Wide-Moat Rockwell Is Exposed to Economic Downturns, but Secular Tailwinds More Than Offset Risk

We view Rockwell as North America's highest-quality pure-play automation player based on its track record of success, breadth of offering, and clever strategic partnerships. Today, it is one of the best-in-breed competitors seeking to gain a stronger foothold where technology meets traditional manufacturing, which Rockwell deems the Connected Enterprise. The firm sells equipment installed within customer factory floors and operational centers, often for multiple decades, giving Rockwell lucrative aftermarket revenue and the ability to increase its value proposition through upgrades and efficiency gains. It is common for Rockwell to overlay its hardware with software, which sends valuable live data to the customer and Rockwell.