Feb 3 (Reuters) - Emerson Electric EMR.N on Tuesday posted higher first-quarter profit and raised the bottom end of its 2026 adjusted per-share profit forecast, helped by strong demand for industrial automation equipment.

Demand for the company's automation technology stayed robust during the period, driven by its software and systems segment and strong sales in North America, India and the Middle East and Africa.

Sales in its software and systems business rose 5% to $1.45 billion in the first quarter ended Dec 31 2025.

Excluding items, Emerson reported a quarterly per-share profit of $1.46, compared to $1.38 a year ago.

Net sales for the first quarter were $4.35 billion, up about 4% from a year earlier and in line with Wall Street expectations, as per data compiled by LSEG.

The St. Louis, Missouri-based company now expects 2026 adjusted profit between $6.40 and $6.55 per share, compared with $6.35 to $6.55 apiece expected previously.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

((Aishwarya.Jain@thomsonreuters.com;))