Johnson Controls International PLC vs Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? Johnson Controls International PLC trades at $153 (market cap $93.74B), while Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $43.89. The key difference: Johnson Controls International PLC pays a 1.03% dividend while Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund pays none, and Johnson Controls International PLC is trading nearer its 52-week high, Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| JCI | XLU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $93.74B | — |
Sector | Industrials | — |
52-Week High | $154.76 | $47.73 |
52-Week Low | $103.52 | $41.31 |
Enterprise Value | $102.58B | — |
Dividend Yield | 1.03% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
JCI trades at $153.59, up 1.92% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook and strong institutional support. Recent Q3 2026 earnings beat expectations with $1.42 EPS versus $1.30 expected, driven by double-digit organic growth in data-center thermal systems. The company raised FY26 guidance, reflecting robust demand and operational momentum. Valuation ratios remain elevated, with a P/E of 43.59 and P/S of 3.82, indicating premium pricing relative to historical norms.
The outlook is positive, supported by earnings momentum and AI-driven demand for cooling solutions, but risks include high valuation sensitivity and debt levels. Analyst consensus price target is $168.25, suggesting ~9.5% upside, with no sell ratings among 45 analysts. Investors should monitor execution on guidance and macroeconomic impacts on construction and HVAC markets.
XLU, the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund, trades at $43.85, up 1.65% on the day, but technical indicators signal a bearish trend with moving averages showing strong sell signals. The ETF is positioned to benefit from AI-driven power demand, with recent news highlighting increased call option activity and its role as a defensive income play with a dividend scheduled for June 2026. However, key financial ratios like P/E and ROE are unavailable from the provided data.
The outlook for XLU is mixed; AI power demand offers growth potential, but technical weakness and lack of current fundamental metrics pose risks. Investors should weigh the defensive income characteristics against bearish technical signals and evolving sector dynamics.
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 →In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes securities of companies from the following industries: electric utilities; water utilities; multi-utilities; independent power and renewable electricity producers; and gas utilities. The fund is non-diversified.
Read more on XLU →