Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) International plc (NYSE:JCI) has reported a sale of company shares by COO of Global Field Operations, Nathan D. Manning. The transaction, which took place on August 1, 2024, involved the sale of shares with a total value exceeding $82,000.
According to the details of the transaction, Manning sold a number of ordinary shares at weighted average prices that varied within specific ranges. A portion of the shares was sold at prices ranging from $70.06 to $71.05, while another set of shares was sold at prices between $72.00 and $72.43. The total value of the shares sold by Manning amounted to approximately $82,518.
The sales were executed pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that had been adopted earlier in the year on January 31. Such trading plans allow company insiders to sell a predetermined number of shares at a predetermined time to avoid accusations of insider trading.
Investors and followers of Johnson Controls may be interested in these transactions as they often look to the trading behavior of company executives as a signal of their confidence in the company's future prospects. It should be noted, however, that the reasons for these sales can vary and may not necessarily reflect the executive's outlook on the company's financial health.
After the sale, Manning still retains a significant number of shares in the company, indicating a continued vested interest in the company's performance. The exact number of shares owned following the transaction was reported to be 103,865.86 ordinary shares.
Johnson Controls International plc is a global leader in building products and technology, integrated solutions, and energy storage. This transaction comes amidst the normal course of business and is part of the regular financial disclosures made by the company's executives.
In other recent news, Johnson Controls International has reported a robust financial performance with a notable 6 cents per share operating earnings beat and a 10% increase in its backlog, reaching $12.9 billion. The company has also tightened its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $3.66 to $3.69 and anticipates a 7% sales growth in Q4. Amid these financial updates, RBC Capital has adjusted its price target for the company from $54 to $61, maintaining an Underperform rating, while Oppenheimer has maintained an Outperform rating and raised its price target to $79.
In leadership changes, CEO George Oliver is set to retire, and the search for a new CEO has begun. Patrick Decker, the former CEO of Xylem (NYSE:XYL), has been appointed to the Board of Directors. As part of its strategic shift, Johnson Controls is focusing on becoming a provider for commercial building solutions, particularly data centers, and has announced the divestiture of its Residential and Light Commercial HVAC and Air Distribution Technologies businesses. These are recent developments as the company continues its transformation into a technology-led solutions and services platform.
InvestingPro Insights
Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE:JCI) has demonstrated a consistent commitment to shareholder value with notable financial metrics and strategic moves that may interest investors following the recent insider share sale by COO Nathan D. Manning. Here are some key insights from InvestingPro:
The company has shown a robust financial performance, with a reported Gross Profit Margin of 32.93% in the last twelve months as of Q3 2024, reflecting its efficiency in managing costs relative to its revenue. This is complemented by an Operating Income Margin of 9.58%, which indicates the company's profitability after covering operating expenses.
Investors may also take confidence in Johnson Controls' commitment to returning value to shareholders, as evidenced by its track record of maintaining dividend payments for an impressive 54 consecutive years. The company's dividend yield stood at 2.1% as of June 24, 2024. This is further supported by an InvestingPro Tip that highlights the company's history of raising its dividend for three consecutive years, underscoring its financial stability and confidence in future growth.
Additionally, the company's stock has experienced a significant appreciation, with a six-month price total return of 31.63% and a year-to-date return of 23.39% as of 2024. This suggests that investors have been recognizing the company's value, potentially influenced by analysts' positive revisions of earnings estimates for the upcoming period—a fact that is also one of the InvestingPro Tips.
For investors seeking more detailed analysis and additional InvestingPro Tips on Johnson Controls International plc, there are a total of 9 tips available that can be accessed through the dedicated InvestingPro page for JCI at https://www.investing.com/pro/JCI. These tips provide deeper insights into the company's market position, debt management, and profitability forecasts, which can help investors make more informed decisions.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.