AAON vs JCI

For growth investors, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is the stronger pick with 20. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 8% for Johnson Controls International plc (JCI). Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) offers the better valuation at 54. 4x trailing P/E (30. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AAON, Inc. (AAON) a "Buy" — based on 5 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.

On trailing P/E, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the cheapest at 54.

4x versus AAON, Inc. at 76. 2x. On forward P/E, Johnson Controls International plc is actually cheaper at 30. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Johnson Controls International plc wins at 1. 18x versus AAON, Inc. 's 9. 13x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) delivered a total return of +134. 3%, compared to +131. 7% for Johnson Controls International plc (JCI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAON returned +440. 9% versus JCI's +354. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

97β versus AAON, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning AAON is approximately 87% more volatile than JCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AAON, Inc. (AAON) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 48% versus 86% for Johnson Controls International plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is pulling ahead at 20. 1% versus 2. 8% for Johnson Controls International plc (JCI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Johnson Controls International plc grew EPS 4. 4% year-over-year, compared to -36. 1% for AAON, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AAON leads at 17. 5% 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.

Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

9% net margin versus 7. 5% for AAON, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JCI leads at 12. 0% versus 10. 1% for AAON. 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.

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, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 18x versus AAON, Inc. 's 9. 13x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) trades at 30. 2x forward P/E versus 49. 6x for AAON, Inc. — 19. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AAON: 21. 1% to $119. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) offers the highest yield at 1. 0%, versus 0. 4% for AAON, Inc. (AAON).

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.

97), 1. 0% yield, +354. 6% 10Y return). AAON, Inc. (AAON) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (JCI: +354. 6%, AAON: +440. 9%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: AAON is a small-cap high-growth stock; JCI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. JCI pays a dividend while AAON does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.