Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Hits New 12-Month High – What’s Next?

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $251.71 and last traded at $248.6050, with a volume of 8884574 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $248.43.

Key Headlines Impacting Johnson & Johnson

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

• Positive Sentiment: FDA Fast Track for nipocalimab in systemic lupus erythematosus — The drug earned Fast Track designation supported by positive Phase 2 data and an ongoing Phase 3 study, which can accelerate review timelines and boosts the pharma pipeline narrative. Nipocalimab Fast Track PR
• Positive Sentiment: New direct-to-consumer drug sales channel — J&J launched a U.S. website to sell certain medications directly to uninsured or out-of-pocket patients, which may expand access and create a new revenue stream outside traditional pharmacy channels. Reuters: Direct-to-consumer site
• Neutral Sentiment: Oncology and other late-stage programs showing progress — Early pasritamig data and other oncology moves underpin higher long-term estimates, but timelines and commercial execution remain key variables. Yahoo: Pipeline & legal update
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor access and upcoming results — J&J scheduled its first-quarter results call for April 14; the call and Q1 metrics will be the next catalysts for guidance and near-term sentiment. Earnings call notice
• Neutral Sentiment: Dividend and income investor interest — J&J continues to be highlighted among top dividend/dividend-growth picks, supporting demand from income-focused investors even amid broader volatility. Dividend aristocrat piece
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst stance: Hold with limited upside — Bank of America reiterated a Hold rating citing higher oncology-driven estimates but constrained upside, which may temper upside momentum despite pipeline wins. TipRanks: Hold rating
• Negative Sentiment: Bayer legal challenge over prostate cancer product claims — Bayer has initiated legal action related to prostate cancer product claims, introducing litigation risk and potential costs or reputational impact that investors dislike. Yahoo: Legal challenge mention

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on JNJ shares. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $240.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Scotiabank reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Citigroup upped their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $232.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Leerink Partners raised their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $201.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Johnson & Johnson currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $232.70.

Johnson & Johnson Price Performance

The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $227.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $203.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $591.10 billion, a PE ratio of 22.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Saturday, January 31st. The company reported $2.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $24.28 billion during the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 33.04% and a net margin of 28.46%. Research analysts anticipate that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced 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 is Tuesday, February 24th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Johnson & Johnson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.06%.

Insider Activity at Johnson & Johnson

In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 6,197 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.39, for a total value of $1,508,287.83. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 23,003 shares in the company, valued at $5,598,700.17. This represents a 21.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 22,623 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $244.33, for a total transaction of $5,527,477.59. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 26,769 shares in the company, valued at $6,540,469.77. The trade was a 45.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 30,142 shares of company stock worth $7,360,528 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Johnson & Johnson

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in JNJ. Sierra Capital LLC boosted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Sierra Capital LLC now owns 8,144 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,685,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,422 shares of the company’s stock worth $501,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Broadleaf Partners LLC grew its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Broadleaf Partners LLC now owns 7,348 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,521,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Jessup Wealth Management Inc increased its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Jessup Wealth Management Inc now owns 7,574 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,567,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Plancorp LLC lifted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 15,889 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,288,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other 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.