Emerson Electric Co. reported QQ3 2024 revenue of USD 4.38 billion, up 11% year over year, supported by volume and pricing momentum across the Automation Solutions and Commercial/Residential Solutions segments. The quarter delivered a robust gross margin of approximately 52.7% and an operating margin around 18.1%, translating to operating income of USD 793 million. Net income came in at USD 329 million, or USD 0.58 per basic share (USD 0.57 diluted), reflecting a sharp year-over-year decline in net income driven by non-operating items and mix effects despite stronger core operating performance.
Cash generation remained a key strength, with operating cash flow of USD 1.09 billion and free cash flow of USD 0.998 billion. The company used its liquidity to support a disciplined capital allocation program: debt repayments of USD 658 million, USD 59 million in share repurchases, and USD 301 million in cash dividends. The balance sheet shows USD 2.30 billion in cash and equivalents, total debt of USD 10.77 billion, and net debt of USD 8.47 billion, with current and quick ratios of 1.16 and 0.86 respectively, indicating solid liquidity but a meaningful leverage footprint to monitor.
No earnings-call transcript was provided in the dataset, so management commentary and quotes could not be incorporated. The primary implications for investors are the margin resilience, strong cash flow generation, and a capital-allocation framework that prioritizes deleveraging and returns, even as net income underperformed on a YoY basis. Going forward, investors should watch for any management guidance on margin sustainability, portfolio optimization actions, and potential acquisitions that could strengthen Emerson’s automation software and instrumentation capabilities.