Honeywell Weighs Abandoning Johnson Matthey Acquisition
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 21 2026
0mins
Should l Buy HON?
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Acquisition Uncertainty: Honeywell is reconsidering its planned £1.8 billion ($2.4 billion) acquisition of Johnson Matthey's Catalyst Technologies due to concerns over regulatory approvals and achieving certain business milestones, with a final decision expected in days, and a failure could hinder Johnson Matthey's restructuring strategy.
- Deal Background: The acquisition agreement was reached in May 2025 as part of Honeywell's push into automation and sustainability technologies, and the potential collapse of the deal may impact its expansion plans in energy transition technologies, which investors are closely monitoring.
- Market Reaction: Johnson Matthey's shares have surged nearly 60% since the acquisition announcement, reflecting investor optimism about the divestment and balance-sheet improvement tied to the sale, and a failed deal could jeopardize these gains and operational streamlining efforts.
- Investor Focus: The outcome of the negotiations is being closely watched by investors, as the deal was seen as a key step in reshaping Johnson Matthey's portfolio while expanding Honeywell's market share in energy transition technologies.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy HON?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on HON
Wall Street analysts forecast HON stock price to rise
15 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
6 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 228.200
Low
195.00
Averages
235.07
High
262.00
Current: 228.200
Low
195.00
Averages
235.07
High
262.00
About HON
Honeywell International Inc. is an integrated operating company serving a range of industries and geographies around the world, with a portfolio that is underpinned by its Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Forge platform. The Company provides actionable solutions for aerospace, building automation, industrial automation, process automation, and process technology. The Company supplies products, software, and services for aircrafts that it sells to original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and other customers in a variety of end markets. The Company’s portfolio of solutions and services is used in buildings worldwide for fire prevention, controls, access and security. Its offerings serve as the fundamental building blocks of industrial automation. Its sensor technologies and value-added smart edge devices offer connectivity across a variety of sensing and measurement applications. The Company offers a comprehensive portfolio of end-to-end process automation solutions.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Phelan Green Selects Honeywell Tech for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Facility
- Project Background: Phelan eFuels has selected Honeywell's Fischer-Tropsch Unicracking technology for a planned sustainable aviation fuel facility in Saldanha Bay, South Africa, marking one of the country's largest green energy initiatives and enhancing its role in low-carbon energy production.
- Investment Scale: The facility is part of the broader Phelan Green Hydrogen Project, with a private investment valued at approximately 47 billion rand (around $2.5 billion), reflecting strong confidence and long-term commitment to the renewable energy sector.
- Production Expectations: Once operational, the facility is expected to produce over 140,000 metric tons of electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) annually, primarily targeting the EU and UK markets to meet the rising demand for lower-emission aviation fuels, thus driving the green transition in international markets.
- Construction Timeline: Construction of the facility is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, marking a significant advancement for South Africa in the renewable energy sector and laying the groundwork for future green economic development.
See More
Redwire Awarded ESA Contract for Quantum Satellite Development
- Quantum Satellite Contract: Redwire Corporation has been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop the quantum-secure satellite QKDSat, marking a significant expansion in its aerospace technology capabilities and expected to enhance its competitiveness in the global market.
- Multinational Collaboration: This project involves collaboration with companies like Honeywell, aiming to provide quantum key distribution via satellite to enhance communication security, addressing the urgent need to counteract rising cyber threats.
- Technological Expertise: Redwire will leverage its expertise in spacecraft design and development, combined with Honeywell's advanced optical payload terminal, to accelerate the deployment of ultra-secure communication infrastructure, driving the future of satellite communications.
- Heritage and Experience: With over 50 years of spaceflight heritage, Redwire's facility in Belgium has successfully delivered numerous critical ESA projects, further solidifying its leadership position in the aerospace sector.
See More
Vertical Aerospace Partners with Isoclima for Valo Aircraft
- Strategic Supplier Selection: Vertical Aerospace has selected Italy's Isoclima S.p.A. as a strategic supplier for the full transparency suite of its Valo aircraft, including pilot and passenger canopies and glazing systems, aiming to enhance supply chain stability through support in certification, production, and commercial service.
- Meeting Technical Requirements: The agreement ensures that the transparency components of the Valo aircraft meet requirements for bird-strike resistance, structural loads, and environmental stress while maintaining visibility standards, thereby laying a foundation for future market competitiveness.
- Projected Cash Outflows: Vertical expects approximately $195 million in net cash outflows over the next 12 months, primarily for investments in flight testing, certification, and manufacturing, demonstrating the company's commitment to advancing the Valo project.
- Production Line Launch: On March 18, Vertical announced that its battery pilot production line has become operational, marking a significant step in the company's development in electric aviation and is expected to accelerate the production and delivery process of the Valo aircraft.
See More
Honeywell CEO Discusses AI Integration in Business Model
- AI Adoption Outlook: Honeywell CEO Vimal Kapur highlighted at CERAWeek 2026 that the mass adoption of AI will reshape industries, particularly through automation in execution phases, while human intellect remains crucial in defining and validating processes.
- Balance of Human and Automation: Kapur emphasized that while software execution is highly automated, the manufacturing of physical products still requires human involvement, especially in testing and certification, indicating Honeywell's competitive edge in the AI era.
- Importance of Industry Selection: He advised young individuals to choose sectors less susceptible to AI replacement in execution roles, reflecting Honeywell's strategic focus on maintaining human decision-making at its core amid technological advancements.
- Honeywell's AI Strategy: Kapur stated that Honeywell will integrate AI technologies into its processes to enhance operational efficiency, although its products are fundamentally rule-based and deterministic physical systems, providing the company with a unique market positioning amidst technological transformations.
See More
CNBC Investing Club March Meeting Overview
- Energy Stocks Surge: Following the outbreak of war in Iran, energy stocks, particularly fertilizer manufacturers, have shown strong performance, indicating robust market demand that could drive profitability for related companies.
- AWS Growth Acceleration: Amazon's cloud unit AWS is no longer lagging behind Microsoft Azure, thanks to its partnership with Anthropic, with expectations for next quarter's margins to exceed market forecasts, boosting investor confidence.
- Cybersecurity Challenges: CrowdStrike has been affected by turmoil in the software market, but the CEO highlighted the positive impact of AI on cyberattacks, indicating long-term growth potential in the security sector, despite high stock prices.
- Healthcare Sector Risks: Eli Lilly faces pricing pressure from competitor Novo Nordisk, but the company is prepared to counter this by increasing volume, with the upcoming launch of its GLP-1 obesity drug expected to drive growth.
See More
Market Dynamics and Investment Opportunities Analysis
- Oil Prices and Market Reaction: Oil prices are rising while stock futures are down, as President Trump's extension of the pause on attacking Iranian energy infrastructure until April 6 is interpreted as a signal for troop buildup in the Middle East, potentially affecting energy-related stocks' performance.
- Social Media Platform Pressure: JPMorgan noted that the court ruling against Meta and YouTube could force significant changes in social media platforms, leading to a nearly 8% drop in Meta's stock yesterday, which may impact user engagement and profitability, potentially eroding investor confidence.
- Netflix Price Hike Expectations: Citi anticipates Netflix will raise its outlook for 2026 following its announcement of price increases across all subscription tiers, with JPMorgan estimating an additional $1.7 billion in annual revenue for 2025, although much of this increase is already factored into sales guidance.
- Brown-Forman Merger Talks: Citi upgraded Brown-Forman from sell to hold and raised its price target from $24 to $28, while JPMorgan also moved to hold, suggesting that merger prospects will support the stock price, despite the company's historical disinterest in takeover offers.
See More
Phelan Green Selects Honeywell Tech for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Facility
- Project Background: Phelan eFuels has selected Honeywell's Fischer-Tropsch Unicracking technology for a planned sustainable aviation fuel facility in Saldanha Bay, South Africa, marking one of the country's largest green energy initiatives and enhancing its role in low-carbon energy production.
- Investment Scale: The facility is part of the broader Phelan Green Hydrogen Project, with a private investment valued at approximately 47 billion rand (around $2.5 billion), reflecting strong confidence and long-term commitment to the renewable energy sector.
- Production Expectations: Once operational, the facility is expected to produce over 140,000 metric tons of electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) annually, primarily targeting the EU and UK markets to meet the rising demand for lower-emission aviation fuels, thus driving the green transition in international markets.
- Construction Timeline: Construction of the facility is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, marking a significant advancement for South Africa in the renewable energy sector and laying the groundwork for future green economic development.
See More
Redwire Awarded ESA Contract for Quantum Satellite Development
- Quantum Satellite Contract: Redwire Corporation has been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop the quantum-secure satellite QKDSat, marking a significant expansion in its aerospace technology capabilities and expected to enhance its competitiveness in the global market.
- Multinational Collaboration: This project involves collaboration with companies like Honeywell, aiming to provide quantum key distribution via satellite to enhance communication security, addressing the urgent need to counteract rising cyber threats.
- Technological Expertise: Redwire will leverage its expertise in spacecraft design and development, combined with Honeywell's advanced optical payload terminal, to accelerate the deployment of ultra-secure communication infrastructure, driving the future of satellite communications.
- Heritage and Experience: With over 50 years of spaceflight heritage, Redwire's facility in Belgium has successfully delivered numerous critical ESA projects, further solidifying its leadership position in the aerospace sector.
See More
Vertical Aerospace Partners with Isoclima for Valo Aircraft
- Strategic Supplier Selection: Vertical Aerospace has selected Italy's Isoclima S.p.A. as a strategic supplier for the full transparency suite of its Valo aircraft, including pilot and passenger canopies and glazing systems, aiming to enhance supply chain stability through support in certification, production, and commercial service.
- Meeting Technical Requirements: The agreement ensures that the transparency components of the Valo aircraft meet requirements for bird-strike resistance, structural loads, and environmental stress while maintaining visibility standards, thereby laying a foundation for future market competitiveness.
- Projected Cash Outflows: Vertical expects approximately $195 million in net cash outflows over the next 12 months, primarily for investments in flight testing, certification, and manufacturing, demonstrating the company's commitment to advancing the Valo project.
- Production Line Launch: On March 18, Vertical announced that its battery pilot production line has become operational, marking a significant step in the company's development in electric aviation and is expected to accelerate the production and delivery process of the Valo aircraft.
See More
Honeywell CEO Discusses AI Integration in Business Model
- AI Adoption Outlook: Honeywell CEO Vimal Kapur highlighted at CERAWeek 2026 that the mass adoption of AI will reshape industries, particularly through automation in execution phases, while human intellect remains crucial in defining and validating processes.
- Balance of Human and Automation: Kapur emphasized that while software execution is highly automated, the manufacturing of physical products still requires human involvement, especially in testing and certification, indicating Honeywell's competitive edge in the AI era.
- Importance of Industry Selection: He advised young individuals to choose sectors less susceptible to AI replacement in execution roles, reflecting Honeywell's strategic focus on maintaining human decision-making at its core amid technological advancements.
- Honeywell's AI Strategy: Kapur stated that Honeywell will integrate AI technologies into its processes to enhance operational efficiency, although its products are fundamentally rule-based and deterministic physical systems, providing the company with a unique market positioning amidst technological transformations.
See More
CNBC Investing Club March Meeting Overview
- Energy Stocks Surge: Following the outbreak of war in Iran, energy stocks, particularly fertilizer manufacturers, have shown strong performance, indicating robust market demand that could drive profitability for related companies.
- AWS Growth Acceleration: Amazon's cloud unit AWS is no longer lagging behind Microsoft Azure, thanks to its partnership with Anthropic, with expectations for next quarter's margins to exceed market forecasts, boosting investor confidence.
- Cybersecurity Challenges: CrowdStrike has been affected by turmoil in the software market, but the CEO highlighted the positive impact of AI on cyberattacks, indicating long-term growth potential in the security sector, despite high stock prices.
- Healthcare Sector Risks: Eli Lilly faces pricing pressure from competitor Novo Nordisk, but the company is prepared to counter this by increasing volume, with the upcoming launch of its GLP-1 obesity drug expected to drive growth.
See More
Market Dynamics and Investment Opportunities Analysis
- Oil Prices and Market Reaction: Oil prices are rising while stock futures are down, as President Trump's extension of the pause on attacking Iranian energy infrastructure until April 6 is interpreted as a signal for troop buildup in the Middle East, potentially affecting energy-related stocks' performance.
- Social Media Platform Pressure: JPMorgan noted that the court ruling against Meta and YouTube could force significant changes in social media platforms, leading to a nearly 8% drop in Meta's stock yesterday, which may impact user engagement and profitability, potentially eroding investor confidence.
- Netflix Price Hike Expectations: Citi anticipates Netflix will raise its outlook for 2026 following its announcement of price increases across all subscription tiers, with JPMorgan estimating an additional $1.7 billion in annual revenue for 2025, although much of this increase is already factored into sales guidance.
- Brown-Forman Merger Talks: Citi upgraded Brown-Forman from sell to hold and raised its price target from $24 to $28, while JPMorgan also moved to hold, suggesting that merger prospects will support the stock price, despite the company's historical disinterest in takeover offers.
See More
