Earnings Preview: Johnson Controls Earnings Expected to Stay Flat

Johnson Controls JCI earnings are coming up! Don't miss out: The company unveils its next round of earnings this Wednesday, July 20, 2011.

Want to skip the homework and get all the facts in one place? We thought so. Here is your everything-that-matters guide for this Wednesday's third quarter earnings announcement.

Let's Do the Numbers:

Wall Street expects a positive EPS reading of 53 cents per share and revenues of $9.53 billion. Can Johnson Controls manage the estimated 138% rise in EPS and 112% increase in revenues as analysts are predicting? We'll have to wait until Wednesday to find out.

Here's how the company's reported EPS has stacked up against analyst estimates in the past:

Quarter	Q2	Q1	Q4	Q3
EPS Estimate	$0.55	$0.54	$0.57	$0.55
EPS Actual	$0.56	$0.55	$0.60	$0.54

Stock Performance:

As of July 14, 2011, Johnson Controls' current share price was $40.76. Since January 1st, shares of Johnson Controls have given investors a return of 7.6%. For a full 12 months, the return has risen by 31.8%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are probably satisfied going into this earnings release.

• Long-term shareholders are already enjoying 12-month gains prior to the announcement

Average Stock Rating:

The average rating by analysts for Johnson Controls is a Moderate Buy. Over the past three months this rating's strength has declined slightly.

Competitors:

Wondering how some of the other consumer discretionary companies are doing? Here are a few of Johnson Controls' peers in that sector.

• Gentex GNTX: Hold with a $0.29 recent quarter EPS
• Lear LEA: Moderate Buy with a $1.46 recent quarter EPS
• United Technologies UTX: Moderate Buy with a $1.13 recent quarter EPS

Finally, a description of the main business areas of the company, in case you need a little refresher: Johnson Controls is a technology and industrial company focused on building efficiency, automotive experience and power solutions.

Take Action:

Now that you're fully prepared, get ready to take quick action if the company reports any numbers significantly different from those listed above. Also, check back in with us after the announcement for a full recap and what-to-do-next guide.

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