Fortive tops 2025 targets and launches aggressive $1.3B buyback

Fortive (NYSE:FTV) capped a transformative year by beating its own profit forecasts and rewarding shareholders with a massive $1.3 billion stock buyback program, as the company enters its first full year as a more focused industrial technology player.

The Everett, Washington-based company reported Wednesday that full-year 2025 adjusted diluted net earnings reached $2.71 per share, surpassing the high end of its previously raised guidance.

Fourth-quarter revenue rose 4.6% to $1.12 billion, with core revenue growth of 3.3%, reflecting steady demand for the company’s software and safety solutions.

The results mark the first year-end report for the "New Fortive" following the successful spin-off of its Precision Technologies segment into Ralliant.

The move was designed to simplify the company's portfolio and focus on its high-margin Intelligent Operating Solutions (IOS) and Advanced Healthcare Solutions (AHS) segments.

"Q4 represented another quarter of solid execution by our team," CEO Olumide Soroye said in the statement.

"With our 2026 strategic and financial plans firmly in place, our conviction in the road ahead continues to build."

Fortive used its strengthened balance sheet and proceeds from the spin-off to aggressively return capital to investors.

The company repurchased approximately 26 million shares in the second half of 2025—roughly 8% of its total shares outstanding—including $265 million in the fourth quarter alone.

Looking forward, Fortive initiated fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $2.90 to $3, suggesting double-digit growth at the midpoint.