Johnson Controls (JCI) Approves 4% Quarterly Dividend Hike

Much to shareholders’ delight, Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE:JCI) announced that its board has approved a hike in quarterly cash dividend on common stock to 26 cents per share from the earlier payout of 25 cents. This revised dividend will be paid on Jan 12, 2018 to shareholders of record as of Dec 18, 2017.

On a sequential basis, the dividend raise represents an increase of one cent or 4%. Notably, the company has been paying regular quarterly dividends to its shareholders since 1987.

Johnson Controls is focused on enhancing shareholders’ value by pursuing aggressive share repurchases and increasing dividend payouts. In fiscal 2017, it repurchased 15.7 million shares for $651 million and paid a total cash dividend of $702 million.

Johnson Controls International PLC Price and Consensus

Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, the company offers efficient energy solutions, integrated infrastructure and next-generation transportation systems to its customers in more than 150 countries.

Price Performance

In the last six months, shares of Johnson Controls have underperformed the industry it belongs to. The stock has lost 9.7% compared with the industry’s 4.8% decline during the period.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Johnson Controls carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

A few better-ranked stocks in the auto space are AB Volvo (OTC:VLVLY) , BorgWarner (NYSE:BWA) and Wabco Holdings Inc. (NYSE:WBC) . While Volvo sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), BorgWarner and Wabco carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Volvo has an expected long-term growth rate of 15%. In the last six months, shares of the company have been up 25%.

BorgWarner has an expected long-term growth rate of 9%. In the last six months, shares of the company have been up 10.1%.

Wabco has an expected long-term growth rate of 15%. In the last six months, shares of the company have been up 12.7%.

Zacks' Hidden Trades

While we share many recommendations and ideas with the public, certain moves are hidden from everyone but selected members of our portfolio services. Would you like to peek behind the curtain today and view them?

Starting now, for the next month, I invite you to follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time from value to momentum...from stocks under $10 to ETF to option movers...from insider trades to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises (we've called them with 80%+ accuracy). You can even look inside portfolios so exclusive that they are normally closed to new investors.

Click here for Zacks' secret trade>>