Johnson Controls International (NYSE:JCI) Downgraded by Zacks Research to "Hold"

Key Points

• Zacks Research downgraded Johnson Controls International to “Hold” from “Strong Buy,” though the broader analyst consensus remains “Moderate Buy” with a $154.80 price target.
• Johnson Controls exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $1.42 in EPS versus the $1.30 consensus and $6.61 billion in revenue, up 9.3% year over year.
• Shares opened at $152.43, near the company’s 12-month high of $157.06. Two company vice presidents recently sold shares, while institutional investors own approximately 90.05% of the stock.

Johnson Controls International (NYSE:JCI - Get Free Report) was downgraded by research analysts at Zacks Research from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report released on Thursday,Zacks.com reports.

JCI has been the subject of several other reports. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Johnson Controls International from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, May 7th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Johnson Controls International from $132.00 to $148.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, April 27th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Johnson Controls International from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Citigroup raised their target price on Johnson Controls International from $155.00 to $157.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Johnson Controls International from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $154.80.

Johnson Controls International Stock Down 1.4%

Shares of NYSE JCI opened at $152.43 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. Johnson Controls International has a 12 month low of $103.07 and a 12 month high of $157.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $92.33 billion, a PE ratio of 26.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.31. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $143.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $138.42.

Johnson Controls International (NYSE:JCI - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.42 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.30 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $6.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.46 billion. Johnson Controls International had a net margin of 14.32% and a return on equity of 22.11%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.05 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Johnson Controls International will post 5.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Johnson Controls International

In other news, VP Lei Zhang Schlitz sold 23,417 shares of Johnson Controls International stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.07, for a total transaction of $3,584,440.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 15,017 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,298,652.19. This trade represents a 60.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Todd M. Grabowski sold 1,800 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.20, for a total value of $263,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 26,215 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,832,633. This represents a 6.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JCI. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Johnson Controls International in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Twin Tree Management LP raised its position in shares of Johnson Controls International by 140.9% in the 4th quarter. Twin Tree Management LP now owns 260 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 895 shares during the last quarter. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Johnson Controls International by 51.3% in the 2nd quarter. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC now owns 230 shares of the company's stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Johnson Controls International in the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, SJS Investment Consulting Inc. boosted its stake in Johnson Controls International by 747.1% in the 1st quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 288 shares of the company's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 254 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.05% of the company's stock.

About Johnson Controls International

Johnson Controls International plc is a global diversified technology and multi‑industrial company that develops products, services and solutions for buildings and energy storage. The company's core focus is on improving building efficiency, safety and sustainability through a combination of HVAC equipment, building controls and automation, fire and security systems, and related services. Johnson Controls traces its roots to 1885, when inventor Warren S. Johnson developed an electric room thermostat; over its long history the company has expanded from controls into a broad set of building‑related technologies and, through corporate transactions, into a global provider of integrated building solutions.

Johnson Controls' product and service portfolio includes heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning equipment, chillers, air handlers and related mechanical systems, together with building automation and control platforms that monitor and manage energy use, indoor environmental quality and security.

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