Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Reaches New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s share price hit a new 52-week high on Friday. The stock traded as high as $282.02 and last traded at $277.97, with a volume of 725,450 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $275.20.

Key Stories Impacting Johnson & Johnson

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

• Positive Sentiment: New drug growth is supporting results. J&J’s newer medicines have helped offset declining sales of Stelara, while the company’s latest quarterly report exceeded analysts’ EPS and revenue expectations. The company maintained 2026 EPS guidance of $11.05–$11.15. Johnson & Johnson: Strong Q3 Growth, But 2027 Could Test Its Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Icotyde is gaining traction in plaque psoriasis. Independent physician research indicates that J&J’s oral therapy is being adopted quickly, gaining share in the oral advanced-therapy market and potentially delaying more expensive biologic treatment. This could expand the drug’s commercial opportunity if adoption continues. Does Johnson & Johnson Have a New Edge in Plaque Psoriasis?
• Positive Sentiment: Medical-device data adds support for the MedTech business. J&J presented 26 abstracts at TCT 2026 highlighting more than two decades of safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness data for its Impella heart pumps. The disclosures reinforce the product line’s clinical evidence and commercial positioning. Johnson & Johnson Record 26 Abstracts at TCT 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain broadly constructive, but the stock’s valuation raises the bar. Commentary asks whether much of the recovery story is already reflected in JNJ’s price after its strong one-year advance. With a forward-looking growth profile and elevated price-to-earnings valuation, further gains may depend on sustained execution. Has the Story Under Johnson & Johnson Stock Run Out?
• Negative Sentiment: 2027 earnings could face greater pressure. Stelara’s decline and the need for newer products to replace lost revenue remain key risks, particularly as investors assess whether current growth can justify JNJ’s premium valuation.
• Negative Sentiment: A law firm investigation adds headline risk. Pomerantz announced an investigation into potential claims on behalf of JNJ investors. The announcement is an allegation and solicitation, not a finding of wrongdoing, but it could renew legal concerns surrounding the company. Pomerantz Investor Alert Regarding Johnson & Johnson

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Raymond James Financial set a $280.00 price target on Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $282.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Leerink Partners decreased their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $276.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 14th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Johnson & Johnson from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, August 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut Johnson & Johnson from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Friday, October 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Johnson & Johnson has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $275.92.

Johnson & Johnson Trading Up 0.8%

The firm has a market capitalization of $667.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.94, a PEG ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.21. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $265.64 and a 200-day moving average of $246.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 13th. The company reported $2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.53 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $25.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.38 billion. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 16.20% and a return on equity of 31.64%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.80 earnings per share. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.050-11.150 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 24th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 24th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Johnson & Johnson’s dividend payout ratio is currently 81.21%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Jennifer Taubert sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.36, for a total transaction of $3,950,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 33,597 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.74, for a total transaction of $9,230,439.78. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 25,447 shares in the company, valued at $6,991,308.78. The trade was a 56.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 64,515 shares of company stock worth $17,271,766 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Johnson & Johnson

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Integrity Advisory Solutions LLC raised its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 16.6% in the 3rd quarter. Integrity Advisory Solutions LLC now owns 7,844 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,077,000 after acquiring an additional 1,117 shares in the last quarter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 23.1% during the 3rd quarter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC now owns 2,134 shares of the company’s stock valued at $565,000 after purchasing an additional 401 shares during the period. First Nebraska Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the third quarter worth about $17,630,000. IPG Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Johnson & Johnson in the third quarter worth about $200,000. Finally, Factory Mutual Insurance Co. raised its position in Johnson & Johnson by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Factory Mutual Insurance Co. now owns 292,455 shares of the company’s stock worth $77,425,000 after purchasing an additional 11,045 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.55% of the company’s stock.

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.