GET DAILY SIGNALSFortive (FTV) Delivers Solid Q3 2026 Results with +7.8% Revenue Growth
Key Takeaways
- Fortive reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $1.11 billion, up 7.8% year over year (7.2% core growth), ahead of the roughly $1.07 billion consensus estimate.
- Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.77 rose about 13% year over year, beating analyst estimates by $0.06 and marking a fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit adjusted EPS growth.
- GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.57, up from $0.35 a year earlier.
- Adjusted EBITDA grew about 10% to $339 million, with margin expanding to 30.6%.
- The company raised its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $3.10 to $3.14.
- Intelligent Operating Solutions led the beat with 9.1% core growth, while Advanced Healthcare Solutions delivered a more modest 3.1% core increase.
Earnings Context and Why It Matters
Fortive’s third-quarter report matters because it tests whether the company’s “Fortive Accelerated” strategy—a push into faster-growing, more recurring-revenue markets such as data centers, defense, and software—is translating into durable financial momentum. Since the July 2025 separation of its Precision Technologies business, Fortive has been repositioned around two segments: Intelligent Operating Solutions and Advanced Healthcare Solutions. I’m watching closely to see whether accelerated core growth, expanding margins, and heavy share repurchases can sustain double-digit adjusted EPS growth, and whether the slower-growing healthcare segment can hold its own against the stronger industrial business.
Reported Results
For the third quarter of 2026, which ended October 2, 2026, Fortive reported revenue of $1,107.5 million, up 7.8% on a reported basis and 7.2% on a core basis compared with the prior-year period. GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.57, up from $0.35 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.77, a 13.2% increase over $0.68, and came in $0.06 above the analyst consensus of $0.71. I also checked this using Tickeron’s AI Screener to see how FTV compares to others in the industry.
Adjusted EBITDA grew 9.5% to $338.8 million, with adjusted EBITDA margin expanding about 50 basis points to 30.6%. Free cash flow was $283.8 million in the quarter, and trailing twelve-month free cash flow exceeded $1 billion, with conversion on adjusted net income above 100%.
By segment, Intelligent Operating Solutions revenue rose 9.8% (9.1% core) to $767.1 million, while Advanced Healthcare Solutions revenue increased 3.7% (3.1% core) to $340.4 million. Management raised full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $3.10 to $3.14, up roughly 15% year over year at the midpoint.
Market Reaction and Investor Sentiment
FTV shares closed at $61.62 on the reporting day, with the stock up roughly 4% over the prior three months and about 22% over the trailing twelve months. The market’s initial read of the quarter leaned positive, reflecting a beat on adjusted EPS and revenue, sustained double-digit profit growth, and an upward revision to full-year guidance. Sentiment was tempered somewhat by the softer performance in Advanced Healthcare Solutions, where adjusted EBITDA declined about 4.8% year over year. Investors also noted that GAAP EPS came in below some analyst estimates, a reminder that non-GAAP adjustments—including amortization and a one-time tariff refund benefit—play a meaningful role in the headline adjusted figures.
Forward Outlook and Key Factors to Monitor
Fortive enters the fourth quarter with raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance of $3.10 to $3.14, implying management’s confidence that the momentum in Intelligent Operating Solutions can continue. Investors should watch whether core growth in that segment, led by Fluke, gas detection, and Facilities and Asset Lifecycle Solutions, remains in the high single digits or continues to accelerate.
Margin durability is another key factor. Adjusted gross margin dipped about 80 basis points year over year due to product mix, even as price-cost stayed positive. Monitoring whether pricing and productivity programs offset mix pressure will be important for assessing whether the 30.6% adjusted EBITDA margin is sustainable.
In healthcare, the focus will be on whether Advanced Healthcare Solutions can reaccelerate beyond its roughly 3% core growth. Finally, capital allocation remains central: Fortive deployed another $300 million toward share repurchases in the quarter, and investors will be watching how management balances buybacks, a modestly growing dividend, and potential bolt-on M&A opportunities.
Exploring Tickeron’s AI Tools in My Research
From what I see, tools like Tickeron’s AI Screener help me quickly compare stocks like FTV against peers using technical patterns, fundamentals, and AI signals. It’s become a regular part of how I screen for ideas and put earnings results in broader context without spending hours on manual analysis.
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Contributor
Sergey Savastiouk, Ph.D. has a degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow University and has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, investor, manager, and mathematician. His professional expertise is in applied mathematics, mathematical modeling, system and pattern analysis, and software and hardware system integration. He has served as the CEO of several hi-tech start-up companies and nonprofit organizations, which has given him proven capabilities in business strategy for high-tech start-up companies, market assessment, company formation, team building, product development, marketing, and sales. He has published numerous articles in journals and magazines on related fields. As a retail investor, he spent 15 years developing his proprietary trading and quantitative algorithms (now Tickeron’s A.I.), which brought him significant returns in trading the stock market. His current work and goal in founding Tickeron is to bring professional, sophisticated stock market analysis capabilities to retail investors via an easy-to-use interface.
FTV in upward trend: price rose above 50-day moving average on October 20, 2026
FTV moved above its 50-day moving average on October 20, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend. In 30 of 48 similar past instances, the stock price increased further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 62%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 01, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on FTV as a result. In 48 of 91 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 53%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for FTV just turned positive on September 22, 2026. Looking at past instances where FTV's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 28 of 47 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 60%.
The 10-day moving average for FTV crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on October 21, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In 10 of 18 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 56%.
Following a +2.27% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where FTV advanced for three days, in 148 of 302 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 49%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 89 of 198 cases where FTV Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 45%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The RSI Indicator demonstrates that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 3 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 10 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
The 50-day moving average for FTV moved below the 200-day moving average on October 06, 2026. This could be a long-term bearish signal for the stock as the stock shifts to an downward trend.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where FTV declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 55%.
FTV broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 22, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 8 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to outstanding earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 14 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is seriously undervalued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 46 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. FTV’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 66 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (3.071) is normal, around the industry mean (1.413). P/E Ratio (36.035) is within average values for comparable stocks, (7.202). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (0.983) is also within normal values, averaging (5.470). Dividend Yield (0.005) settles around the average of (0.011) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (4.077) is also within normal values, averaging (32.028).
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 69 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. FTV’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 81, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 80 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating weak sales and an unprofitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
Industry description
Market Cap
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Fundamental Analysis Ratings
The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows
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General Information
an operator of industrial units that manufacture testing and measurement equipment
Industry ElectronicEquipmentInstruments
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