* **Upgrade to Buy:** Bank of America’s analysts believe Johnson Controls is a good investment opportunity based on its AI data center exposure. This suggests a positive outlook for the company’s future growth. * **AI Data Centers:** Johnson Controls is well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for AI data centers.
The company is a global leader in building automation and energy management, with a strong track record of innovation and a diverse portfolio. Here’s why Bank of America believes Johnson Controls is a good investment for the AI boom:
* **AI-powered solutions:** Johnson Controls is actively developing and deploying AI-powered solutions across its various business units. These solutions are designed to optimize building operations, improve energy efficiency, and enhance occupant comfort.
Johnson Controls is a global leader in building and energy management solutions. The company’s data center business is a significant part of its overall strategy, contributing to its growth and profitability. The company’s data center business is built on a foundation of expertise in building automation, energy efficiency, and security. These core competencies are leveraged to provide comprehensive solutions for data center operators.
Advertisement As for a potential catalyst for Johnson Controls, aside from its data center exposure, Bank of America highlighted its ongoing search for a new CEO. “We expect a new CEO announcement before the end of the year and view this as a positive catalyst. Combined with activist investor involvement, we believe this potentially signals a new strategic direction for the company,” Obin said. Finally, Johnson Controls offers investors an appealing margin of safety relative to other AI stocks that have been high-fliers over the past year. That’s because Johnson Controls stock is trading at a significant valuation discount relative to its closest competitors. Its forward price-to-earnings ratio of 18x is even lower than the broader S&P 500’s valuation of about 21x.
Advertisement “JCI hypothetically re-rating fully in line with the average of these HVAC peers would imply a 57% higher valuation,” Obin said. Shares of Johnson Controls have been on a tear this year as investors wake up to its AI data center exposure, with the stock up up 22% year-to-date.
