ABB lifts 2026 ambitions after record orders and profit jump in first quarter

ABB Ltd ( (CH:ABBN) ) has shared an update.

ABB reported a strong start to 2026, with first‑quarter orders jumping 32% to $11.3 billion and revenue up 18% to $8.7 billion, driven by all three business areas and particularly robust demand in electrification for data centers and grid investments. Operational EBITA surged 37% with the margin improving to 23.5%, supported partly by a real estate gain and better underlying performance, while free cash flow nearly doubled to a record $1.3 billion and return on capital employed reached 27.2%.

CEO Morten Wierod said the solid results and high order backlog allow ABB to raise its 2026 growth and margin ambitions despite heightened geopolitical risks, noting demand has remained broadly stable even in more volatile regions. The group is stepping up organic investment, including about $75 million to expand manufacturing and R&D in India, and continues shareholder returns via dividends and a $2 billion buyback, while also advancing digital offerings such as its new “Automation Extended” program to strengthen its position in industrial control and analytics.

The most recent analyst rating on (CH:ABBN) stock is a Hold with a CHF65.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on ABB Ltd stock, see the CH:ABBN Stock Forecast page.

More about ABB Ltd

ABB Ltd is a global technology group focused on electrification and automation solutions for industry, transport and infrastructure, combining engineering expertise with digitalization to boost efficiency, productivity and sustainability. With a 140‑year history, around 110,000 employees and listings in Zurich and Stockholm, ABB targets high‑growth segments such as data centers, grid investment and industrial automation.

Average Trading Volume: 2,758,920

Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy

Current Market Cap: CHF131.8B

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