ADT
ADT Inc.
Security & Protection Services
Market Cap$5.18B
5Y Perf.-2.7%
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Stock Comparison
ADT vs JCI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
JCI
Johnson Controls International plc
Construction
Market Cap$85.23B
5Y Perf.+343.3%
ADT vs JCI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ADT | JCI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Security & Protection Services | Construction |
| Market Cap | $5.18B | $85.23B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.14B | $24.43B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $623M | $3.53B |
| Gross Margin | 50.4% | 36.6% |
| Operating Margin | 25.6% | 13.6% |
| Forward P/E | 7.5x | 29.4x |
| Total Debt | $7.69B | $11.19B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $81M | $379M |
ADT vs JCI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ADT
JCI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADT Inc. (ADT) | 100 | 97.3 | -2.7% |
| Johnson Controls In… (JCI) | 100 | 443.3 | +343.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ADT vs JCI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: JCI leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. ADT Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ADT
ADT Inc.
The Growth Play
ADT is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and defensive.
- Rev growth 4.7%, EPS growth 28.8%, 3Y rev CAGR -0.3%
- Beta 0.98, yield 3.0%, current ratio 0.93x
- 4.7% revenue growth vs JCI's 2.8%
Best for: growth exposure and defensive
JCI
Johnson Controls International plc
The Income Pick
JCI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 0.97, yield 1.1%
- 343.3% 10Y total return vs ADT's -28.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.97, Low D/E 86.4%, current ratio 0.93x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ADT | 4.7% revenue growth vs JCI's 2.8% |
| Value | ADT | Lower P/E (7.5x vs 29.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | JCI | 14.5% margin vs ADT's 12.1% |
| Stability / Safety | JCI | Beta 0.97 vs ADT's 0.98, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ADT | 3.0% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs JCI's 1.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | JCI | +56.9% vs ADT's -14.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | JCI | 9.0% ROA vs ADT's 3.9%, ROIC 8.5% vs 8.8% |
ADT vs JCI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ADT vs JCI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLJCILAGGINGADT
ADTADT Inc.
1leads
JCIJohnson Controls Inte…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ADTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ADT6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
JCI5/9
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 — ADT 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 — 4.8x ADT's $5.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 14.5% (JCI) to 12.1% (ADT). On growth, JCI holds the edge at +8.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ADTADT Inc. | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.1B | $24.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.9B | $3.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $623M | $3.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.8B | $1.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +50.4% | +36.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +25.6% | +13.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +14.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +34.8% | +5.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.9% | +8.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +26.7% | +38.9% |
Evenly matched — ADT and JCI each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ADT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.3x trailing earnings, ADT trades at a 81% valuation discount to JCI's 52.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ADT's 4.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than JCI's 26.0x.
| Metric | ADTADT Inc. | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.2B | $85.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $12.8B | $96.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.28x | 52.95x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.53x | 29.38x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.06x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.33x | 26.01x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.01x | 3.61x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.63x | 7.03x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 3.94x | 88.32x |
ADT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
JCI leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
JCI delivers a 24.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $25 in annual profit, vs $17 for ADT. JCI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.86x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ADT's 2.03x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ADT scores 8/9 vs JCI's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ADTADT Inc. | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +16.7% | +24.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.9% | +9.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.8% | +8.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.0% | +9.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.03x | 0.86x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.6B | $10.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $81M | $379M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7.7B | $11.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.23x | 18.41x |
JCI leads this category, winning 5 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 $22,286 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,019 for ADT. Over the past 12 months, JCI leads with a +56.9% total return vs ADT's -14.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors JCI at 31.6% vs ADT's 8.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ADTADT Inc. | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -13.3% | +14.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -14.1% | +56.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +26.1% | +127.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -19.8% | +122.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -28.0% | +343.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +8.0% | +31.6% |
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 0.97 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ADT's 0.98 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. JCI currently trades 94.5% from its 52-week high vs ADT's 77.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ADTADT Inc. | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.98x | 0.97x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $8.94 | $147.32 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.25 | $87.77 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.1% | +94.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.4 | 56.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 10.7M | 3.3M |
JCI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — ADT and JCI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ADT as "Buy" and JCI as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.2% upside for ADT (target: $9) vs -0.9% for JCI (target: $138). For income investors, ADT offers the higher dividend yield at 3.03% vs JCI's 1.07%.
| Metric | ADTADT Inc. | JCIJohnson Controls … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $8.97 | $138.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 45 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +1.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.21 | $1.49 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +11.7% | +7.0% |
Evenly matched — ADT and JCI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
JCI leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). ADT leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallJohnson Controls Internatio… (JCI)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
ADT vs JCI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ADT or JCI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ADT Inc.
(ADT) is the stronger pick with 4. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 8% for Johnson Controls International plc (JCI). ADT Inc. (ADT) offers the better valuation at 10. 3x trailing P/E (7. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ADT Inc. (ADT) a "Buy" — based on 17 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 — ADT or JCI?
On trailing P/E, ADT Inc.
(ADT) is the cheapest at 10. 3x versus Johnson Controls International plc at 52. 9x. On forward P/E, ADT Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ADT or JCI?
Over the past 5 years, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) delivered a total return of +122.
9%, compared to -19. 8% for ADT Inc. (ADT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JCI returned +343. 3% versus ADT's -28. 0%. 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 — ADT or JCI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
97β versus ADT Inc. 's 0. 98β — meaning ADT is approximately 1% 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 2% for ADT Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ADT or JCI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ADT Inc.
(ADT) is pulling ahead at 4. 7% versus 2. 8% for Johnson Controls International plc (JCI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ADT Inc. grew EPS 28. 8% year-over-year, compared to 4. 4% for Johnson Controls International plc. 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 — ADT or JCI?
Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the more profitable company, earning 13.
9% net margin versus 11. 6% for ADT Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ADT leads at 26. 0% versus 12. 0% for JCI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ADT leads at 49. 3%, 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 ADT or JCI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, ADT Inc.
(ADT) trades at 7. 5x forward P/E versus 29. 4x for Johnson Controls International plc — 21. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ADT: 30. 2% to $8. 97.
08Which pays a better dividend — ADT or JCI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
ADT Inc. (ADT) offers the highest yield at 3. 0%, versus 1. 1% for Johnson Controls International plc (JCI).
09Is ADT 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.
97), 1. 1% yield, +343. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (JCI: +343. 3%, ADT: -28. 0%), 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 ADT 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.
In terms of investment character: ADT is a small-cap deep-value stock; JCI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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>
%
(ADT: 0.9% · JCI: 8.2%)Net Margin>
%
(ADT: 12.1% · JCI: 14.5%)P/E Ratio<
x
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