Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Stock Price Up 2.3% – Here’s Why

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) shares rose 2.3% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $218.86 and last traded at $218.5320. Approximately 11,779,885 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 39% from the average daily volume of 8,462,161 shares. The stock had previously closed at $213.65.

Key Headlines Impacting Johnson & Johnson

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

• Positive Sentiment: Major clinical win — TECVAYLI (teclistamab) Phase 3 MajesTEC-9 topline: monotherapy showed a 71% reduction in risk of progression or death and a 40% reduction in risk of death in patients largely refractory to anti‑CD38 and lenalidomide. That result supports TECVAYLI as a potential new standard of care in earlier relapsed multiple myeloma and meaningfully strengthens J&J’s oncology revenue runway. TECVAYLI MajesTEC-9 Topline Results
• Positive Sentiment: Legal risk reduced — Delaware’s highest court ordered a recalculation/partially overturned a ~$1B damages award tied to the Auris Health transaction, which could lower potential payouts and remove a headline legal overhang for J&J. That decision reduces downside risk to capital and EPS. Delaware court reduces $1B damages
• Neutral Sentiment: MedTech momentum — analysts point to cardiovascular strength and new device rollouts supporting MedTech growth, though China exposure remains a watch item into the next quarter. This is a growth driver but with regional risk to monitor. MedTech growth drivers ahead of Q4
• Neutral Sentiment: Pipeline/clinical disclosures beyond oncology — J&J will present new depression (CAPLYTA, SPRAVATO, seltorexant) analyses at ACNP; useful for longer-term CNS positioning but unlikely to move near-term revenue materially. ACNP depression data
• Neutral Sentiment: Market attention / earnings on deck — J&J is widely searched and expected to report quarterly results next week, which can increase volatility as investors focus on guidance and MedTech/China commentary. Earnings expectations next week
• Negative Sentiment: Earnings-beat skepticism — a Zacks preview notes J&J “doesn’t possess the right combination” of factors that typically produce an earnings beat, implying upside to estimates may be limited and the stock could pull back if results or guidance disappoint. Zacks: odds of an earnings beat

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on JNJ. Daiwa America upgraded Johnson & Johnson from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Daiwa Capital Markets upgraded Johnson & Johnson from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $203.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $193.00 to $208.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Loop Capital set a $190.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Johnson & Johnson currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $213.33.

Johnson & Johnson Trading Up 2.3%

The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $203.88 and its 200-day simple moving average is $185.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $526.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 14th. The company reported $2.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.04. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 27.26% and a return on equity of 32.73%. The company had revenue of $23.99 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $23.73 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.42 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 EPS for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 24th will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 24th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. Johnson & Johnson’s payout ratio is 50.19%.

Institutional Trading of Johnson & Johnson

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of JNJ. Trust Co. of Oklahoma boosted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Trust Co. of Oklahoma now owns 3,468 shares of the company’s stock worth $718,000 after buying an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Centennial Wealth Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Centennial Wealth Advisory LLC now owns 2,284 shares of the company’s stock worth $473,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. ORG Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 11,334 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,346,000 after purchasing an additional 728 shares in the last quarter. ORG Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 38.2% during the 4th quarter. ORG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 6,976 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,444,000 after purchasing an additional 1,930 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Catalyst Private Wealth LLC raised its position in Johnson & Johnson by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Catalyst Private Wealth LLC now owns 2,339 shares of the company’s stock worth $484,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 69.55% of the company’s stock.

Johnson & Johnson Company Profile

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.