Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Stock Price Up 1.3% – Still a Buy?

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s share price traded up 1.3% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $278.89 and last traded at $278.66. Approximately 5,684,489 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 30% from the average daily volume of 8,162,441 shares. The stock had previously closed at $275.21.

Trending Headlines about Johnson & Johnson

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains supportive. JNJ received an upgrade that helped it reach a new 12-month high, while the broader analyst view is rated “Moderate Buy.” UBS also began coverage, potentially increasing institutional attention. Johnson & Johnson Reaches New 12-Month High Following Analyst Upgrade Johnson & Johnson Receives Average Rating of Moderate Buy
• Positive Sentiment: Johnson & Johnson’s 64-year record of dividend growth remains a key support for income-oriented investors. Strong profitability and the company’s diversified healthcare portfolio help sustain the dividend despite competitive pressure on a major drug. Johnson & Johnson Is Boring Which Makes Its Dividend Nearly Perfect
• Neutral Sentiment: Management will discuss the business at the Deutsche Bank Healthcare Summit on September 17. The event could provide updates on pharmaceuticals, litigation and forward guidance, but it is not itself a change to earnings expectations. Johnson & Johnson to Participate in the Deutsche Bank 2026 Healthcare Summit
• Negative Sentiment: Profit-taking and valuation risk are elevated after JNJ gained about 60% over the past year versus roughly 21% for the S&P 500. Analysts question whether the current price already discounts growth above management’s near-term outlook. Was JNJ Stock Rally Actually Its Own? Is Johnson & Johnson Stock Priced For More Growth Than It Has Guided?
• Negative Sentiment: An executive vice president sold 33,597 shares worth approximately $9.2 million, reducing his holdings by 56.9%. The sale may reinforce short-term concerns about insider conviction, although it does not change JNJ’s fundamentals. SEC insider transaction filing
• Negative Sentiment: An analyst lowered the FY2026 EPS forecast, adding pressure to expectations. Talc litigation also remains unresolved despite a proposed path toward settlement, while the Louisiana verdict continues to focus attention on legal liability and potential costs. Johnson & Johnson dividend and competition analysis

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

JNJ has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Johnson Rice reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $272.00 to $282.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $265.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Scotiabank reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $305.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $285.00 to $298.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $272.83.

Johnson & Johnson Trading Down 1.2%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $261.98 and its two-hundred day moving average is $245.07. The company has a market capitalization of $663.01 billion, a PE ratio of 31.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.24.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The company reported $2.90 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.06. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 21.48% and a return on equity of 32.42%. The business had revenue of $25.31 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.06 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.77 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.600-11.750 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 25th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 25th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. Johnson & Johnson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.11%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 23,054 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.27, for a total value of $5,792,778.58. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 23,003 shares in the company, valued at $5,779,963.81. This trade represents a 50.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 33,597 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.74, for a total value of $9,230,439.78. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 25,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,991,308.78. The trade was a 56.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 97,569 shares of company stock worth $25,476,044. Insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Johnson & Johnson

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Silver Coast Investments LLC raised its position in Johnson & Johnson by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. Silver Coast Investments LLC now owns 1,066 shares of the company’s stock worth $271,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Townsend Asset Management Corp NC ADV lifted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Townsend Asset Management Corp NC ADV now owns 6,418 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,630,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. Triumph Capital Management boosted its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 1.6% in the second quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 2,531 shares of the company’s stock worth $643,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Denali Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 1.2% during the second quarter. Denali Advisors LLC now owns 3,305 shares of the company’s stock worth $839,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. Finally, Sierra Capital LLC raised its position in Johnson & Johnson by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Sierra Capital LLC now owns 8,144 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,685,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson is a multinational healthcare company headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of products across pharmaceuticals, medical devices and previously consumer health. Founded in 1886 by the Johnson family, the company has grown into a global healthcare organization with operations and sales in many countries around the world.

The company’s pharmaceuticals business, organized largely under its Janssen research and development organization, focuses on prescription medicines across therapeutic areas such as immunology, infectious disease, oncology and neuroscience.