ETN vs ROK: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: ETN, with $27.4B of yearly revenue, about 3.3× ROK's $8.3B.
  • More profitable: ETN keeps 15 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 10 cents at ROK.
  • More cash from each sale: ROK turns 19 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 16 cents at ETN.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

Eaton (ETN) is the larger business by reported revenue: $27.4B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 3.3× ROK's $8.3B (fiscal year ended Sep 2025). ETN's net margin was 14.9% and ROK's 10.4%. The SEC classifies them differently (Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment; Measuring & Controlling Devices, NEC); what connects them is shared exposure to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not a common industry.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Industrials
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
ETN December 31 · ROK September 30
Reviewed
Feb 26, 2026

ETN vs ROK: quick comparison

Company factETNROK
CompanyEaton Corporation plcRockwell Automation, Inc.
ExchangeNYSENYSE
SEC industryMisc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & EquipmentMeasuring & Controlling Devices, NEC
Fiscal year-endDecember 31September 30
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-2610-K · 2025-11-12

ETN vs ROK: audited financials

  • Scale: ETN's $27.4B of revenue is about 3.3× ROK's $8.3B.
  • Net margin: ETN kept 14.9% of revenue as net income versus 10.4% at ROK.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled ETN 16.3% of revenue, or 1.09× net income; ROK 18.5% of revenue, or 1.78× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end about 3 months apart (2025-12-31 for ETN, 2025-09-30 for ROK), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

ETN: FY ending 2025-12-31 · ROK: FY ending 2025-09-30. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where ETN and ROK overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: Artificial intelligence.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: ETN files as Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment; ROK as Measuring & Controlling Devices, NEC.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: ETN's year ends December 31 and ROK's September 30, about 3 months apart.
  • Scale: ETN reported about 3.3× the annual revenue of ROK.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

Eaton Corporation plc (ETN)

Eaton makes electrical power-management equipment and components for buildings, data centers, and vehicles.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK)

Rockwell Automation makes industrial automation and digital software for factories and plants.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves ETN

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for ETN. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-26.

What moves ROK

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for ROK. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2025-11-12.

The investment question

You now know ETN reports about 3.3× ROK's revenue, and ETN keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to artificial intelligence, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. ETN's fiscal year ends December 31, while ROK's ends September 30. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 38 matched transaction rows for ETN and 8 matched transaction rows for ROK. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

ETN vs ROK FAQs

Are ETN and ROK direct competitors?

Not necessarily. Eaton files as Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment and Rockwell Automation as Measuring & Controlling Devices, NEC. The pair is compared because both map to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is ETN or ROK the bigger company by revenue?

Eaton (ETN) is the larger business by reported revenue: $27.4B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 3.3× ROK's $8.3B (fiscal year ended Sep 2025). ETN's net margin was 14.9% and ROK's 10.4%. The SEC classifies them differently (Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment; Measuring & Controlling Devices, NEC); what connects them is shared exposure to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, ETN or ROK?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this ETN vs ROK comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Eaton Corporation plc and Rockwell Automation, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

ETN vs ROK compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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