Johnson Controls International PLC vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Johnson Controls International PLC trades at $154.65 (market cap $93.74B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $534.7 (market cap $23.27B). The key difference: Johnson Controls International PLC is far larger — about 4× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and Johnson Controls International PLC pays a 1.03% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| JCI | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $93.74B | $23.27B |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $154.76 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $103.52 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $102.58B | $25.35B |
Dividend Yield | 1.03% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Johnson Controls International (JCI) trades at $154.06, up 2.23% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong recent earnings beats. The company reported robust Q3 2026 results with organic sales growth of 10% and raised its full-year guidance, driven by demand for data-center thermal management systems. Valuation ratios are elevated, with a P/E of 43.59 and P/S of 3.82, reflecting growth expectations. The stock is near its pivot point of $154, with immediate resistance at $155.
The outlook for JCI is positive, supported by strong operational momentum and strategic positioning in energy-efficient building solutions. Key opportunities include expanding AI-related cooling demand and consistent earnings outperformance. Risks involve high valuation multiples, increasing debt-to-asset ratios, and potential macroeconomic pressures on construction markets. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with a $168.25 price target, though investors should monitor execution on growth initiatives.
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) trades at $537.69, down 2.0% today, with a bullish technical outlook from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $618.29. Recent earnings show mixed quarterly beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74 exceeding expectations, while revenue growth remains steady at $11.3B for 2025. The company maintains strong profitability with a net margin of 9.36% and ROE of 47.45%, supported by an omnichannel strategy highlighted in recent news.
The stock presents a buy opportunity with Wall Street optimism (56.53% buy ratings) and solid fundamentals, but risks include margin compression from rising costs and competitive pressures. Near-term catalysts include the Q2 2026 earnings report, with expected EPS of $6.17, and the transition from the Target partnership, viewed as a growth opportunity by analysts.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Johnson Controls manufactures, installs, and services HVAC systems, building management systems and controls, industrial refrigeration systems, and fire and security solutions. Commercial HVAC accounts for about 40% of sales, fire and security also represents 40% of sales, and residential HVAC, industrial refrigeration, and other solutions account for the remaining 20% of revenue. In fiscal 2021, Johnson Controls generated over $23.5 billion in revenue.
Read more on JCI →With more than 1,300 stores and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the U.S. The firm offers makeup (43% of 2021 sales), fragrances, skin care, and hair care products (20% of 2021 sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Read more on ULTA →