Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: Could I please have your opinion on Johnson Controls? A large part of its business is in the auto sector. Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Johnson Controls Inc., $42.04, symbol JCI on New York (Shares outstanding: 684.2 million; Market cap: $28.5 billion; www.johnsoncontrols.com), is a global manufacturing company with three divisions: 1) the Automotive Experience Group (51% of revenue), 2) Building Efficiency (35%) and 3) Power Solutions (14%). The company has about 170,000 employees. Johnson’s Automotive Experience division designs and makes interior products and systems for cars and light trucks, including vans, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. The Power Solutions division develops battery technology and provides related engineering services. The division is one of the world’s largest makers of lead-acid batteries, producing more than 135 million annually at 60 plants in nine countries. The Building Efficiency division makes and installs systems for security, heating and cooling in over 59 countries. In the three months ended June 30, 2013, Johnson’s revenue rose 2.4%, to $10.8 billion from $10.6 billion a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share rose 18.2%, to $0.78 from $0.66. The company’s total…