LII
Lennox International Inc.
Construction
Market Cap$18.14B
5Y Perf.+143.8%
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Stock Comparison
LII vs JCI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
JCI
Johnson Controls International plc
Construction
Market Cap$85.12B
5Y Perf.+344.2%
LII vs JCI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | LII | JCI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Construction | Construction |
| Market Cap | $18.14B | $85.12B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.26B | $24.43B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $783M | $3.53B |
| Gross Margin | 33.1% | 36.6% |
| Operating Margin | 19.5% | 13.6% |
| Forward P/E | 21.5x | 28.8x |
| Total Debt | $2.06B | $11.19B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $34M | $379M |
LII vs JCI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LII
JCI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lennox Internationa… (LII) | 100 | 243.8 | +143.8% |
| Johnson Controls In… (JCI) | 100 | 444.2 | +344.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LII vs JCI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LII leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Johnson Controls International plc is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
LII
Lennox International Inc.
The Value Pick
LII carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for valuation efficiency.
- PEG 1.12 vs JCI's 1.12
- Lower P/E (21.5x vs 28.8x), PEG 1.12 vs 1.12
- 14.9% margin vs JCI's 14.5%
Best for: valuation efficiency
JCI
Johnson Controls International plc
The Income Pick
JCI is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 0.95, yield 1.1%
- Rev growth 2.8%, EPS growth 4.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.6%
- 344.1% 10Y total return vs LII's 305.3%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | JCI | 2.8% revenue growth vs LII's -2.7% |
| Value | LII | Lower P/E (21.5x vs 28.8x), PEG 1.12 vs 1.12 |
| Quality / Margins | LII | 14.9% margin vs JCI's 14.5% |
| Stability / Safety | JCI | Beta 0.95 vs LII's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | LII | 0.9% yield, 12-year raise streak, vs JCI's 1.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | JCI | +54.6% vs LII's -8.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LII | 20.1% ROA vs JCI's 9.0%, ROIC 29.8% vs 8.5% |
LII vs JCI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
LII vs JCI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLIILAGGINGJCI
JCIJohnson Controls Inte…
2leads
LIILennox International …
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs JCIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
LII6/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LII7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
JCI6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
JCI2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — LII and JCI each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
JCI is the larger business by revenue, generating $24.4B annually — 4.6x LII's $5.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 14.9% (LII) to 14.5% (JCI).
| Metric | LIILennox Internatio… | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.3B | $24.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.1B | $3.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $783M | $3.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $661M | $1.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +33.1% | +36.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.5% | +13.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.9% | +14.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.6% | +5.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.8% | +8.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.6% | +38.9% |
Evenly matched — LII and JCI each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
LII leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 23.5x trailing earnings, LII trades at a 56% valuation discount to JCI's 53.0x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), LII offers better value at 1.22x vs JCI's 2.07x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | LIILennox Internatio… | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $18.1B | $85.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $20.2B | $95.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.46x | 53.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.46x | 28.76x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.22x | 2.07x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.00x | 25.98x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.49x | 3.61x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 15.73x | 7.04x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 28.40x | 88.21x |
LII leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LII leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LII delivers a 72.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $72 in annual profit, vs $25 for JCI. JCI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.86x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LII's 1.77x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), JCI scores 6/9 vs LII's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | LIILennox Internatio… | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +72.0% | +24.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +20.1% | +9.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +29.8% | +8.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +40.2% | +9.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.77x | 0.86x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.0B | $10.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $34M | $379M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.1B | $11.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 20.51x | 18.41x |
LII leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
JCI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in JCI five years ago would be worth $22,283 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,371 for LII. Over the past 12 months, JCI leads with a +54.6% total return vs LII's -8.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors JCI at 31.7% vs LII's 23.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LIILennox Internatio… | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +4.7% | +14.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -8.7% | +54.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +89.9% | +128.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +53.7% | +122.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +305.3% | +344.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +23.8% | +31.7% |
JCI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
JCI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
JCI is the less volatile stock with a 0.95 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LII's 1.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. JCI currently trades 94.7% from its 52-week high vs LII's 75.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LIILennox Internatio… | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.28x | 0.95x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $689.44 | $147.32 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $434.06 | $90.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +75.6% | +94.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.8 | 47.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 457K | 3.3M |
JCI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — LII and JCI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LII as "Hold" and JCI as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 6.2% upside for LII (target: $553) vs 2.6% for JCI (target: $143). For income investors, JCI offers the higher dividend yield at 1.07% vs LII's 0.95%.
| Metric | LIILennox Internatio… | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $553.45 | $143.14 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 30 | 45 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.9% | +1.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 12 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.93 | $1.49 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.8% | +7.0% |
Evenly matched — LII and JCI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
LII leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). JCI leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
Best OverallLennox International Inc. (LII)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
LII vs JCI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LII or JCI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the stronger pick with 2.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 7% for Lennox International Inc. (LII). Lennox International Inc. (LII) offers the better valuation at 23. 5x trailing P/E (21. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) a "Buy" — based on 45 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — LII or JCI?
On trailing P/E, Lennox International Inc.
(LII) is the cheapest at 23. 5x versus Johnson Controls International plc at 53. 0x. On forward P/E, Lennox International Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Lennox International Inc. wins at 1. 12x versus Johnson Controls International plc's 1. 12x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LII or JCI?
Over the past 5 years, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) delivered a total return of +122.
8%, compared to +53. 7% for Lennox International Inc. (LII). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JCI returned +344. 1% versus LII's +305. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — LII or JCI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
95β versus Lennox International Inc. 's 1. 28β — meaning LII is approximately 34% more volatile than JCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 86% versus 177% for Lennox International Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LII or JCI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is pulling ahead at 2.
8% versus -2. 7% for Lennox International Inc. (LII). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Johnson Controls International plc grew EPS 4. 4% year-over-year, compared to -1. 4% for Lennox International Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, JCI leads at 4. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — LII or JCI?
Lennox International Inc.
(LII) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 1% net margin versus 13. 9% for Johnson Controls International plc — meaning it keeps 15. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LII leads at 19. 5% versus 12. 0% for JCI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JCI leads at 36. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is LII or JCI more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, Lennox International Inc. (LII) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 12x versus Johnson Controls International plc's 1. 12x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Lennox International Inc. (LII) trades at 21. 5x forward P/E versus 28. 8x for Johnson Controls International plc — 7. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LII: 6. 2% to $553. 45.
08Which pays a better dividend — LII or JCI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) offers the highest yield at 1. 1%, versus 0. 9% for Lennox International Inc. (LII).
09Is LII or JCI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
95), 1. 1% yield, +344. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (JCI: +344. 1%, LII: +305. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between LII and JCI?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(LII: 5.8% · JCI: 8.2%)Net Margin>
%
(LII: 14.9% · JCI: 14.5%)P/E Ratio<
x
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