Johnson Controls Beats Q4 Estimates as Data Center Boom Drives Record $23B Backlog

Johnson Controls International reported fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $1.66, topping the consensus estimate of $1.59, while GAAP EPS came in at $1.60. Net sales rose 10% year over year to $7.1 billion, ahead of the $7.04 billion estimate, and organic sales grew 12%, well above the 9.39% analysts had expected.

The standout figure from the quarter was the company's backlog, which surged 43% to a record $23 billion, fueled by surging demand tied to AI data centers. Americas orders jumped 58%, underscoring the regional strength of that buildout. Management raised expectations for continued double-digit organic growth into fiscal 2027, and issued first-quarter adjusted EPS guidance of $1.15 to $1.20, bracketing the $1.13 consensus estimate.

Shares rose roughly 4.7% in premarket trading and outperformed peers on the day. Separately, Truelink Capital, a private equity firm, announced a definitive agreement to acquire Johnson Controls' Global Intrusion Products Business, marking a continued portfolio reshaping at the company. Citizens Financial Group also disclosed it increased its JCI stake by 25% during the third quarter, adding 3,392 shares to bring its total to 16,940.