Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Trading 1% Higher – Time to Buy?

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s share price was up 1% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $231.89 and last traded at $231.6910. Approximately 5,196,212 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 38% from the average daily volume of 8,438,648 shares. The stock had previously closed at $229.32.

Key Stories Impacting Johnson & Johnson

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

• Positive Sentiment: Johnson & Johnson received favorable coverage for its diversified pharma and MedTech businesses, with analysts saying its pipeline progress and stronger 2026 outlook make it better positioned than Pfizer despite patent risks. J&J & Pfizer Face Patent Risks: Which Stock Looks Better Positioned?
• Positive Sentiment: The company announced China approval for nipocalimab, a regulatory win that expands the drug’s commercial potential and supports sentiment around J&J’s pipeline. Johnson & Johnson says nipocalimab approved in China
• Positive Sentiment: J&J also highlighted a next-generation coronary artery disease catheter, reinforcing growth prospects in its MedTech segment and ongoing innovation in interventional medicine. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Unveils Next-Gen Catheter for Coronary Artery Disease
• Positive Sentiment: J&J announced a collaboration to build a global intelligent operating room network with Abu Dhabi’s health department, adding another AI-driven MedTech initiative that could strengthen its long-term growth story. Johnson & Johnson Advances Creation of Global Intelligent OR Network
• Neutral Sentiment: J&J was included in broader dividend and blue-chip stock commentary, which may reinforce its reputation as a defensive income stock but does not appear to be a major direct driver. The Dividend Stocks That Can Replace a $65,000 Income and What They’ll Cost You
• Neutral Sentiment: Another article framed J&J as a defensive growth stock, supporting the bull case but offering little new fundamental information. Why Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Still Fits a Defensive Growth Case
• Negative Sentiment: ImmunityBio said its ANKTIVA-based bladder cancer data shows a cost advantage versus J&J’s TAR-200, which could raise competitive pressure in an important oncology area. IBRX Says ANKTIVA Delivers Up To $314K Cost Advantage Over J&J’s TAR-200

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

JNJ has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Guggenheim increased their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $244.00 to $266.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, April 20th. Wall Street Zen lowered Johnson & Johnson from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, February 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $265.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Wednesday, April 15th. Leerink Partners raised Johnson & Johnson from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $265.00 price target for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. Twenty analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $253.04.

Johnson & Johnson Trading Up 1.3%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $564.91 billion, a PE ratio of 27.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.27. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $234.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $223.28.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 14th. The company reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.02. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 32.60% and a net margin of 21.83%.The company had revenue of $24.06 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $23.60 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.77 EPS. Johnson & Johnson’s quarterly revenue was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.450-11.650 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Johnson & Johnson Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 26th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. This is a boost from Johnson & Johnson’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 26th. Johnson & Johnson’s payout ratio is currently 60.12%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Johnson & Johnson

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Auto Owners Insurance Co lifted its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 22,225.6% during the fourth quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 69,419,308 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,436,633,000 after buying an additional 69,108,368 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the 4th quarter valued at $6,924,523,000. Capital World Investors bought a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the 4th quarter worth $2,005,942,000. Diamant Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 24,436.5% during the 1st quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,473,008 shares of the company’s stock worth $109,338,000 after purchasing an additional 4,454,778 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Johnson & Johnson by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 240,349,660 shares of the company’s stock valued at $49,740,362,000 after purchasing an additional 3,731,074 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 69.55% of the company’s stock.

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.