Replies to post #421 on Rockwell Automation (ROK)

[Investorman]

Their track runs from Canada to New Orleans.

[Investorman]

Dividend remains unchanged.

Rockwell Automation Declares Quarterly Dividend on Common Stock
Wednesday November 5, 12:27 pm ET


MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK - News) board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of 29 cents per share on its common stock, payable on Dec. 8, 2008 to shareowners of record at the close of business on Nov. 17, 2008.

[Investorman]

Earnings Preview: Rockwell Automation
by: theflyonthewall.com November 07, 2008
Rockwell Automation (ROK) is expected to report Q4 earnings after market close Monday, Nov. 10, with a conference call scheduled for Tuesday, November 11 at 8:30 am ET.

Guidance
Analysts are looking for EPS of 98c on revenue of $1.5B. The consensus range is 81c to $1.03 for EPS, and $1.48B to $1.58B for revenue, according to First Call. The company gave FY08 EPS guidance when it reported its Q3 results, expecting EPS of $4.00 to $4.10 vs. consensus $4.00.

Analyst Views
In late September, Rockwell Automation announced restructuring actions designed to better align resources with growth opportunities and reduce costs in light of current and anticipated market conditions. The restructuring is the result of analysis of the company's cost structure and is expected to generate cost savings of approximately $75M in FY09, growing to $85M in FY2010. In connection with these actions the company will incur a pre-tax charge in Q4 of approximately $50M, which was not included in previous FY08 earnings guidance.

Citigroup stated in early October, it believes the company's Q4 charge suggests a tough 2009 and their recent distributor survey suggests project delays and channel inventory reductions are increasing. The firm reiterates a Sell rating on the stock. Rockwell was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Merrill Lynch on October 13. The firm upgraded the company due to its strong balance sheet position and relatively high cyclical returns.

[Investorman]

Rockwell Automation posts better-than-expected profit
Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:48pm EST

* Rockwell Automation net profit falls 24 percent

* Profit of $1.08/shr ex-charges tops $1.01 consensus

* Revenue rises 8 percent

* Shares little changed in after-hours trade (Adds company details)

BOSTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Rockwell Automation Inc (ROK.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit, as it said it was managing its way through a bleak economic environment that has already prompted it to lay off 3 percent of its staff.

The U.S. manufacturer of factory automation systems said on Monday fourth-quarter net profit fell to $125.6 million, or 87 cents per diluted share, from $165.2 million, or $1.08 per share, a year earlier.

Factoring out $46.7 million in pretax special charges, profit would have been $1.08 per share, compared with earnings from continuing operations of $1.07 per share a year earlier, the company said.

The $1.08 per share profit topped analysts' average expectation of $1.01 per share, according to Reuters Estimates.

Revenue was up 8.3 percent, to $1.48 billion.

"It's pretty much where we're supposed to be, but it's not this year but next year that's the problem," said Eli Lustgarten, analyst at Longbow Research.

Rockwell makes a diversified list of manufacturing products including control platforms, software, input/output devices and communication networks and also makes software to help companies integrate their operations.

The company said it would discuss its outlook for fiscal 2009 in a conference call on Tuesday morning.

The Milwaukee-based company earlier this year cut its profit forecast, citing fading demand for its software products, which offer a higher profit margin than its traditional control systems.

In September, it said it would be laying off 3 percent of its staff, about 600 people, to cut costs.

Rockwell shares are down about 64 percent so far this year, a steeper drop than the 46 percent decline of the Standard & Poor's capital-goods index. .GPSIC