The financial world is abuzz with significant movements in Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE:JCI) shares, as institutional investors actively reshuffle their positions, signaling dynamic shifts in confidence and strategy within the market.
One notable development saw Bayforest Capital Ltd significantly reduce its stake in JCI during the first quarter. This firm trimmed its holdings by a substantial 77.7%, divesting 2,397 shares. Following this sale, Bayforest Capital Ltd’s remaining investment in Johnson Controls International stood at a modest 688 shares, valued at approximately $55,000, as detailed in their latest SEC disclosure.
Conversely, other prominent institutional players demonstrated strong bullish sentiment by substantially increasing their exposure to JCI. Invesco Ltd., for instance, bolstered its stake by 13.2% in the fourth quarter, acquiring an additional 2,150,573 shares. This strategic move expanded their total holdings to an impressive 18,407,597 shares, now valued at an estimated $1.45 billion.
Further illustrating this varied landscape, GAMMA Investing LLC showcased an astonishing surge in its JCI holdings, growing by an astounding 10,137.2% in the first quarter. Their aggressive purchasing led to the acquisition of an additional 1,167,700 shares, bringing their total ownership to 1,179,219 shares, with a market value nearing $94.5 million. Northern Trust Corp also amplified its position by 18.1% in the fourth quarter, adding over a million shares.
The company’s stock performance reflects this bustling activity, with shares opening at $106.48 and maintaining a 50-day moving average of $104.82, significantly above its two-hundred day average of $90.92. Johnson Controls International plc currently boasts a robust market capitalization of $70.07 billion, alongside a P/E ratio of 31.60 and a PEG ratio of 1.91, indicating strong underlying value and growth potential.
In a move indicative of strong corporate health and shareholder value commitment, Johnson Controls International recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.37 per share, distributed in July, representing an annualized yield of 1.4%. Furthermore, the company’s board authorized a substantial $9.00 billion stock buyback program in June, empowering them to repurchase up to 13.4% of outstanding shares—a strong signal that management believes the stock is undervalued.
Market analysts have largely reacted positively to JCI’s prospects, with several firms upgrading their ratings and adjusting price targets upwards. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft elevated Johnson Controls International from ‘hold’ to ‘buy’ with a raised target of $112.00, while UBS Group reiterated a ‘buy’ rating and set an ambitious $116.00 objective. Wells Fargo & Company even lifted their target to $130.00, expressing an ‘overweight’ rating, contributing to a consensus ‘Hold’ rating with an average target of $105.17 across analysts.
Insider trading activity has also been noteworthy, with key executives engaging in substantial share sales. A Vice President sold 15,000 shares for over $1.5 million, reducing their position by 26.05%, while the CFO offloaded 28,289 shares totaling approximately $2.57 million, marking a 16.08% decrease in their holdings. In total, insiders sold 146,133 shares valued at over $13.5 million in the last quarter, though they still collectively own 0.54% of the company’s stock.
Johnson Controls International plc, a global leader, operates across diverse segments including Building Solutions North America, EMEA/LA, Asia Pacific, and Global Products. The company specializes in engineering, manufacturing, commissioning, and retrofitting building products and systems worldwide, solidifying its position as a critical player in global infrastructure and sustainable solutions.
