JCI vs. WTS: Johnson Controls vs. Watts Water Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS) 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 Watts Water (WTS) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but JCI is classified in Building Products while WTS is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS)
Profile Item	JCI	WTS
Name	Johnson Controls International plc	Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/Region	Ireland	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Building Products	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Building Products	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	81.79 billion USD	11.55 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	September 28, 1987	August 21, 1986
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

JCI

WTS

GSPC

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	JCI	WTS
Total Return (1Y)	17.11%	33.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	43.46%	25.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	15.29%	12.56%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

JCI

WTS

GSPC

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	JCI	WTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	32.91%	27.38%
Beta (5Y)	1.29	1.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-42.32%	-44.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.57M	225.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

JCI and WTS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	JCI	WTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.39	1.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.54	1.78

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Johnson Controls (JCI) at 21.73% and Watts Water (WTS) at 20.91% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

20.91%

Max: 40.55%
WTS: 20.91%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

16.00%

Max: 27.47%
WTS: 16.00%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 20.85% 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

20.85%

Max: 36.60%
WTS: 20.85%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	JCI	WTS
ROE (TTM)	21.73%	20.91%
ROA (TTM)	6.41%	12.05%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.12%	16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)	17.21%	20.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)	37.07%	49.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Johnson Controls (JCI) at 2.81% and Watts Water (WTS) at 8.27% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Johnson Controls (JCI) at 99.60% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Watts Water (WTS) at 17.03% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for JCI.

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	JCI	WTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.81%	8.27%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.57%	7.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)	99.60%	17.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	31.94%	10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 2.80 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Johnson Controls (JCI) at 0.90 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for JCI.

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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

2.80

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
WTS: 2.80
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 0.08 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Johnson Controls (JCI) at 0.68 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

0.08

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
WTS: 0.08
Min: 0.00

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	JCI	WTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.90	2.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.68	0.08
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.86	-0.40

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 Watts Water (WTS) reports a yield of 0.66%, 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

0.66%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
WTS: 0.66%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 17.24% 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

17.24%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
WTS: 17.24%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	JCI	WTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	45.20%	17.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Johnson Controls (JCI) at 28.61 and Watts Water (WTS) at 25.95 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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

25.95

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
WTS: 25.95
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Johnson Controls (JCI) at 3.19 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Watts Water (WTS) at 4.14 sits in the pricier quartile — WTS 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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

4.14

Max: 7.54
WTS: 4.14
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 4.98 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Johnson Controls (JCI) at 5.99 carries an above-peer premium to book — JCI is pricier on assets.

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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

4.98

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
WTS: 4.98
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Johnson Controls (JCI) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Johnson Controls (JCI) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	JCI	WTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	28.61	25.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.19	4.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.99	4.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.81%	2.21%