Roper Technologies, a diversified software and services provider with $8.5 billion in annual revenue, highlighted its strategic focus on AI-driven growth and disciplined capital deployment at Goldman Sachs’ Communacopia + Technology Conference on September 9, 2026. The company, led by President and CEO Neil Hunn and CFO Jason Conley, reported a 5% to 7% organic growth rate, aiming to accelerate to high-single-digit expansion through targeted acquisitions and operational efficiencies.
Roper operates 29 businesses, 21 of which are software solutions, including specialized platforms in healthcare (CentralReach’s autism therapy automation), legal services (Aderant), freight matching (DAT), and insurance technology (Vertafore). AI adoption has already reduced administrative burdens in markets like autism therapy, where the company claims AI cut therapist time from 15% to 5% of therapy hours, addressing a 800 million-hour annual demand gap. In freight matching, automated processes cost $40 to $50 per transaction versus $100 to $200 for manual labor, reflecting a 50% efficiency gain.
The company exited about 40% of its revenue-generating portfolio between 2021 and 2022, focusing on software and AI-driven platforms. With a net leverage ratio of 3.4 times and $5 billion in annualized capital deployment capacity, Roper prioritizes acquisitions with 10% to 20% annual growth, targeting 6 to 8 times year-5 EBITDA multiples for risk-adjusted returns. Share buybacks accounted for 8% of outstanding shares over the prior eight months, evaluated at roughly 10 times year-5 EBITDA.
AI strategy is central to Roper’s offensive approach, aiming to deploy agentic software development life cycles across all 21 software businesses by year-end. The company also expects the first wave of insurance pricing adjustments in early 2027, with future platform-sized acquisitions expected in 2027 due to private equity liquidity pressures and credit maturities. The focus remains on tuck-in acquisitions representing 25% to 33% of capital deployment.
Roper’s business model emphasizes enterprise-level retention in the mid-90s, with EBITDA margins around 40% and free cash flow margins in the low 30% range. The company positions itself as a durable, cash-flow-compounding business, with AI adoption contributing hundreds of basis points to growth without doubling the enterprise’s growth rate.
