Eaton Corporation plc ETN reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.15 per share, up 6.8% year over year and 2.27% above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.08. Revenues of $8.53 billion increased 21.4% and surpassed the consensus mark of $8.01 billion by 6.57%.
GAAP earnings were $2.11 per share, down 15.9% from $2.51 a year ago. The gap between GAAP and adjusted results reflected 50 cents per share of intangible amortization, 49 cents of acquisition and divestiture charges, and 5 cents tied to restructuring.
ETN's Organic Growth Drives Revenues
Second-quarter total revenues were $8.53 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8 billion by 6.57%.
Second-quarter sales growth included a 14% increase in organic revenues and a 7% contribution from acquisitions. Management said data centers remained a major growth engine, while demand was also robust across other served markets.
The quarter benefited from double-digit organic growth in both electrical businesses and strong acquisition contributions. Electrical-sector backlog rose 43% year over year, while Aerospace backlog advanced 28%, underscoring sustained demand across key end markets.
Eaton Corporation, PLC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Eaton Corporation, PLC price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Eaton Corporation, PLC Quote
Eaton's Segment Details
Electrical Americas sales reached $3.95 billion, up 18% organically. Operating profit rose 10% to $1.09 billion, while margin was 27.5%, improving 190 basis points sequentially.
Orders in the segment increased 41% on a rolling 12-month basis, and backlog grew 33% from June 2025. These metrics highlight continued strength in Eaton's largest business and provide visibility into future activity.
Electrical Global sales climbed 44% to $2.52 billion. Organic growth was 18%, Boyd Thermal added 25%, and foreign exchange contributed 1%. Operating profit increased 41% to $499 million, with margin improving 60 basis points sequentially to 19.8%.
The segment's backlog surged 103%, while rolling 12-month orders rose 33% organically. The combined Electrical businesses maintained a book-to-bill ratio of 1.2, meaning orders continued to exceed completed sales.
Aerospace sales rose 13% to $1.22 billion, supported by 7% organic growth and a 6% acquisition contribution. Operating profit advanced 16% to $278 million, while margin expanded 60 basis points year over year to 22.8%. Rolling 12-month orders increased 17%.
Mobility sales were $841 million. A 2% organic decline was offset by a 2% benefit from currency translation, leaving reported sales roughly flat year over year.
Operating profit increased 7% to $109 million, and margin expanded 90 basis points to 13.0%. Eaton also agreed to separate Mobility through a Reverse Morris Trust transaction with Dana, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027.
ETN's Margins Face Acquisition-Related Pressure
Total segment margin was 23.1%, 10 basis points above the high end of management's guidance but 80 basis points below the prior-year quarter. Acquisition-related effects and higher amortization weighed on reported profitability.
Selling and administrative expense was $1.24 billion, research and development expense was $227 million, and net interest expense was $201 million. The company also recorded $24 million of restructuring charges during the quarter.
Eaton's Cash Flow Supports Ongoing Investment
Operating cash flow was $1.13 billion, up 23% year over year. After $253 million of capital expenditures, free cash flow totaled $874 million, an increase of 22%.
At June 30, 2026, cash was $483 million compared with $622 million at year-end 2025. Long-term debt was $18.51 billion, up from $8.76 billion, reflecting the funding impact of recent acquisitions.
ETN Raises Full-Year Organic Growth Guidance
For 2026, Eaton now expects organic growth of 11-13% (up from prior range of 9-11%), segment margin of 24.1-24.5% and adjusted earnings of $13.40-$13.60 per share (up from prior range of $13.05-$13.50). The midpoint of the earnings range implies 12% growth from 2025.
For the third quarter, management projects organic growth of 13.5-15.5%, segment margin of 24.6-25% and adjusted earnings of $3.46-$3.56 per share. The outlook reflects expectations for continued demand momentum and stronger profitability.
ETN’s Zacks Rank
Eaton has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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