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With a market cap of $21.3 billion, Fortive Corporation (FTV) is a diversified industrial growth company operating globally through three segments: Intelligent Operating Solutions; Precision Technologies; and Advanced Healthcare Solutions. It offers advanced instrumentation, critical workflow solutions, and precision technologies across industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, energy, and aerospace. The Everett, Washington-based company is expected to release its fiscal Q1 2025 earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, May 1.
Ahead of this event, analysts project FTV to report a profit of $0.85 per share, a 2.4% increase from $0.83 per share in the year-ago quarter. It exceeded Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in the last four quarters. In Q4 2024, FTV beat the consensus EPS estimate by 4.5%.
For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast the industrial conglomerate to report EPS of $4.04, up 3.9% from $3.89 in fiscal 2024. Moreover, EPS is expected to grow 8.9% year-over-year to $4.40 in fiscal 2026.
Over the past 52 weeks, Fortive has declined 28.1%, underperforming the broader S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) nearly 5% dip and the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLI) 7.6% decrease over the same period.
Despite better-than-expected Q4 2024 adjusted EPS of $1.17, shares of Fortive fell marginally on Feb. 7 because the company issued weak guidance for 2025. Fortive projected 2025 adjusted EPS of $4 - $4.12 and revenue of $6.2 billion - $6.4 billion, missing the consensus estimates. Additionally, Q1 2025 EPS guidance of $0.83 - $0.86 came in lower than analysts' forecast. The anticipated sluggish demand for its products and the earlier-than-expected spinoff of the Precision Technologies segment also contributed to investor concerns.
Analysts' consensus view on Fortive stock is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among 17 analysts covering the stock, nine suggest a "Strong Buy," one gives a "Moderate Buy," and seven recommend a "Hold." As of writing, FTV is trading below the average analyst price target of $88.38.
