ABB, which makes products ranging from electricity substations to industrial robots, said net profit fell 17 percent to $636 million.
Analysts in a Reuters poll had forecast net income of $706 million.
The profit figure included $333 million of depreciation and amortisation, of which $100 million was related to acquisitions, ABB said.
The Zurich-based company stuck to its cautious outlook, saying uncertainty in some emerging markets may offset more encouraging.