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Johnson Controls International plc: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales up 7%, organic up 6%: Sales reached $5.8 billion, up 7% from the prior year quarter, with organic sales up 6%. Foreign currency added $72 million to sales and acquisitions added $3 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.89, up from $0.64: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.90 against $0.55. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.89 against $0.64 a year earlier. Source
  • Orders up 39% organically: Orders rose 39% organically year over year. Americas orders rose 56% excluding M&A and currency effects, which management attributed to customers' accelerated data center investment. Source
  • Backlog reached $18.2 billion: Backlog was $18.2 billion, up 20% organically. Americas backlog was $13.3 billion, up 22%; EMEA backlog was $3.0 billion, up 11%; APAC backlog was $1.9 billion, up 20%. Source
  • Free cash flow $531 million: Cash from operations was $611 million. Free cash flow was $531 million and adjusted free cash flow was $428 million. Source
  • Adjusted cash conversion 77%: Adjusted free cash flow conversion was 77%, against 143% a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS raised: Full-year adjusted EPS guidance was raised to about $4.70 from about $4.55. Organic sales growth, operating leverage and adjusted free cash flow conversion guidance were unchanged. Source
  • Proprietary business system rolling out: Management said the proprietary business system is being deployed more broadly, with greater speed and consistency, supporting predictable value for customers and shareholders. Source

“where our technology leadership and enviable field presence continues to differentiate us.”

Joakim Weidemanis, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026 full year~$4.70Raised from ~$4.55
Operating leverage SourceFiscal 2026 full year~50%Kept
Adjusted free cash flow conversion SourceFiscal 2026 full year~100%Kept
Organic sales growth SourceFiscal 2026 second quarter~5%New
Operating leverage SourceFiscal 2026 second quarter~45%New
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026 second quarter~$1.11New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted EPS guidance rose from about $4.55 to about $4.70. Source
  • New guidance: Second quarter continuing operations guidance was initiated, covering organic sales growth, operating leverage and adjusted EPS. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year organic sales growth and operating leverage guidance were kept at mid-single digits and about 50%. Source
  • New: The company sold its ADT Mexico Security business, recognizing a pre-tax gain of $70 million. Source
  • New: Backlog was restated to include a new category of equipment-only sales for longer cycle projects. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales up 7%, organic up 6%: Sales reached $5.8 billion, up 7% from the prior year quarter, with organic sales up 6%. Foreign currency added $72 million to sales and acquisitions added $3 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.89, up from $0.64: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.90 against $0.55. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.89 against $0.64 a year earlier. Source
  • Margin expansion and execution cited: Management said adjusted EPS rose nearly 40%, with margin expansion and improving execution across the enterprise. Source
  • Reported EBIT includes recoveries and gain: Reported EBIT was $767 million against $494 million, including $130 million of Water systems AFFF insurance recoveries and a $70 million divestiture gain. Adjusted EBIT was $719 million against $568 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas sales up 6%, margin flat: Americas sales were $3.8 billion, up 6%, with organic growth also 6% led by Applied HVAC and Controls. Segment EBITA margin was 16.1%, approximately flat, and adjusted margin was 16.4%. Source
  • EMEA margin up 70 basis points: EMEA sales rose 9% to $1.3 billion, with organic growth of 4% led by 8% growth in Services. Segment EBITA margin was 12.5%, and adjusted margin was 13.0%. Source
  • APAC margin up 290 basis points: APAC sales rose 8% to $693 million, with organic growth of 8% led by 9% growth in Products and Systems. Segment EBITA margin was 16.9%, and adjusted margin was also 16.9%. Source
  • Adjusted corporate expense down 16%: GAAP corporate expense was $156 million against $171 million. Adjusted corporate expense was $107 million against $127 million, down 16%. Source

“As we deploy our proprietary business system more broadly, we’re operating with greater speed and consistency, strengthening our ability to deliver sustained, predictable value for our customers and shareholders.”

Joakim Weidemanis, CEO

Demand and the order book

  • Orders up 39% organically: Orders rose 39% organically year over year. Americas orders rose 56% excluding M&A and currency effects, which management attributed to customers' accelerated data center investment. Source
  • Backlog reached $18.2 billion: Backlog was $18.2 billion, up 20% organically. Americas backlog was $13.3 billion, up 22%; EMEA backlog was $3.0 billion, up 11%; APAC backlog was $1.9 billion, up 20%. Source
  • Equipment-only sales added to backlog: Orders before Q1 2026 excluded certain equipment-only sales for longer cycle projects. Backlog was restated to include this new category. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross profit and SG&A both reported: Gross profit was $2,074 million against $1,926 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1,221 million against $1,399 million a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring charges rose: Restructuring and impairment costs were $87 million against $33 million. These costs are excluded from adjusted EPS. Source
  • Adjusted tax rate about 17%: After adjusting for certain non-recurring items, the effective tax rate for continuing operations was about 17%, against about 12% a year earlier. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow $531 million: Cash from operations was $611 million. Free cash flow was $531 million and adjusted free cash flow was $428 million. Source
  • Adjusted cash conversion 77%: Adjusted free cash flow conversion was 77%, against 143% a year earlier. Source
  • Dividends paid, no buybacks this quarter: Dividends paid were $245 million, the same as a year earlier. No stock repurchases were made this quarter, against $330 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net debt at 2.2x adjusted EBITDA: Net debt was $9,153 million at December 31, 2025, against $9,501 million at September 30, 2025. Net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 2.2x. Source

Portfolio changes

  • ADT Mexico Security business sold: The sale of ADT Mexico Security produced $207 million of net proceeds and a pre-tax gain of $70 million, which is excluded from adjusted measures. Source
  • Discontinued HVAC business results: The R&LC business, sold in July 2025, is reported as discontinued operations. Discontinued operations produced a $31 million loss this quarter, against $90 million of income a year earlier. Source

Full-year and second-quarter guidance

  • Full-year adjusted EPS raised: Full-year adjusted EPS guidance was raised to about $4.70 from about $4.55. Organic sales growth, operating leverage and adjusted free cash flow conversion guidance were unchanged. Source
  • Second quarter guidance initiated: Second quarter guidance calls for organic sales growth of about 5%, operating leverage of about 45%, and adjusted EPS of about $1.11. Source
  • Earlier first quarter guidance compared: Earlier first quarter guidance was organic sales growth of about 3%, operating leverage of about 55% and adjusted EPS of about $0.83.

Operating system and strategy

  • Proprietary business system rolling out: Management said the proprietary business system is being deployed more broadly, with greater speed and consistency, supporting predictable value for customers and shareholders. Source
  • Technology leadership cited: The CEO pointed to technology leadership and field presence as differentiators in the company's core end markets. Source
  • Transformation costs tied to simplification: Transformation costs are defined as incremental spending on growth initiatives and cost saving, tied to portfolio simplification and the lifecycle solutions strategy. These costs are excluded from adjusted EPS. Source

Water systems AFFF items

  • AFFF insurance recoveries $130 million: Water systems AFFF insurance recoveries were $130 million, against $4 million a year earlier, and are excluded from adjusted measures. Source
  • AFFF cash items excluded from adjusted FCF: AFFF settlement cash payments and insurance recoveries were a $74 million outflow this quarter, against $397 million a year earlier, and are excluded from adjusted free cash flow. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog Source$18.2 billion, up 20% organically year-over-year
Orders growth, organic Source+39% year-over-year

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: AFFF settlement payments and insurance recoveries are excluded from adjusted free cash flow; this quarter's amount was a $74 million outflow. Source
  • Demand: Backlog and orders growth is attributed mainly to customers' data center investment, which is the reason given for the Americas increase. Source
  • Financial: Management describes net debt to adjusted EBITDA as a measure of risk to shareholders; the ratio was 2.2x at December 31, 2025. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.