Rockwell Automation Inc. announced consolidated earnings results for the second quarter and six months ended March 31, 2013. For the quarter, the company reported sales of $1,522.8 million against $1,561.1 million a year ago. Income before income taxes was $227.1 million against $223.3 million a year ago. Net income $175.9 million against $167.8 million a year ago. Income from continuing operations was $175.9 million against $167.8 million a year ago. Adjusted income was $188.5 million against $173.4 million a year ago. Diluted EPS from continuing operations were $1.24 against $1.16 a year ago. Adjusted EPS were $1.33 against $1.20 a year ago. Adjusted effective tax rate was 23.6% against 25.3% a year ago. Cash provided by continuing operating activities $202.6 million against $253.5 million a year ago. Capital expenditures of continuing operations were $33.4 million against $30.9 million a year ago. Free cash flow was $179.6 million against $229.6 million a year ago. Free cash flow for the quarter was $180 million. For the six months, the company reported sales of $3,012.0 million against $3,035.0 million a year ago. Income before income taxes was $444.3 million against $466.2 million a year ago. Net income $337.3 million against $351.1 million a year ago. Income from continuing operations was $337.3 million against $351.1 million a year ago. Adjusted income was $362.4 million against $362.4 million a year ago. Diluted EPS from continuing operations were $2.38 against $2.43 a year ago. Adjusted EPS were $2.56 against $2.51 a year ago. Adjusted effective tax rate was 25.1% against 25.1% a year ago. Cash provided by operating activities were $369.9 million against $64.5 million a year ago. Capital expenditures of continuing operations were $55.0 million against $55.0 million a year ago. Purchases of short-term investments were $188.6 million against $312.5 million a year ago. For the full year of 2013, the company expected sales in the range of $6.25 to $6.45 billion. That revenue range represents organic growth for the full year of between 0% and 3%. That's down from the previous guidance of 1% to 5%. The company maintaining the mid-point of adjusted EPS guidance and narrowing the range to $5.40 to $5.70, diluted EPS from continuing operations in the range of $5.05 to $5.35. The company now expected the full-year adjusted effective tax rate for fiscal 2013 to be approximately 25%. The company expected segment margin for the full year to be about 18.9% compared to 18.7% in previous guidance. The company still expected general corporate net expense to be about $83 million for the full year. With lowered sales expectations for the full year partly due to the company’s year-to-date performance, the company still expected to see some improvement in the second half, primarily in the company’s solutions and services businesses. However, the company expected a lower year-over-year growth rate in the second half now compared to the previous guidance.

Rockwell Automation Inc. announced that with the latest version of the FactoryTalk View human-machine interface (HMI) software manufacturers, particularly those in process industries, can gain increased functionality and an enhanced operator experience. FactoryTalk View Site Edition (SE) and Machine Edition (ME) 7.0 applications, releasing in early 2013, offer more efficient alarm management, simplified installation, improved user experience, and integrated-data sharing in a wide range of production environments. FactoryTalk View SE 7.0 software will support larger numbers of HMI clients and servers in a single system, increasing the size of systems that can support the FactoryTalk View SE alarming subsystem, FactoryTalk Alarms and Events. The FactoryTalk Alarms and Events alarming subsystem has been enhanced to align with ISA’s Alarming Standard 18.2., and will now support the shelving state. The subsystem now also allows users to configure remote-alarming commands on display faceplates, saving crucial time when an operator needs to react to device alarm situations. The newest version includes an improved-installation process and design environment. The new installation process in FactoryTalk View SE and ME software saves time with a streamlined work flow that automates installation of FactoryTalk View components. From a design-time standpoint, a new find-and-replace for HMI and global-object displays will be available in the FactoryTalk View Studio design environment so the user can locate and replace tags or strings across multiple servers and screens. For run-time improvements, operators can navigate screens and resolve production issues more quickly and intuitively with a new navigation button that provides functionality similar to the navigation buttons in commercially available web browsers. Client workstations can track each screen the operator opens, and the navigation button allows the operator to quickly display and move through navigation history. Enhanced graphic capabilities in FactoryTalk View 7.0 software also provide operators with a more realistic view of a process, with gradient shading and support for the .PNG graphic type.

Rockwell Automation Inc., Q2 2013 Earnings Call, Apr 24, 2013