Eaton Reports Record Third Quarter 2026 Results, with Strong Organic Growth, Accelerating Record Orders and Backlog; Raises Organic Growth Guidance
- Third quarter sales increased 28%, with organic sales growth of 19%, above the high end of guidance
- Twelve-month rolling average organic orders increased 39% in Electrical Americas, 51% in Electrical Global and 20% in Aerospace, with order dollars reaching record levels in all three segments, driven by broad end-market strength
- Strong year-over-year total backlog growth of 46% in Electrical and 33% in Aerospace
- Record segment margins of 25.3%, above the high end of guidance, with Electrical Americas margins improving 230 basis points sequentially
-
Announced agreement to acquire COL Group, expanding manufacturing capacity and power distribution capabilities for data center and utility markets in
Europe
-
Full year 2026 earnings per share expected to be between
$10.39 and$10.49 ; adjusted earnings per share expected to be between$13.70 and$13 .80
Sales in the quarter were a record
Segment margins were a record 25.3%, 30 basis points above both the high end of the guidance range and the third quarter of 2025, driven by higher sales and improved performance amid continued capacity investments to support growth.
The Company continued to generate solid cash flow, supporting investment in growth initiatives while maintaining financial flexibility. Operating cash flow was
In the quarter, the company also announced an agreement to acquire COL Group, a leader in medium-voltage electrical distribution solutions, expanding the company’s European power distribution capabilities and manufacturing footprint and enhancing its ability to support growing customer demand across data center and utility markets.
Guidance
For the full year 2026, the company anticipates:
- Organic growth of 13-15%
- Segment margins of 24.1-24.5%
-
Earnings per share between
$10.39 and$10.49 -
Adjusted earnings per share between
$13.70 and$13.80
For the fourth quarter of 2026, the company anticipates:
- Organic growth of 13-15%
- Segment margins of 25.4-25.8%
-
Earnings per share between
$3.28 and$3.38 -
Adjusted earnings per share between
$4.05 and$4.15
Business Segment Results
Demand remained robust across key end markets, as sales for the Electrical Americas segment were a record
The twelve-month rolling average of orders in the third quarter was up 39% organically. Total backlog at the end of September remained strong and was up 33% over
Sales for the Electrical Global segment were a record
The twelve-month rolling average of orders in the third quarter was up 51% organically. Total backlog at the end of September was up 121% over
On a rolling twelve-month basis, the book-to-bill ratio for the Electrical businesses remained strong at 1.2.
Aerospace segment sales were a third quarter record
The twelve-month rolling average of orders in the third quarter was up 20% organically. Total backlog at the end of September was up 33% over
The Mobility segment posted sales of
Founded in 1911,
Notice of conference call: Eaton’s conference call to discuss its third quarter results is available to all interested parties today as a live audio webcast at
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning fourth quarter and full year 2026 earnings per share, adjusted earnings per share, organic growth and segment margins; impact of acquisitions and portfolio changes on near- and long-term financial results; anticipated multi-year restructuring program charges and savings; the anticipated separation and divestiture of the Mobility business; and the anticipated acquisition of COL Group. These statements should be used with caution and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the company’s control. The following factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: the impact of acquisitions, joint ventures, and investments and the integration of acquired entities; disruptions by natural disasters, labor strikes, wars, geopolitical instability and/or conflict, political unrest, terrorist activity, economic upheaval, or public health concerns that impact our production facilities; significant inflation or shortages of raw materials, energy, components, and/or labor, or similar challenges for our customers; reliance on suppliers to provide raw materials, components and services; the development and use of artificial intelligence in our business operations, including potential impacts on compliance with law and our reputation; service interruptions, data corruption, loss or impairment, network security and related operational impacts due to cybersecurity attacks; weather disruptions and regulatory, market and social reactions to such disruptions; our ability to identify, attract, develop, engage and retain qualified employees; our ability to complete the anticipated separation of our Mobility business through a
Financial Results
The company’s comparative financial results for the three months ended
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME |
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Three months ended
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Nine months ended
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(In millions except for per share data) |
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2026 |
|
|
|
2025 |
|
|
|
2026 |
|
|
|
2025 |
|
|
Net sales |
$ |
8,947 |
|
|
$ |
6,988 |
|
|
$ |
24,929 |
|
|
$ |
20,393 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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||||||||
|
Cost of products sold |
|
5,842 |
|
|
|
4,313 |
|
|
|
16,318 |
|
|
|
12,674 |
|
|
Selling and administrative expense |
|
1,278 |
|
|
|
1,105 |
|
|
|
3,784 |
|
|
|
3,302 |
|
|
Research and development expense |
|
238 |
|
|
|
203 |
|
|
|
676 |
|
|
|
594 |
|
|
Interest expense - net |
|
198 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
505 |
|
|
|
171 |
|
|
Other expense - net |
|
20 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
Income before income taxes |
|
1,370 |
|
|
|
1,275 |
|
|
|
3,620 |
|
|
|
3,637 |
|
|
Income tax expense |
|
291 |
|
|
|
264 |
|
|
|
852 |
|
|
|
680 |
|
|
Net income |
|
1,079 |
|
|
|
1,010 |
|
|
|
2,769 |
|
|
|
2,958 |
|
|
Less net income for noncontrolling interests |
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
Net income attributable to |
$ |
1,078 |
|
|
$ |
1,010 |
|
|
$ |
2,765 |
|
|
$ |
2,955 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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||||||||
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Net income per share attributable to |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
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Diluted |
$ |
2.77 |
|
|
$ |
2.59 |
|
|
$ |
7.10 |
|
|
$ |
7.54 |
|
|
Basic |
|
2.77 |
|
|
|
2.60 |
|
|
|
7.12 |
|
|
|
7.57 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
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Weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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||||||||
|
Diluted |
|
389.6 |
|
|
|
390.1 |
|
|
|
389.4 |
|
|
|
391.7 |
|
|
Basic |
|
388.6 |
|
|
|
388.8 |
|
|
|
388.5 |
|
|
|
390.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
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Reconciliation of net income attributable to |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Net income attributable to |
$ |
1,078 |
|
|
$ |
1,010 |
|
|
$ |
2,765 |
|
|
$ |
2,955 |
|
|
Excluding acquisition and divestiture charges, after-tax |
|
116 |
|
|
|
44 |
|
|
|
394 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
|
Excluding restructuring program charges (income), after-tax |
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
Excluding intangible asset amortization expense, after-tax |
|
242 |
|
|
|
102 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
287 |
|
|
Adjusted earnings |
$ |
1,433 |
|
|
$ |
1,199 |
|
|
$ |
3,755 |
|
|
$ |
3,423 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Net income per share attributable to |
$ |
2.77 |
|
|
$ |
2.59 |
|
|
$ |
7.10 |
|
|
$ |
7.54 |
|
|
Excluding per share impact of acquisition and divestiture charges, after-tax |
|
0.30 |
|
|
|
0.11 |
|
|
|
1.01 |
|
|
|
0.27 |
|
|
Excluding per share impact of restructuring program charges (income), after-tax |
|
(0.01 |
) |
|
|
0.11 |
|
|
|
0.12 |
|
|
|
0.19 |
|
|
Excluding per share impact of intangible asset amortization expense, after-tax |
|
0.62 |
|
|
|
0.26 |
|
|
|
1.41 |
|
|
|
0.74 |
|
|
Adjusted earnings per ordinary share |
$ |
3.68 |
|
|
$ |
3.07 |
|
|
$ |
9.64 |
|
|
$ |
8.74 |
|
|
See accompanying notes. |
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BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION |
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Three months ended
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Nine months ended
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(In millions) |
|
2026 |
|
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|
2025 |
|
|
|
2026 |
|
|
|
2025 |
|
|
Net sales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Electrical |
$ |
4,172 |
|
|
$ |
3,410 |
|
|
$ |
11,723 |
|
|
$ |
9,770 |
|
|
Electrical Global |
|
2,727 |
|
|
|
1,724 |
|
|
|
7,189 |
|
|
|
5,086 |
|
|
Aerospace |
|
1,196 |
|
|
|
1,079 |
|
|
|
3,558 |
|
|
|
3,138 |
|
|
Mobility |
|
852 |
|
|
|
775 |
|
|
|
2,460 |
|
|
|
2,399 |
|
|
Total net sales |
$ |
8,947 |
|
|
$ |
6,988 |
|
|
$ |
24,929 |
|
|
$ |
20,393 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
||||||||
|
Segment operating profit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Electrical |
$ |
1,243 |
|
|
$ |
1,034 |
|
|
$ |
3,253 |
|
|
$ |
2,926 |
|
|
Electrical Global |
|
576 |
|
|
|
330 |
|
|
|
1,449 |
|
|
|
983 |
|
|
Aerospace |
|
298 |
|
|
|
280 |
|
|
|
881 |
|
|
|
746 |
|
|
Mobility |
|
146 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
|
|
345 |
|
|
|
299 |
|
|
Total segment operating profit |
|
2,263 |
|
|
|
1,749 |
|
|
|
5,927 |
|
|
|
4,953 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Corporate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Intangible asset amortization expense |
|
(314 |
) |
|
|
(130 |
) |
|
|
(709 |
) |
|
|
(365 |
) |
|
Interest expense - net |
|
(198 |
) |
|
|
(67 |
) |
|
|
(505 |
) |
|
|
(171 |
) |
|
Pension and other postretirement benefits income (expense) |
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
Restructuring program income (charges) |
|
3 |
|
|
|
(55 |
) |
|
|
(59 |
) |
|
|
(97 |
) |
|
Other expense - net |
|
(380 |
) |
|
|
(226 |
) |
|
|
(1,035 |
) |
|
|
(698 |
) |
|
Income before income taxes |
|
1,370 |
|
|
|
1,275 |
|
|
|
3,620 |
|
|
|
3,637 |
|
|
Income tax expense |
|
291 |
|
|
|
264 |
|
|
|
852 |
|
|
|
680 |
|
|
Net income |
|
1,079 |
|
|
|
1,010 |
|
|
|
2,769 |
|
|
|
2,958 |
|
|
Less net income for noncontrolling interests |
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
Net income attributable to |
$ |
1,078 |
|
|
$ |
1,010 |
|
|
$ |
2,765 |
|
|
$ |
2,955 |
|
|
See accompanying notes. |
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|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
|
|
|
||||
|
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|
||||
|
(In millions) |
|
|
|||||
|
Assets |
|
|
|
||||
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
||||
|
Cash |
$ |
528 |
|
$ |
622 |
||
|
Short-term investments |
|
290 |
|
|
|
181 |
|
|
Accounts receivable - net |
|
7,150 |
|
|
|
5,387 |
|
|
Inventory |
|
5,941 |
|
|
|
4,721 |
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
2,121 |
|
|
|
1,444 |
|
|
Total current assets |
|
16,031 |
|
|
|
12,355 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Property, plant and equipment - net |
|
4,815 |
|
|
|
4,316 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Other noncurrent assets |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
20,298 |
|
|
|
15,769 |
|
|
Other intangible assets |
|
12,264 |
|
|
|
5,054 |
|
|
Operating lease assets |
|
943 |
|
|
|
768 |
|
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
571 |
|
|
|
707 |
|
|
Other assets |
|
2,530 |
|
|
|
2,281 |
|
|
Total assets |
$ |
57,452 |
|
|
$ |
41,251 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity |
|
|
|
||||
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
||||
|
Short-term debt |
$ |
1,594 |
|
|
$ |
1 |
|
|
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
710 |
|
|
|
1,136 |
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
5,911 |
|
|
|
4,168 |
|
|
Accrued compensation |
|
832 |
|
|
|
644 |
|
|
Other current liabilities |
|
3,944 |
|
|
|
3,421 |
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
12,991 |
|
|
|
9,370 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
|
||||
|
Long-term debt |
|
17,802 |
|
|
|
8,758 |
|
|
Pension liabilities |
|
623 |
|
|
|
702 |
|
|
Other postretirement benefits liabilities |
|
157 |
|
|
|
161 |
|
|
Operating lease liabilities |
|
816 |
|
|
|
637 |
|
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
2,084 |
|
|
|
265 |
|
|
Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
1,958 |
|
|
|
1,889 |
|
|
Total noncurrent liabilities |
|
23,440 |
|
|
|
12,412 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Shareholders’ equity |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
20,976 |
|
|
|
19,425 |
|
|
Noncontrolling interests |
|
47 |
|
|
|
44 |
|
|
Total equity |
|
21,023 |
|
|
|
19,469 |
|
|
Total liabilities and equity |
$ |
57,452 |
|
|
$ |
41,251 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
See accompanying notes. |
|
|
|
||||
NOTES TO THE THIRD QUARTER 2026 EARNINGS RELEASE
Amounts are in millions of dollars unless indicated otherwise (per share data assume dilution). Columns and rows may not add and the sum of components may not equal total amounts reported due to rounding.
Note 1. NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
This earnings release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. These financial measures include adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per ordinary share, and free cash flow, each of which differs from the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). A reconciliation of each of these financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is included in this earnings release. Management believes that these financial measures are useful to investors because they provide additional meaningful financial information that should be considered when assessing our business performance and trends, and they allow investors to more easily compare
The Company's fourth quarter and full year net income per ordinary share and adjusted earnings per ordinary share guidance for 2026 is as follows:
|
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Three months ended
|
|
Year ended
|
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|
Net income per share attributable to |
|
|
|
||
|
Excluding per share impact of acquisition and divestiture charges, after tax |
0.25 |
|
1.26 |
||
|
Excluding per share impact of restructuring program charges, after tax |
0.07 |
|
0.19 |
||
|
Excluding per share impact of intangible asset amortization expense, after tax |
0.45 |
|
1.86 |
||
|
Adjusted earnings per ordinary share |
|
|
|
||
A reconciliation of net income attributable to
|
|
Year ended
|
||
|
Net income per share attributable to |
$ |
10.45 |
|
|
Excluding per share impact of acquisition and divestiture charges, after tax |
|
0.37 |
|
|
Excluding per share impact of restructuring program charges, after tax |
|
0.26 |
|
|
Excluding per share impact of intangible asset amortization expense, after tax |
|
0.99 |
|
|
Adjusted earnings per ordinary share |
$ |
12.07 |
|
A reconciliation of operating cash flow to free cash flow is as follows:
|
(In millions) |
Three months ended
|
||
|
Operating cash flow |
$ |
1,310 |
|
|
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment |
|
(275 |
) |
|
Free cash flow |
$ |
1,034 |
|
Note 2. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
During the first quarter of 2026,
Mobility
The Mobility segment designs, manufactures, markets, and supplies a broad portfolio of mechanical, electrical, and electronic systems that improve emissions, fuel economy, power management, performance, and safety across on‑road and off‑road vehicles. The Mobility segment serves global OEMs and aftermarket customers with solutions spanning internal combustion, hybrid, and electrified powertrains, including transmissions and transmission components, clutches, differentials, hybrid systems, engine valves, fuel and vapor components, as well as high‑voltage inverters and converters, power electronics, circuit protection, vehicle controls, and power distribution systems. The principal markets for the Mobility segment are OEM and aftermarket customers of heavy-, medium-, and light‑duty trucks, SUVs, CUVs, passenger cars, construction, agricultural, material handling, and mining equipment.
Note 3. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURE OF BUSINESSES
Acquisition of
On
As part of the acquisition,
|
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Three months ended
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Nine months ended
|
||||||||||||
|
(In millions) |
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
||||||||
|
Cost of products sold |
$ |
7 |
|
$ |
9 |
|
$ |
27 |
|
$ |
43 |
||||
|
Selling and administrative expense |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
14 |
||||
|
Other expense - net |
|
4 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
7 |
||||
|
Total expense |
$ |
12 |
|
$ |
16 |
|
$ |
52 |
|
$ |
64 |
||||
Acquisition of
On
As part of the acquisition,
Investment in SPAN
On
Acquisition of
On
The Company incurred
Acquisition of Boyd Thermal
On
The Company incurred
Agreement to
On
Planned Separation of Mobility Business
On
The RMT transaction is intended to be tax-free for
Note 4. ACQUISITION AND DIVESTITURE CHARGES
|
|
Three months ended
|
|
Nine months ended
|
||||||||||||
|
(In millions except for per share data) |
|
2026 |
|
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2026 |
|
|
2025 |
|
||
|
Acquisition integration, divestiture charges and transaction costs |
$ |
128 |
|
|
$ |
55 |
|
|
$ |
391 |
|
$ |
135 |
|
|
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
3 |
|
|
(30 |
) |
|
|
Total charges after income taxes |
$ |
116 |
|
|
$ |
44 |
|
|
$ |
394 |
|
$ |
105 |
|
|
|
Per ordinary share - diluted |
$ |
0.30 |
|
|
$ |
0.11 |
|
|
$ |
1.01 |
|
$ |
0.27 |
|
|
Acquisition integration, divestiture charges and transaction costs in 2026 and 2025 are primarily related to the following:
-
The acquisitions of
Fibrebond Corporation ,Resilient Power Systems Inc. ,Ultra PCS Limited , Boyd Thermal, and Exertherm, the anticipated separation of the Mobility business, transactions completed prior to 2023, and other charges to acquire and exit businesses. -
Employee transaction and retention award compensation expense related to the acquisition of Fibrebond of
$12 million and$52 million in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2026, respectively, and$16 million and$64 million in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025, respectively. -
Employee incentive compensation expense related to the acquisition of Resilient of
$4 million and$20 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2026, respectively, and$4 million in the third quarter of 2025.
Charges in 2026 and 2025 were included in Cost of products sold, Selling and administrative expense, Research and development expense, or Other expense - net. In Business Segment Information, the charges were included in Other expense - net.
Additionally, during the second quarter of 2026,
Note 5. RESTRUCTURING CHARGES
During the first quarter of 2024,
A summary of restructuring program charges (income) is as follows:
|
|
Three months ended
|
|
Nine months ended
|
||||||||||||
|
(In millions except for per share data) |
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
||||||||
|
Workforce reductions |
$ |
(7 |
) |
|
$ |
45 |
|
$ |
35 |
|
$ |
65 |
|||
|
Plant closing and other |
|
5 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
25 |
|
|
33 |
|||
|
Total before income taxes1 |
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
55 |
|
|
59 |
|
|
97 |
|||
|
Income tax benefit (expense) |
|
— |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
13 |
|
|
22 |
|||
|
Total after income taxes |
$ |
(2 |
) |
|
$ |
43 |
|
$ |
46 |
|
$ |
75 |
|||
|
Per ordinary share - diluted |
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
$ |
0.11 |
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
$ |
0.19 |
|||
Restructuring program charges (income) related to the following segments:
|
|
Three months ended
|
|
Nine months ended
|
||||||||||||
|
(In millions) |
|
2026 |
|
|
2025 |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
||||||
|
Electrical |
$ |
(3 |
) |
|
$ |
3 |
|
$ |
8 |
|
$ |
12 |
|||
|
Electrical Global1 |
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
20 |
|
|
34 |
|
|
39 |
|||
|
Aerospace |
|
— |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
— |
|
|
1 |
|||
|
Mobility |
|
4 |
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
33 |
|||
|
Corporate |
|
2 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
11 |
|
|
12 |
|||
|
Total |
$ |
(3 |
) |
|
$ |
55 |
|
$ |
59 |
|
$ |
97 |
|||
|
1The restructuring program liability was adjusted by |
|||||||||||||||
These restructuring program charges (income) were included in Cost of products sold, Selling and administrative expense, Research and development expense, or Other expense - net, as appropriate. In Business Segment Information, these restructuring program charges are treated as Corporate items.
Note 6. INTANGIBLE ASSET AMORTIZATION EXPENSE
Intangible asset amortization expense is as follows:
|
|
Three months ended
|
|
Nine months ended
|
||||||||||||
|
(In millions except for per share data) |
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
||||||||
|
Intangible asset amortization expense |
$ |
314 |
|
$ |
130 |
|
$ |
709 |
|
$ |
365 |
||||
|
Income tax benefit |
|
72 |
|
|
28 |
|
|
159 |
|
|
77 |
||||
|
Total after income taxes |
$ |
242 |
|
$ |
102 |
|
$ |
550 |
|
$ |
287 |
||||
|
Per ordinary share - diluted |
$ |
0.62 |
|
$ |
0.26 |
|
$ |
1.41 |
|
$ |
0.74 |
||||
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261102754211/en/
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