New York, February 4, 2026, 20:44 EST — Market closed
- Shares of Johnson Controls jumped roughly 4.4% following an upward revision to its 2026 adjusted profit outlook.
- Management highlighted ongoing strong demand for thermal management and cooling equipment in data centers.
- Traders are eyeing Thursday for follow-through, while orders, backlog, and key macro data will take center stage next week.
Shares of Johnson Controls International plc closed Wednesday up, boosted by the company raising its profit forecast for 2026. The building systems supplier is counting on sustained demand for cooling gear in data centers to drive growth.
The stock ended the day up around 4.4% at $129.49, despite climbing nearly 9% at its peak during the session.
The forecasted increase comes as investors zero in on “picks-and-shovels” plays tied to the AI boom — like power, cooling, and building controls that sustain dense server racks. With computing demands climbing and clients demanding greener setups, cooling isn’t just a bonus anymore; it’s essential.
Johnson Controls bumped up its full-year adjusted earnings forecast to $4.70 per share, from $4.55. That beats the average analyst estimate of $4.61, per LSEG data. It also expects second-quarter adjusted profits of $1.11 per share, above the $1.05 consensus. Jefferies analyst Stephen Volkmann noted, “As rack densities rise … driving greater spending on cooling infrastructure.” Reuters
Johnson Controls reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.89 for the quarter ended Dec. 31, alongside GAAP EPS of $0.90, on sales totaling $5.8 billion, the company announced. CEO Joakim Weidemanis highlighted “nearly 40% order growth,” pointing to robust customer demand in the earnings release. Prnewswire
Orders in the Americas segment jumped 56% year-on-year on an organic basis, the company reported, while backlog grew 22% to $13.3 billion, driven by faster customer investment in data-center projects.
Johnson Controls is keeping the spotlight on data centers. On Tuesday, it introduced a YORK-branded air-cooled chiller designed specifically for multistory data centers, noting that “AI and high-performance computing are pushing data centers beyond traditional limits.” Prnewswire
On Wednesday, the stock surged to a fresh 52-week high, backed by heavier-than-usual volume. Roughly 15.2 million shares changed hands, well above the 50-day average of 5.5 million, MarketWatch data shows. Marketwatch
Building automation and HVAC stocks climbed, led by Carrier Global, Trane Technologies, and Honeywell. Johnson Controls, however, outperformed the group.
The company submitted an SEC report Wednesday, attaching its earnings press release for the quarter ending Dec. 31, according to the filing. Sec
One risk heading into Thursday and next week is how quickly the trade has become crowded. Data-center orders tend to be uneven, depending on project schedules and power capacity. A slowdown in AI-related spending could also dent bookings and backlog turnover.
Investors are now focusing on potential analyst estimate revisions following the recent guidance boost, alongside macroeconomic factors that might shift rate outlooks. The U.S. Labor Department pushed the January jobs report to Feb. 11 due to a short government shutdown, a move that could jolt industrial stocks. Reuters
