5 Robotics Stocks That Will Own the Future

2. Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR)

Number of Hedge Fund Shareholders: 48

Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) has two main segments, one devoted to automation, the other being a supplier of heating and ventilation systems, as well as related parts, to the home building industry. However, the company is reportedly in discussions with Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) to sell at least some of the latter business to the investment management company, which would make Emerson more of an automation pure play.

Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) grew adjusted earnings by 21% to $1.29 per share in Q2, while net sales were up by 8% to $4.8 billion. Trailing three-month underlying orders grew by 13%, including by 17% in its automation business. The company raised its full-year outlook following the results. Emerson Electric is also one of the rare dividend kings in this space, having raised its dividend for 65 consecutive years. EMR shares currently yield 2.63%.

There’s been a net influx of hedge funds into Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) over each of the past three quarters, with overall ownership of the company rising by 17% during that time. Paul Tudor Jones’ Tudor Investment Corp and Jinghua Yan’s TwinBeech Capital initiated new positions in EMR during the second quarter.