These elastic, scalable platforms are designed to unify operational technology (OT) on the factory floor with information technology (IT) in the cloud, offering manufacturers unprecedented flexibility and resiliency. The discussion will likely focus on how these advanced software solutions directly contribute to the company's core mission: bringing the "Connected Enterprise" to life by enhancing productivity and sustainability for its global customer base.

Navigating a Complex Macro Environment

While Rockwell's software business is thriving, the company is not immune to broader economic pressures. Slower capital expenditure activity and geopolitical uncertainties have created headwinds for the industrial sector. Moret will be tasked with assuring investors that the company's strategy is robust enough to weather these challenges and deliver on its financial commitments.

Rockwell enters this period from a position of strength. The company concluded its 2025 fiscal year with solid results, including a 7% increase in full-year adjusted EPS to $10.53 and a record free cash flow of $1.4 billion. It also demonstrated strong operational discipline, exceeding its cost-reduction targets by achieving over $325 million in structural productivity savings.

For fiscal year 2026, the company has projected continued growth, with guidance for a 3% to 7% increase in sales and an adjusted EPS of around $11.70 at the midpoint. Critically, management also anticipates segment margin expansion of more than 100 basis points. The fireside chat will be a key test of leadership's ability to articulate a convincing path to achieving this guidance, likely by emphasizing market share gains, disciplined pricing, and the continued margin-accretive shift toward software and services.

Strategic Shifts and Future Growth Engines

Investors will also be seeking clarity on several key strategic initiatives that are reshaping Rockwell's business profile. A significant move is the planned dissolution of the Sensia joint venture with SLB. Rockwell is set to assume 100% ownership of its contributed process automation business in the first half of fiscal 2026. While this move is expected to reduce annualized revenue by approximately $250 million, it is also projected to provide a 50-basis-point benefit to the company's operating margin, further aligning its portfolio with higher-profitability segments.

At the same time, Rockwell is securing major contracts that highlight its leadership in high-growth end markets. A landmark agreement will see Rockwell provide the automation backbone for Lucid Motors' new electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia. This deal not only cements Rockwell's position in the resilient EV sector but also showcases its expertise in executing large-scale, greenfield mega-projects.

To support this growth and enhance supply chain resilience, the company is making significant capital investments of its own. It is building a new manufacturing site in Southeastern Wisconsin and expanding its footprint in India with a new facility in Chennai, which is strategically positioned to serve the burgeoning semiconductor industry. These moves signal a long-term commitment to localizing production and building capacity to meet future demand.

The Push into AI and Industrial Autonomy

Looking beyond the current fiscal year, the conversation at Barclays will invariably turn to the future of manufacturing. The industry is on the cusp of a major shift from automation to autonomy, driven by advancements in Physical AI—the convergence of intelligent algorithms with industrial hardware. Rockwell is positioning itself at the forefront of this trend, with a stated strategy of investing in and acquiring startups focused on industrial AI applications.

Moret and Bulho will likely discuss how Rockwell is integrating generative AI at the industrial edge, creating more adaptive and predictive manufacturing processes. This push into AI is not merely a technological pursuit; it is a direct response to structural labor shortages and the increasing need for more efficient and resilient factory operations. For investors, the key question will be how Rockwell plans to monetize these capabilities and integrate them into its "Connected Enterprise" platform to create a defensible competitive advantage.

The upcoming fireside chat represents a critical opportunity for Rockwell Automation to detail how these distinct strategic pillars—software growth, operational discipline, portfolio optimization, and AI innovation—form a cohesive vision for the future. The ability of its leadership to convey this narrative effectively will be crucial in maintaining investor confidence and justifying the company's valuation as it continues its transformation into a software-driven industrial technology leader.