Fortive reported accelerating third-quarter revenue growth and higher earnings for the quarter ended October 2, 2026, and raised its full-year adjusted earnings outlook. The industrial technology company also continued its substantial share-repurchase program, buying back about $300 million of stock during the quarter.
Key details
- Revenue growth strengthened: Revenue was $1.11 billion, up 7.8% from a year earlier. Core revenue, which Fortive uses to measure underlying growth, increased 7.2%.
- Profit and margins rose: Net earnings under accounting rules were $173 million, up 47.4%, with a 15.6% net margin. Adjusted EBITDA increased 9.5% to $339 million, for a 30.6% margin.
- Earnings per share advanced: Diluted earnings were $0.57, up 62.9%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.77, up 13.2%. Fortive said this was its fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in adjusted EPS.
- Cash generation remained strong: Operating cash flow was $313 million and free cash flow was $284 million. Over the trailing 12 months, operating cash flow totaled $1.177 billion and free cash flow was $1.062 billion.
- Full-year adjusted EPS guidance increased: Fortive now expects 2026 adjusted diluted EPS of $3.10 to $3.14. The company said the midpoint represents roughly 15% growth from 2025.
- Share repurchases continued: Fortive bought back about 5 million shares for roughly $300 million in the quarter, equal to around 2% of diluted shares outstanding. Since the launch of “new Fortive,” total repurchases have reached about $2.3 billion, covering roughly 43 million shares, or about 13% of shares outstanding.
- Management pointed to growth initiatives: CEO Olumide Soroye said the company’s strategy is focused on accelerating innovation and commercial activity and increasing recurring customer value. Fortive attributed its recent growth and financial performance in part to those efforts.
Plain-English implications
Fortive’s higher full-year EPS range reflects its strong results so far and management’s stated confidence in the business trajectory. Its repurchases have also materially reduced the share count since the launch of new Fortive; the company said the cumulative total is equivalent to about 13% of shares outstanding.