Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Shares Up 2.2% – Time to Buy?

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s stock price was up 2.2% during trading on Tuesday. The stock traded as high as $260.77 and last traded at $259.4190. Approximately 7,633,228 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 5% from the average session volume of 7,994,566 shares. The stock had previously closed at $253.79.

Key Johnson & Johnson News

Here are the key news stories impacting Johnson & Johnson this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Management raised its 2026 outlook, projecting approximately $101.2 billion in sales at the midpoint and slightly higher adjusted EPS. The update reflects strength in JNJ’s drug portfolio and helped offset concerns from the quarter’s headline results. Johnson & Johnson Drugs Lift Guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Johnson & Johnson launched the Shockwave C2 Aero Fly coronary intravascular lithotripsy catheter in the United States. Its faster pulse rate is designed to cut treatment time, supporting JNJ’s strategy of using acquired medical-device technologies to expand cardiovascular sales. JNJ Launches Shockwave C2 Aero Fly Catheter
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s 64-year record of annual dividend increases remains a key attraction for income-focused investors. JNJ also continues to benefit from broader growth in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical technology. JNJ Profit and Dividend Streak
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst opinion is mixed: TD Cowen reiterated a Buy rating with a $300 price target, while Erste Group cut JNJ to Hold and JLPascual issued a Sell rating. The split suggests investors remain uncertain about how much of the company’s future growth is already reflected in the stock.
• Neutral Sentiment: JNJ’s medical-device acquisitions are producing revenue growth, but competition and elevated development spending could limit the effect on shareholder returns. JNJ Medical Device Deals
• Negative Sentiment: The reported profit collapse of roughly 96% year over year—and the stock’s decline following the earnings release—has overshadowed the adjusted EPS beat. The decline appears largely affected by unusual items, but it is still weighing on sentiment. JNJ Reported Profit Decline
• Negative Sentiment: At roughly 39 times earnings, JNJ faces valuation pressure, particularly as Treasury yields approach 5% and offer income investors a lower-risk alternative to dividend stocks. Treasury Yields and Dividend Stocks
• Negative Sentiment: JNJ has trailed the S&P 500 over the past decade despite its dividend growth, reinforcing concerns that defensive income alone may not justify the stock’s premium valuation. JNJ Dividend Growth and S&P 500 Performance

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $282.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $260.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $275.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 16th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $287.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Finally, Bank of America reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $278.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Tuesday, September 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $275.92.

Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance

The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $265.46 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $249.94. The company has a market capitalization of $620.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.81.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 13th. The company reported $2.59 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.53 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $25.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $25.38 billion. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 16.20% and a return on equity of 31.54%. Johnson & Johnson’s revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.80 earnings per share. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.050-11.150 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 24th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 24th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Johnson & Johnson’s dividend payout ratio is currently 81.21%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Johnson & Johnson

In other news, EVP Elizabeth Forminard sold 15,918 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $257.00, for a total value of $4,090,926.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 16,994 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,367,458. This trade represents a 48.37% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Jennifer Taubert sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.36, for a total value of $3,950,400.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 194,451 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $51,210,615.36. The trade was a 7.16% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 64,515 shares of company stock worth $17,271,766. Insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Johnson & Johnson

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. National Pension Service grew its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 5,226,968 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,327,493,000 after acquiring an additional 67,484 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 8.8% in the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 38,760 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,844,000 after purchasing an additional 3,133 shares during the period. Elefante Mark B lifted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 9.8% in the 2nd quarter. Elefante Mark B now owns 28,686 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,285,000 after purchasing an additional 2,563 shares during the period. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 76.1% in the 1st quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC now owns 15,126 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,697,000 after purchasing an additional 6,539 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 152,831 shares of the company’s stock valued at $38,815,000 after purchasing an additional 13,737 shares during the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Johnson & Johnson Company Profile

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is a global healthcare company headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Founded in 1886, the company develops and markets products and services for patients, healthcare professionals and institutions worldwide.

Johnson & Johnson operates through two principal segments: Innovative Medicine and MedTech. Innovative Medicine focuses on pharmaceuticals for areas such as immunology, oncology, neuroscience, infectious diseases and cardiovascular conditions.