AMETEK raises its 2026 profit outlook and leans on a strong fourth quarter to reach it

Chief executive David Zapico credits organic growth, acquisitions and a wider margin, and the company expects fourth-quarter sales growth in the low 20% range.

AMETEK now expects full-year 2026 adjusted earnings of $8.53 to $8.57 a share, up from a range of $8.20 to $8.30. The raise follows third-quarter earnings of $2.21 a share, $0.08 better than expected, on revenue of $2.22B against $2.15B expected.

Operating profit grew 20% and core margin widened by 110 basis points. The adjusted operating margin was 26.8%, up 60 basis points. AMETEK also completed its Indicor Instrumentation acquisition during the quarter.

The raised outlook leans on the final three months. AMETEK expects full-year sales to grow in the mid-teens percentage range, but fourth-quarter sales growth in the low 20% range, so more of the year's growth sits in the last quarter than the full-year figure suggests.

For that quarter AMETEK guides to adjusted earnings of $2.26 to $2.30 a share, which it says is 12% to 14% higher than a year earlier.