JCI vs. VRT: Johnson Controls vs. Vertiv Stock Comparison
How do Johnson Controls (JCI) and Vertiv (VRT) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Johnson Controls (JCI) and Vertiv (VRT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but JCI is classified in Building Products while VRT is classified in Electrical Equipment.
| Profile Item | JCI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Johnson Controls International plc | Vertiv Holdings Co Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | Ireland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Building Products | Electrical Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Building Products | Electrical Components & Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 81.79 billion USD | 70.41 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 28, 1987 | August 2, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | JCI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 17.11% | 11.12% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 43.46% | 71.14% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 15.29% | 49.38% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Vertiv (VRT) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.15, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Johnson Controls (JCI) is closer to market-like at 1.29 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | JCI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.91% | 71.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.29 | 2.15 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.32% | -69.52% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.57M | 5.90M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | JCI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.39 | 0.10 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.54 | 0.14 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Vertiv (VRT) at 46.57% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Johnson Controls (JCI) at 21.73% also sits in the top quartile.
JCI
Capital Goods industry group
21.73%
- Max
- 40.55%
- JCI
- 21.73%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
46.57%
- VRT
- 46.57%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
Vertiv (VRT) at 16.00% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Johnson Controls (JCI) at 11.12%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
JCI
Capital Goods industry group
11.12%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- JCI
- 11.12%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
16.00%
- Max
- 27.47%
- VRT
- 16.00%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Vertiv (VRT) at 23.77% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Johnson Controls (JCI) at 17.21%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
JCI
Capital Goods industry group
17.21%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- JCI
- 17.21%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
23.77%
- Max
- 36.60%
- VRT
- 23.77%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | JCI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 21.73% | 46.57% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.41% | 11.94% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.12% | 16.00% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.21% | 23.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 37.07% | 38.12% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Vertiv (VRT) at 27.69% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Johnson Controls (JCI) at 2.81% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for VRT.
EPS Growth
Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Vertiv (VRT) at 166.41% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; Johnson Controls (JCI) at 99.60% also sits in the top quartile.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | JCI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.81% | 27.69% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.57% | 21.59% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 99.60% | 166.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 31.94% | 340.11% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Johnson Controls (JCI) at 0.90 and Vertiv (VRT) at 1.39 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
JCI
Capital Goods industry group
0.90
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- JCI
- 0.90
- Min
- 0.36
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
1.39
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- VRT
- 1.39
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Johnson Controls (JCI) at 0.68 and Vertiv (VRT) at 0.61 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
JCI
Capital Goods industry group
0.68
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- JCI
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
0.61
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- VRT
- 0.61
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | JCI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.90 | 1.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.68 | 0.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.86 | -0.11 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Johnson Controls (JCI) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Vertiv (VRT) reports a yield of 0.11%, ranking against industry peers normally.
JCI
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- JCI
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
0.11%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- VRT
- 0.11%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Vertiv (VRT) at 4.67% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Johnson Controls (JCI) at 45.20% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
JCI
Capital Goods industry group
45.20%
- Max
- 67.39%
- JCI
- 45.20%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
4.67%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- VRT
- 4.67%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | JCI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.11% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 45.20% | 4.67% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Johnson Controls (JCI) at 28.61 and Vertiv (VRT) at 34.18 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
JCI
Capital Goods industry group
28.61
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- JCI
- 28.61
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
34.18
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- VRT
- 34.18
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Johnson Controls (JCI) at 3.19 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Vertiv (VRT) at 5.37 sits in the pricier quartile — VRT costs more per dollar of sales.
JCI
Capital Goods industry group
3.19
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- JCI
- 3.19
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
5.37
- Max
- 7.54
- VRT
- 5.37
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Johnson Controls (JCI) at 5.99 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Vertiv (VRT) at 12.80 prices even higher, above its industry range.
JCI
Capital Goods industry group
5.99
- Max
- 9.66
- JCI
- 5.99
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
12.80
- VRT
- 12.80
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | JCI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 28.61 | 34.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.19 | 5.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.99 | 12.80 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.81% | 4.21% |