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Key Takeaways Johnson & Johnson's Innovative Medicine sales rose 6.8% operationally to $16.38 billion in Q2 2026.JNJ's growth was led by Darzalex, Tremfya, Erleada and newer drugs despite Stelara's sharp decline.Johnson & Johnson expects key drugs and new launches to support above-market growth through 2026. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) , via its Innovative Medicine segment, markets a broad portfolio of blockbuster therapies across key areas, including neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, immunology, oncology, pulmonary hypertension and infectious diseases.

J&J’s Innovative Medicines/Pharma segment is the company’s primary growth engine, clearly outperforming its MedTech segment, despite the impact of biosimilar and generic competition on sales of some key drugs like Stelara, Remicade and Zytiga.

J&J’s Innovative Medicine Segment’s Q2 PerformanceJ&J’s Innovative Medicine segment delivered another quarter of healthy operational growth in the second quarter as sales rose 6.8% on an operational basis (excluding the impact of currency) to $16.38 billion.

On an organic basis, sales rose 6.9% despite the loss of exclusivity (“LOE”) of the multi-billion-dollar product, Stelara.

Higher sales of key products such as Darzalex, Tremfya and Erleada due to strong market growth and share gains drove the segment’s growth. New drugs like Carvykti, Tecvayli, Talvey, Rybrevant and Spravato contributed significantly to growth. These gains were partly offset by lower sales of Stelara, Remicade, Imbruvica and Zytiga.

Sales of blockbuster multiple myeloma treatment, Darzalex, rose 18.9% to $4.21 billion in the quarter. Tremfya remained another key growth driver, with sales rising 72.5% to $2.05 billion. Erleada sales increased 9.5% to $995 million.

Stelara’s sales fell 55.2% to $740 million. Stelara’s LOE negatively impacted the Innovative Medicines segment’s growth by 760 basis points and total revenues by 460 basis points in the second quarter.

J&J’s Innovative Medicine Segment’s Outlook for H2J&J expects its Innovative Medicine segment to remain a key growth driver in the second half of 2026. The growth is expected to be driven by its key products, such as Darzalex, Tremfya, Spravato, Carvykti and Erleada, as well as increased contribution from new launches like Icotyde, Rybrevant and Inlexzo, which can offset the ongoing impact of Stelara biosimilar competition. On the second-quarter conference call, J&J said that it is seeing strong launches of all these new drugs, Inlexzo, Icotyde and Imaavy.

However, other than the Stelara LOE impact, J&J expects generic impact for both Simponi and Opsumit to begin in 2026 as the drugs lose patent protection.

Overall, J&J expects continued above-market growth for the Innovative Medicine segment through the remainder of 2026. In fact, Innovative Medicine is expected to remain J&J's primary growth engine for the foreseeable future.

J&J Key CompetitorsImmunology and oncology are J&J’s key areas. Other large drugmakers with a strong presence in the oncology market include Novartis, AstraZeneca (AZN - Free Report) , AbbVie (ABBV - Free Report) , Amgen (AMGN - Free Report) , Merck, Bristol-Myers, Roche and Pfizer. In immunology, AbbVie, Amgen, Sanofi, AstraZeneca and Pfizer hold a strong position.

JNJ’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesJ&J’s shares have outperformed the industry so far this year. The stock has risen 26.7% this year compared with 11.8% appreciation of the industry. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, J&J is slightly expensive. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 21.07 forward earnings, higher than 18.72 for the industry. The stock is also trading above its five-year mean of 15.65.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has risen from $11.58 per share to $11.65 per share over the past 30 days, while that for 2027 earnings has gone up from $12.65 per share to $12.80 over the same time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

J&J has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways JNJ beat Q2 earnings and sales estimates, driven by strength in Tremfya, Darzalex and other key drugs.JNJ raised its 2026 outlook as it advances new launches, FDA filings and eyes the Firefly Bio acquisition. ETFs like IHE offer exposure to Johnson & Johnson for investors seeking diversified healthcare access. Medtech giant Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results, surpassing Wall Street estimates on both the top and bottom lines. The quarterly performance was primarily driven by strong growth in the immunology drug Tremfya and cancer blockbuster Darzalex. 

Despite reporting such an impressive quarterly performance, this drugmaker slipped 1.5% at the bourses following the earnings announcement. This dip, largely attributed to a notable sales miss in its MedTech division and a 2% slump in its Cardiovascular sales, was short-lived, as the stock regained its balance the following day, gaining 1.2%.

Notably, JNJ has gained 3.5% since reporting its second-quarter results a week ago. The stock is now up more than 20% year to date, comfortably outperforming the S&P 500's 9.3% return.

Against this backdrop, for investors looking to capitalize on JNJ's raised earnings outlook for the year, backed by its dominant position in the Pharma and MedTech industries, healthcare exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer a lower-risk entry point to gain exposure to this healthcare giant before the next major rally, particularly for those seeking to avoid single-stock idiosyncratic risk. 

But before suggesting a few such healthcare ETFs that deserve a place in your portfolio, let us take a look at JNJ's overall second-quarter performance.

A Brief Look at JNJ's Q2 ResultsJNJ's second-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $2.90 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.1%, while sales outpaced the consensus mark by 0.5%. 

The combination of TALVEY and DARZALEX delivered deep and durable responses with more than 80% of patients progression-free at 2 years and overall survival up to 89%, as per the second-quarter data.

In solid tumors, JNJ continued to see strong performance from ERLEADA and RYBREVANT. In bladder cancer, nearly one in three eligible patients started on an INLEXZO regimen and new patient insertions grew approximately 75% in the second quarter versus the prior quarter. 

In Immunology, JNJ’s TREMFYA remained the fastest-growing advanced therapy in both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, delivering exceptional overall sales growth of 71%. In Neuroscience, both SPRAVATO and CAPLYTA delivered strong performance in the second quarter, with CAPLYTA's new patient starts surging 122% year over year.

In Cardiovascular, VARIPULSE, JNJ’s pulsed-field ablation platform for atrial fibrillation, showed strong momentum with more than 85,000 patients now treated worldwide.  

JNJ debuted its CARTOSOUND SONATA, bringing new AI-powered imaging and mapping capabilities to electrophysiology. The company also received FDA authorization for its dual-energy THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF platform, which integrates pulsed-field and radiofrequency energy in a single system to give physicians greater flexibility in tailoring ablation treatments for patients.

In Circulatory Restoration, JNJ’s global launch of Shockwave C2 Aero expanded the healthcare giant’s ability to treat more complex coronary disease and broadened the reach of its intravascular lithotripsy platform. 

J&J's management expects to receive FDA regulatory approval for IMAAVY as the first-ever treatment for patients with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, a rare and serious autoantibody disease, in the second half of 2026.

The company also projects FDA approval for its OTTAVA robotic surgical system and the EMEA launch of ETHICON 4000 this year. 
JNJ’s planned acquisition of Firefly Bio, expected to be closed in the third quarter of 2026, should add a proprietary platform designed to target KRAS-driven solid tumors, which are typically more difficult to treat, thereby further diversifying the company’s oncology pipeline.  

Market Reaction Post Q2 EarningsFollowing J&J's upbeat Q2 results, Bernstein raised its price target for the pharma giant to $261 from $251 while maintaining a Market Perform rating, citing solid underlying medical technology trends to drive the stock's performance (as cited in Investing.com).

JNJ-Heavy ETFs to BuyiShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE - Free Report)   

This fund, with net assets worth $1.44 billion, provides exposure to 56 U.S. domestic drug manufacturers and vaccine producers. Of these, Johnson and Johnson takes the first spot, accounting for a 21.72% share. 

IHE has rallied 18.7% year to date and charges 38 basis points (bps) in fees. IHE holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and traded at a volume of 0.13 million shares in the last trading session.  

State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV - Free Report)   

This fund, with assets under management (AUM) of $41.69 billion, provides exposure to 60 companies across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health care equipment and supplies, health care providers and services, life sciences tools and services, and health care technology industries. Of these, Johnson and Johnson takes the second spot, accounting for a 10.42% share. 

XLV has risen 3% year to date and charges 8 bps in fees. It traded in a heavy volume of around 5.60 million shares in the last trading session. XLV sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).   

Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT - Free Report)  

This fund, with net assets worth $20.4 billion, provides exposure to 423 companies that manufacture health care equipment and supplies or that provide health care-related services, and companies that are primarily involved in the research, development, production, and marketing of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products. Of these, Johnson and Johnson takes the second spot, accounting for an 8.87% share.

VHT has risen 4.2% year to date and charges 9 bps in fees. It traded in a volume of around 0.28 million shares in the last trading session. VHT sports a Zacks Rank #1.
 

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 23rd, 2026

Arvest Bank Trust Division decreased its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ – Free Report) by 20.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 60,784 shares of the company’s stock after selling 15,867 shares during the quarter. Johnson & Johnson makes up 0.8% of Arvest Bank Trust Division’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest position. Arvest Bank Trust Division’s holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $14,858,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in JNJ. Greenberg Financial Group bought a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the fourth quarter valued at about $954,000. World Investment Advisors increased its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 19.6% during the 4th quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 161,343 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,390,000 after acquiring an additional 26,450 shares during the period. Benchmark Financial LLC bought a new stake in Johnson & Johnson during the fourth quarter valued at $554,000. Robinhood Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the 4th quarter valued at about $11,853,000. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,410,177 shares of the company’s stock valued at $705,736,000 after acquiring an additional 28,370 shares during the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity In related news, EVP Kathryn E. Wengel sold 10,000 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $241.15, for a total transaction of $2,411,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 114,288 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $27,560,551.20. This trade represents a 8.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets JNJ has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus set a $260.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Friday, July 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $282.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. HSBC set a $290.00 price objective on Johnson & Johnson and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $234.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Johnson & Johnson presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $265.30.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Johnson & Johnson

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

Positive Sentiment: The FDA approved J&J’s OTTAVA robotic surgery system, opening the door for Johnson & Johnson to compete in robotic soft-tissue surgery and potentially expand its medtech growth runway. Reuters article on OTTAVA approval Positive Sentiment: Investors are also encouraged by the prospect of a phased launch of OTTAVA with select customers, suggesting J&J is preparing a commercial rollout after securing clearance. Medical Device Network article on OTTAVA launch plans Positive Sentiment: J&J also continues to look like a defensive income stock, with a newly declared quarterly dividend reinforcing its appeal to dividend-focused investors. Yahoo Finance dividend article Neutral Sentiment: A federal judge cast doubt on roughly 69,000 talc-related cancer claims, but the court did not dismiss the litigation outright, so the legal overhang remains a mixed but potentially improving risk for J&J. Reuters talc litigation article Johnson & Johnson Price Performance JNJ stock opened at $255.71 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.77. Johnson & Johnson has a 1 year low of $164.23 and a 1 year high of $269.43. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $241.40 and a 200 day moving average of $235.76. The company has a market cap of $615.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.63, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.24.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The company reported $2.90 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $25.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $25.06 billion. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 32.86% and a net margin of 21.48%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.77 earnings per share. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.600-11.750 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.68 EPS for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 25th will be given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 25th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Johnson & Johnson’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.11%.

Johnson & Johnson Profile (Free Report)

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.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Johnson & Johnson Could Truth API Become Trump Media’s First Meaningful Revenue Driver? Small Caps Are Crushing the S&P 500—3 Stocks Still Worth Buying Moog Is More Than a Missile Maker, and Wall Street Is Noticing A Boring Dividend Growth Strategy Becomes a Solid Defensive Play Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ – Free Report).

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A bottle of Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder is seen in a photo illustration taken in New York, February 24, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesJuly 22 (Reuters) - A federal judge cast doubt on Wednesday on claims by approximately 69,000 people alleging that Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N), opens new tab baby powder and ​other talc products caused ovarian cancer, saying plaintiffs must provide ‌more specific evidence or risk having their lawsuits dismissed.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah Singh in Trenton, New Jersey, said that recent testimony by two of the plaintiffs' ​experts raised doubts about whether any plaintiffs can provide evidence admissible ​in court "that talcum powder use specifically caused her ovarian ⁠cancer."

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The two experts, Judith Wolf and Daniel Clarke-Pearson, testified in May in ​preparation for a set of six "bellwether," or test, trials for the thousands ​of court cases that have been consolidated in New Jersey's federal court. Verdicts in bellwether trials are used to assess the potential value of remaining claims and ​guide settlement talks.

J&J has denied the allegations that its talc products ​caused cancer, saying that talc was safe and did not contain asbestos.

A spokesperson for ‌the ⁠company did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did a lead attorney for the plaintiffs.

Wolf and Clarke-Pearson said they could not completely rule out other possible causes of the plaintiffs' ovarian cancer, according ​to Singh's opinion.

"If ​such uncertainty is ⁠indeed reality, then how can any plaintiff here meet her burden on the merits of her claim?" ​Singh wrote.

Singh said that the debate over causation would ​not lead ⁠to "instant dismissal" of the thousands of cases in the consolidated federal litigation. The judge ordered plaintiffs to respond by November 19, and to explain ⁠why their ​case should not be dismissed over the ​failure to provide an admissible expert opinion that J&J talc caused their specific cancer.

Reporting by ​Dietrich Knauth in New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Will Dunham

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 20th, 2026

California Public Employees Retirement System lowered its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ – Free Report) by 19.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,994,988 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,444,253 shares during the period. Johnson & Johnson makes up 0.9% of California Public Employees Retirement System’s portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. California Public Employees Retirement System owned approximately 0.25% of Johnson & Johnson worth $1,465,415,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Quadrant Private Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.5% during the first quarter. Quadrant Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 22,377 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,470,000 after buying an additional 109 shares during the period. Ranch Capital Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Ranch Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 15,940 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,896,000 after acquiring an additional 570 shares during the period. Heartland Bank & Trust Co raised its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 70.9% in the first quarter. Heartland Bank & Trust Co now owns 15,382 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,760,000 after buying an additional 6,381 shares during the period. Zhang Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 35.3% during the 1st quarter. Zhang Financial LLC now owns 18,324 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,479,000 after buying an additional 4,783 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Simon Quick Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 1.6% in the first quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC now owns 14,067 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,439,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares during the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Johnson & Johnson In other news, EVP Kathryn E. Wengel sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $241.15, for a total value of $2,411,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 114,288 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $27,560,551.20. This represents a 8.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance NYSE JNJ opened at $252.93 on Monday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $239.82 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $234.82. The stock has a market cap of $608.86 billion, a PE ratio of 29.31, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.03. Johnson & Johnson has a fifty-two week low of $162.78 and a fifty-two week high of $269.43.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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 return on equity of 32.86% and a net margin of 21.48%.The company had revenue of $25.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $25.06 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.77 EPS. Johnson & Johnson’s revenue was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.600-11.750 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 25th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 25th. Johnson & Johnson’s payout ratio is 62.11%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Daiwa Securities Group lifted their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $237.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, April 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 15th. Scotiabank reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $305.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday. Citigroup increased their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $285.00 to $298.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, Freedom Capital upgraded Johnson & Johnson from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $265.30.

Read Our Latest Research Report on JNJ

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

Positive Sentiment: Johnson & Johnson beat Q2 earnings and revenue estimates, showing solid demand and execution in its core business. J&J Stock Falls Despite Strong Q2 Beat & Higher 2026 View: Here’s Why Positive Sentiment: The company raised its 2026 guidance after the report, reinforcing confidence in its growth outlook and pipeline momentum. Johnson & Johnson Raises 2026 Outlook After Q2 Earnings Beat Positive Sentiment: Guggenheim reaffirmed its Buy rating and set a $270 price target, signaling continued analyst confidence. Benzinga article on Guggenheim rating reaffirmation Positive Sentiment: Some market commentary suggests the post-earnings pullback could be an opportunity to buy JNJ on strength after a run to 52-week highs. Why Johnson and Johnson’s Earnings Dip Looks Like a Buying Opportunity Neutral Sentiment: Investors are also digesting the full Q2 earnings call transcript and several commentary pieces framing the company’s growth beyond legacy drugs and its collaboration announcements. Full Transcript: Johnson & Johnson Q2 2026 Earnings Call Negative Sentiment: Despite the earnings beat, the stock fell because MedTech results missed expectations, creating concern that one important division is lagging behind the company’s otherwise solid performance. J&J Stock Falls Despite Strong Q2 Beat & Higher 2026 View: Here’s Why About Johnson & Johnson (Free Report)

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.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Johnson & Johnson Strait of Hormuz Tensions Spike Tanker Trade: These 2 Stocks Are Set to Benefit Shopify’s Quiet AI Strategy Could Be Its Biggest Advantage Yet Why These 3 Nuclear ETFs Are Getting a Fresh Look as AI Power Demand Rises 3 Aerospace Suppliers That Could Benefit as Aircraft Makers Face Bottlenecks Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ – Free Report).

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 19th, 2026

Bessemer Group Inc. lessened its position in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ – Free Report) by 30.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 542,749 shares of the company’s stock after selling 232,372 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc.’s holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $132,670,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of JNJ. Greenberg Financial Group acquired a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the fourth quarter worth $954,000. World Investment Advisors boosted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 19.6% in the 4th quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 161,343 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,390,000 after purchasing an additional 26,450 shares during the period. Benchmark Financial LLC purchased a new position in Johnson & Johnson in the 4th quarter worth about $554,000. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 6.2% during the 4th quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC now owns 45,222 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,359,000 after buying an additional 2,660 shares during the period. Finally, Robinhood Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Johnson & Johnson during the 4th quarter worth about $11,853,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.55% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity In other news, EVP Kathryn E. Wengel sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $241.15, for a total transaction of $2,411,500.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 114,288 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $27,560,551.20. This represents a 8.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Johnson & Johnson Stock Up 1.2% Shares of Johnson & Johnson stock opened at $252.93 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $239.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $234.63. Johnson & Johnson has a 52-week low of $162.78 and a 52-week high of $269.43. The firm has a market cap of $608.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.31, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.77.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The company reported $2.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $25.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $25.06 billion. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 21.48% and a return on equity of 32.86%. The company’s revenue was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.77 earnings per share. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.600-11.750 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 25th will be given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 25th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Johnson & Johnson’s payout ratio is currently 62.11%.

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

Positive Sentiment: Johnson & Johnson beat Q2 earnings and revenue estimates, showing solid demand and execution in its core business. J&J Stock Falls Despite Strong Q2 Beat & Higher 2026 View: Here’s Why Positive Sentiment: The company raised its 2026 guidance after the report, reinforcing confidence in its growth outlook and pipeline momentum. Johnson & Johnson Raises 2026 Outlook After Q2 Earnings Beat Positive Sentiment: Guggenheim reaffirmed its Buy rating and set a $270 price target, signaling continued analyst confidence. Benzinga article on Guggenheim rating reaffirmation Positive Sentiment: Some market commentary suggests the post-earnings pullback could be an opportunity to buy JNJ on strength after a run to 52-week highs. Why Johnson and Johnson’s Earnings Dip Looks Like a Buying Opportunity Neutral Sentiment: Investors are also digesting the full Q2 earnings call transcript and several commentary pieces framing the company’s growth beyond legacy drugs and its collaboration announcements. Full Transcript: Johnson & Johnson Q2 2026 Earnings Call Negative Sentiment: Despite the earnings beat, the stock fell because MedTech results missed expectations, creating concern that one important division is lagging behind the company’s otherwise solid performance. J&J Stock Falls Despite Strong Q2 Beat & Higher 2026 View: Here’s Why Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have commented on JNJ. Scotiabank reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $305.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday. Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating and issued a $270.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $282.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Thursday. HSBC set a $290.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $265.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $265.30.

View Our Latest Stock Report on JNJ

Johnson & Johnson Company Profile (Free Report)

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.

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• Johnson & Johnson stock is trading at elevated levels. What’s next for JNJ stock?

With ex-Stelara growth of more than 14% year-on-year and eight brands delivering double-digit growth in the second quarter, the company’s Innovative Medicine (IM) momentum is "building into 2027, according to RBC Capital Markets.

The Johnson & Johnson Analyst: Analyst Shagun Singh maintained an Outperform rating and price target of $287.

The Johnson & Johnson Thesis: The company delivered better-than-expected sales and earnings, driven by IM strength, while MedTech missed on cardio weakness, Singh said in the note.

Check out other analyst stock ratings.

Johnson & Johnson delivered another quarter of mid-teens ex-Stelara IM growth, he added.

Stelara now contributes only 4% of IM sales, while the remaining 96% grew more than 14% year-on-year in the quarter, "highlighting the durability of JNJ’s growth engine," the analyst stated.

He highlighted:

Icotyde reached 11,000 patients Tremfya delivered its first quarter of $2 billion in sales, up 71% year-on-year Tecvayli sales grew 56% year-on-year INLEXZO’s new patient insertions rose 75% sequentially, outperforming all recent competitive launches "We believe the breadth of IM’s launch portfolio provides strong visibility into 2027+ acceleration and supports JNJ’s path to becoming the number one oncology company by 2030 as well as progress towards double-digit growth by decade’s end," Singh wrote.

While the stock declined following the earnings release due to the underperformance of MedTech, this business is positioned for a recovery in the back half of 2026, "with three of four businesses accelerating in Q2’26 and procedure volumes intact," he further stated.

JNJ Price Action: Shares of Johnson & Johnson had risen by 0.84% to $249.09 at the time of publication on Thursday.

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By PYMNTS  |  July 15, 2026

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The launch of artificial intelligence-powered imaging and mapping capabilities for electrophysiology, early momentum for a drug releasing system for bladder cancer treatment, and progress toward a table-integrated robotic surgical system are among the latest innovations from pharmaceuticals and MedTech company Johnson & Johnson.

Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Joaquin Duato highlighted these products Wednesday (July 15) during the company’s second-quarter earnings call.

“Our progress in Q2 reflects what makes Johnson & Johnson unique, a company innovating across the full spectrum of healthcare, delivering strong performance today while building a pipeline that will transform care for patients tomorrow,” Duato said. “As we look ahead, our confidence is rooted in the breadth of our innovation, from transformational medicines to next-generation medical technologies.”

Johnson & Johnson announced in April that with its launch of Cartosound Sonata, it was bringing new AI-based imaging and mapping capabilities to electrophysiology. This tool uses AI to create maps that help physicians build accurate models of multiple heart chambers and to help physicians treat a range of heart rhythm conditions.

Duato said during Wednesday’s call that this tool delivers new capabilities and further strengthens the company’s position in MedTech.

The company announced in September 2025 that it secured Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Inlexzo, a drug releasing system that provides extended local delivery of a cancer medication into the bladder. Johnson & Johnson said at the time in a press release that this system provides a “potential practice-changing treatment” for certain patients.

During Wednesday’s call, Duato said Johnson & Johnson is “encouraged by the early momentum” of sales of the product.

Duato also highlighted a table-integrated robotic surgical system called Ottava, saying that Johnson & Johnson is progressing toward potential FDA authorization of this system and that the system “is one of the most significant MedTech innovations we will bring to market this decade.”

“In surgery, we are unlocking a new era powered by robotics and digital innovation,” Duato said during the call.

During the second quarter, Johnson & Johnson saw operational sales growth of 5.6% to $25.3 billion, with its Innovative Medicine business up 6.8% to $16.4 billion and its MedTech business up 3.6% to $8.9 billion, according to a Wednesday earnings release.

The company raised its guidance and expects to expects to surpass $100 billion in annual revenue this year, for the first time in Johnson & Johnson’s 140-year history, Duato said.

All too often, dividend stories start with a beaten-down stock and a nervous question about whether the payout can survive. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ +0.42%) is the opposite case. The healthcare giant raised its dividend for the 64th year in a row, and the payout looks about as secure as any in the market. The complication is the stock: shares have climbed more than 60% over the past year and trade within a few percent of an all-time high, closing near $257 as of this writing.

So the question worth asking isn't whether the dividend is safe. It is probably about as safe as dividend stocks get. Instead, the question is whether the stock is still worth buying after a run like that.

Image source: Getty Images.

The dividend isn't the worry In April, Johnson & Johnson's board lifted the quarterly dividend 3.1% to $1.34 per share, or $5.36 a year. That was its 64th straight annual increase -- a streak that makes it a Dividend King, the name for companies that have raised their payout for at least 50 years (consecutively) running. At the current share price, the dividend yields about 2.1%.

More telling than the yield is how comfortably the company covers it. The $5.36 annual payout eats up only about 46% of the non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings Johnson & Johnson expects to earn this year, so there's room for the dividend to keep climbing even if profits flatten. Backing all of it is one of the strongest balance sheets anywhere: Johnson & Johnson is one of only two U.S. companies S&P rates AAA -- a notch above the U.S. government itself -- a distinction it shares only with Microsoft.

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The obvious risk is the talc litigation that has weighed on the company for years. Johnson & Johnson still faces tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging its talc-based baby powder caused ovarian cancer. A judge rejected the company's proposed $10 billion settlement early last year, sending the claims back into the court system to be fought out at trial. That's a cash overhang and a steady source of unflattering headlines. But for a company that generates far more cash than it pays out and carries a top-tier balance sheet, it reads as a manageable liability rather than a threat to the dividend.

The discount is what's gone Here's why the stock has climbed so far: the fear that drove its discount has faded.

For a while, investors braced for a painful patent cliff. Stelara, which at its peak sold more than $10 billion a year, is losing sales fast to cheaper biosimilar competition; its revenue fell about 60% year over year to $656 million in the first quarter of 2026. But the rest of the drug portfolio is more than making up the difference.

Total revenue in the quarter still rose 9.9% to $24.1 billion, led by the innovative medicine segment. Cancer drug Darzalex climbed about 22% to nearly $4 billion, and Tremfya -- the immunology drug Johnson & Johnson is steering patients toward -- jumped 68% to about $1.6 billion. Newer additions like Caplyta, gained in last year's Intra-Cellular Therapies acquisition, are helping too.

Given this backdrop, management was confident enough to raise its full-year guidance, calling for adjusted earnings per share of about $11.55.

Overall, John & Johnson offers a safe and growing dividend, a drug business that's outgrowing its patent cliff, and litigation that looks contained.

A year ago, worries about talc and Stelara left Johnson & Johnson trading at a discount to the broader market. Today, at a price-to-earnings ratio of about 22 based on that guidance. With a valuation like this, the easy part of the return -- the piece that came from a depressed valuation working its way back to normal -- is probably alrady in the rearview mirror.

So, is the stock a buy?

Johnson & Johnson is a wonderful business and an excellent stock to own for durable, growing income. And long-term holders have no reason to sell. But for new money, I'd rather wait for a pullback -- or for a few more quarters of the pipeline growing into the price -- than pay a premium for a stock whose discount has already closed.

Analysts on Wall Street project that Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) will announce quarterly earnings of $2.85 per share in its forthcoming report, representing an increase of 2.9% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $25.14 billion, increasing 5.9% from the same quarter last year.

Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted upward by 0.2% to its current level. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.

Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors usually depend on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to assess the business performance for the quarter, delving into analysts' forecasts for certain key metrics often provides a more comprehensive understanding.

Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific Johnson & Johnson metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.

Analysts expect 'Sales- Innovative Medicine- WW' to come in at $16.16 billion. The estimate points to a change of +6.3% from the year-ago quarter.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Sales- MedTech- Total' should come in at $8.96 billion. The estimate points to a change of +4.9% from the year-ago quarter.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Sales- MedTech- Cardiovascular- WW' at $2.53 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +9.3% year over year.

Analysts forecast 'Sales- Innovative Medicine- Oncology- DARZALEX- WW' to reach $4.16 billion. The estimate indicates a change of +17.5% from the prior-year quarter.

Analysts predict that the 'Sales- Innovative Medicine- Oncology- CARVYKTI- WW' will reach $640.24 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +45.8%.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Sales- Innovative Medicine- Neuroscience- SPRAVATO- WW' will likely reach $575.14 million. The estimate indicates a change of +38.9% from the prior-year quarter.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Sales- MedTech- Cardiovascular- Other Cardiovascular- WW' reaching $98.02 million. The estimate indicates a change of -5.8% from the prior-year quarter.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Sales- MedTech- Cardiovascular- ABIOMED- WW' should arrive at $505.37 million. The estimate indicates a change of +12.8% from the prior-year quarter.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Sales- International' will reach $10.75 billion. The estimate indicates a change of +5.5% from the prior-year quarter.

The consensus estimate for 'Sales- MedTech- Cardiovascular- Electrophysiology- WW' stands at $1.58 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +7.3% year over year.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Sales- Innovative Medicine- Oncology- DARZALEX- US' will reach $2.43 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +20.5%.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Organic Sales Growth (Operational growth)' of 6.3%. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 4.6%.

View all Key Company Metrics for Johnson & Johnson here>>>

Shares of Johnson & Johnson have experienced a change of +8.7% in the past month compared to the +2.2% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), JNJ is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) will release its second quarter earnings report before the opening bell on Wednesday, July 15.

Analysts expect the New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company to report quarterly earnings of $2.85 per share, up from $2.77 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Johnson & Johnson’s quarterly revenue is $25.05 billion. It reported $23.74 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.

On June 26, Johnson & Johnson announced additional data on IMAAVY throughout 12 abstracts at European Academy of Neurology 2026 Congress.

Johnson & Johnson shares rose 3.6% to close at $263.04 on Thursday.

Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.

Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.

Considering buying JNJ stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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Key Takeaways Johnson & Johnson's Darzalex, Tremfya and Erleada should drive Innovative Medicine growth. JNJ faces steeper Stelara biosimilar pressure and continued weakness in Imbruvica sales. Investors await updates on Icotyde, Inlexzo and Imaavy sales and commercialization plans. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) , through its Innovative Medicine segment, commercializes multiple blockbuster therapies spanning a wide range of disease areas, such as neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, immunology, oncology, pulmonary hypertension (PH), and infectious diseases. The company is set to announce its second-quarter 2026 results on July 15, and investors will be closely watching the performance of the Innovative Medicine segment.

Below, we highlight some key factors that may have influenced the segment’s sales during the quarter.

J&J’s Innovative Medicine unit is showing a growth trend, despite the loss of exclusivity (LOE) of the blockbuster drug, Stelara. The segment has recorded four consecutive quarters of sales of more than $15 billion despite the Stelara LOE, a trend likely to have continued in the second quarter of 2026.

J&J expects growth in the second quarter to be driven by higher sales of key products such as Darzalex, Tremfya and Erleada due to strong market growth and share gains.

Other products like Uptravi and Opsumit are likely to have witnessed continued growth.

New drugs like Carvykti, Tecvayli, Talvey, Rybrevant and Spravato are also likely to have contributed to top-line growth. However, sales of Xarelto, Simponi/Simponi Aria and Remicade declined in the first quarter, a trend likely to have continued in the second quarter.

Also, generic/biosimilar competition for key drug, Stelara, and lower sales of Imbruvica are likely to have hurt top-line growth.

Several biosimilar versions of Stelara were launched in the United States in 2025. According to patent settlements and license agreements, Amgen (AMGN - Free Report) , Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Samsung Bioepis/Sandoz and some other companies launched Stelara biosimilars in 2025. Stelara’s LOE negatively impacted the Innovative Medicines segment’s growth by 9.2% in the first quarter.  We expect the negative impact to be steeper in the second quarter of 2026.

Imbruvica sales are likely to have declined due to rising competitive pressure in the United States due to new oral competition.

Investors will look for initial sales numbers and commercialization plans of J&J’snewly launched oral pill for plaque psoriasis, Icotyde, which was approved by the FDA in March 2026.

Investors will also be keen to know how J&J’s other new drugs approved last year performed. These products are Inlexzoh, a first-of-its-kind drug-releasing system, for treating high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and Imaavy (nipocalimab) for treating generalized myasthenia gravis.

Inlexzo generated sales of slightly above $30 million in the first quarter. J&J received a permanent J-code for Inlexzo reimbursement in April, which should have boosted patient access and sales for the therapy in the second quarter. J&J did not separately disclose sales of Imaavy in the first quarter results. It remains to be seen if it does so in the second quarter.

J&J Key CompetitorsImmunology and oncology are J&J’s key areas. Other large drugmakers with a strong presence in the oncology market include Novartis, AstraZeneca (AZN - Free Report) , AbbVie (ABBV - Free Report) , Amgen, Merck, Bristol-Myers, Roche and Pfizer. In immunology, AbbVie, Amgen, Sanofi, AstraZeneca and Pfizer hold a strong position.

JNJ’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesJ&J’s shares have outperformed the industry so far this year. The stock has risen 24.1% in the past year compared with 14.5% appreciation of the industry. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, J&J is slightly expensive. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 21.02 forward earnings, higher than 19.02 for the industry. The stock is also trading above its five-year mean of 15.65.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has been stable at $11.57 per share over the past 60 days, while that for 2027 earnings has gone up from $12.58 per share to $12.60 over the same time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

J&J has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

New analyses from the Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study support the impact of IMAAVY in anti-AChR+a, anti-MuSK+b adult patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) including those early in their disease, participants with lower symptom burden and those who experienced common infections To address an important evidence gap, the PETUNIAc study design will be presented – demonstrating the innovative way pregnancy outcomes data will be collected following treatment with IMAAVY IMAAVY, an immunoselective neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker, is designed to target and reduce pathogenic immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies associated with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) , /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced new data across 12 abstracts at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) 2026 Congress that offer additional insight into the use of IMAAVY® (nipocalimab-aahu) throughout clinically relevant points in the generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) treatment journey. The analyses include adults with anti-AChRa or anti-MuSKb antibody-positive gMG who were early in their disease course or had lower baseline symptom burden – providing insight into the potential importance of addressing pathogenic immunoglobulin G (IgG) early in disease progression where use of advanced therapies may be less common.1,2 Additional research to be shared include outcomes shortly after common infections, which are a known cause of disease exacerbations in gMG, and plans to address evidence gaps in use of IMAAVY during pregnancy.3,4

"For many people living with generalized myasthenia gravis, achieving and maintaining sustained disease control is an important goal throughout the course of their disease, from the moment they are diagnosed and across the different stages of their journey," said Carlo Antozzi, M.D., Neurological Institute Foundation C. Besta of Milan, Italy.d "These post-hoc analyses add to the growing body of evidence on IMAAVY, which is designed to selectively target and bind the neonatal Fc receptor with high affinity, and reduce pathogenic immunoglobulin G autoantibodies associated with generalized myasthenia gravis."

Post-hoc analyses from the pivotal Vivacity-MG3 study in adults with antibody positive gMG (spanning anti-AChR+ and anti-MuSK+) will be presented which provide new insights that could inform clinical care including:

Patients early in their disease course (within five years of diagnosis) show improved outcomes: IMAAVY plus standard of care (SOC) showed greater reductions in MG-ADLe scores versus placebo plus SOC (-4.9 vs. -2.7) at Week 24, with a greater proportion of patients receiving IMAAVY also achieving the stringent measure of sustained meaningful clinical improvement (MCI)f for ≥20 weeks compared to placebo.1,5 IMAAVY is the only FcRn blocker evaluated to demonstrate sustained MCI over this duration in the double-blind phase of its pivotal study.5,g Patients with lower baseline symptom burden sustain MCI: IMAAVY plus SOC decreased symptom severityh and improved daily functioning at Week 24 versus placebo plus SOC (MG-ADL scores of -4.5 vs. -2.3).2 A greater proportion of patients receiving IMAAVY also achieved sustained MCI in this setting, adding further insights for healthcare professionals into the use of IMAAVY in patients with less severe disease.6,i Patients maintain control after contracting common infections: In the IMAAVY arm, observed symptom improvements were maintained within two weeks after patients contracted common infections, providing data on the use of IMAAVY after periods when the likelihood of disease exacerbations is elevated.3,j,k Safety and tolerability were consistent across all patients in the study and across other nipocalimab studies.7,8,9  The overall incidence of adverse events (AEs) was 84% in both the IMAAVY and the placebo arms and serious adverse events (SAEs) were 9% in the IMAAVY arm compared to 14% in the placebo arm.7,k

Ongoing evidence generation in gMG will also be highlighted, including:

Innovative PETUNIA study design: PETUNIA is designed to generate real-world safety data on pregnancy, maternal, and infant outcomes following exposure to IMAAVY during pregnancy.4 By leveraging prospective and retrospective reports the study aims to capture more detailed information on outcomes in this setting, helping to expand the evidence base beyond the traditional post-marketing safety monitoring requirements and support clinical decision-making in an area where current evidence is limited.4,c "People living with generalized myasthenia gravis often face unpredictable symptoms that can interfere with everyday life, underscoring the need for continued innovation grounded in disease biology," said David Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Global Immunology Therapeutic Area Head, Johnson & Johnson. "At Johnson & Johnson, we are committed to advancing research in autoantibody diseases to better understand the role of IMAAVY, an FcRn blocker designed to help address the underlying cause of generalized myasthenia gravis, while preserving humoral immune function. We are continuing to explore the potential of IMAAVY in supporting sustained disease control across key moments in patients' lives."

The full list of accepted Johnson & Johnson abstracts can be found HERE.

IMAAVY is approved for adult and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older) with anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody positive gMG by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).10,11

Editor's Notes:
a. Anti-AChR+= anti-acetylcholine receptor positive antibody.
b. Anti-MuSK+= anti-muscle specific tyrosine kinase positive antibody.
c. Pregnancy Enhanced Tracking with Neonatal and Infant Assessment (PETUNIA) is a post-marketing FDA requirement.
d. Dr. Carlo Antozzi has provided consulting, advisory and speaking services to Johnson & Johnson. He has not been paid for any media work.
e. MG-ADL (Myasthenia Gravis – Activities of Daily Living) provides a rapid clinical assessment of the patient's recall of symptoms impacting activities of daily living, with a total score range of 0 to 24; a higher score indicates greater symptom severity.12
f.  The proportion of patients achieving a meaningful clinical improvement [MCI] is defined as a ≥2-point improvement in MG-ADL score at Week 24.1,2
g.  At Week 24, patients diagnosed within five years who were treated with IMAAVY plus standard of care (SOC) achieved greater reductions in MG-ADL scores from baseline compared with placebo plus SOC (mean [SD]: −4.9 [2.88] vs −2.7 [2.46]; difference: −2.22 [standard error (SE): 0.76]; p=0.005).1
h. This is based on QMG (Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis) score which is a 13-item assessment by a clinician that quantifies MG disease severity through muscle weakness. The total QMG score ranges from 0 to 39, where higher scores indicated greater disease severity.12
i.  At Week 24, patients with MG-ADL scores lower than 9 treated with IMAAVY plus SOC achieved greater reductions in MG-ADL scores from baseline compared with placebo plus SOC (mean [SD]: −4.5 [2.64] vs −2.3 [2.37]; difference: −2.23 [SE: 0.588]; p<0.001). Additionally, QMG reductions were also greater with IMAAVY plus SOC from baseline compared to placebo plus SOC (mean [SD]: −5.2 [4.45] vs −1.9 [3.69]; difference: −3.38 [SE:0.986]; p=0.001).2
j.  Among patients who experienced an infection/infestation, the median (IQR) change from pre- to post-infection in MG-ADL scores was 0.0 (−1.0 to 1.0) with IMAAVY versus 1.0 (0.0 to 2.0) with placebo; in QMG scores, the median (IQR) change was 0.0 (−1.0 to 2.0) versus 1.0 (−1.0 to 1.0), respectively.3 Overall, infections/infestations were reported in 42.9% of patients in the IMAAVY group (71 events) and 41.8% in the placebo group (59 events).3
k. IMAAVY may increase the risk of infection, including serious infections. It is recommended to delay treatment in patients with active infection until resolution.10

ABOUT GENERALIZED MYASTHENIA GRAVIS (gMG)
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoantibody disease in which the immune system mistakenly makes antibodies (e.g., anti-acetylcholine receptor [AChR], anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase [MuSK]), which target proteins at the neuromuscular junction and can block or disrupt normal signaling from nerves to muscles, thus impairing or preventing muscle contraction.13,14 The disease impacts an estimated 700,000 people worldwide.15 The disease affects both men and women and occurs across all ages and racial and ethnic groups, but it most frequently starts in young women and older men.15 Roughly 50% of individuals diagnosed with MG are women, and about one in five of those women are of child-bearing potential.16,17,18 Approximately 10 to 15% of new cases of MG are diagnosed in pediatric patients 12-17 years of age.17,19,20,21 Among juvenile MG patients, girls are affected more often than boys, with over 65% of pediatric MG cases in the U.S. diagnosed in girls.22,23,24

Initial disease manifestations are usually eye-related, but approximately 85% of MG patients experience additional advancements to the disease manifestations, referred to as generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). 25,26,27,28,29,30 This is characterized by severe muscle weakness and difficulties in speech and swallowing.25,26,27,28,29 Approximately 100,000 individuals in the U.S. are living with gMG.31 Vulnerable gMG populations, such as pediatric patients, have more limited therapeutic options.32

ABOUT THE PHASE 3 VIVACITY-MG3 STUDY
The Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study (NCT04951622) was specifically designed to measure sustained efficacy and safety with consistent dosing in this unpredictable chronic condition where unmet need remains high.33,34,35 Antibody positive or negative adult gMG patients with insufficient response (MG-ADL ≥6) to ongoing SOC therapy were identified and 199 patients, 153 of whom were antibody positive, enrolled in the 24-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial.34,35 Randomization was 1:1, nipocalimab plus current SOC (30 mg/kg IV loading dose followed by 15 mg/kg every two weeks) or placebo plus current SOC. Baseline demographics were balanced across arms (77 nipocalimab, 76 placebo).35 The primary efficacy endpoint was the comparison of the mean change from baseline to Weeks 22, 23, and 24 between treatment groups in the MG-ADL total score.34 A key secondary endpoint included change in Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) score.34 Long-term safety and efficacy were further assessed in an ongoing open-label extension (OLE) phase.

ABOUT IMAAVY® (nipocalimab-aahu)
IMAAVY is an immunoselective treatment designed to target, bind with high affinity, and block the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), reducing circulating immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies that drive disease while also preserving key immune functions.36,37,38 IMAAVY is currently approved for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibody positive.10

Nipocalimab is being investigated across three key segments in the autoantibody space including Rheumatologic diseases, Rare Autoantibody diseases, and Maternal Fetal diseases mediated by maternal alloantibodies, in which blockade of IgG binding to FcRn in the placenta is believed to limit transplacental transfer of maternal alloantibodies to the fetus.34,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) have granted several key designations to nipocalimab including:

EU EMA Orphan medicinal product designation for hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) in October 2019 and fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) in April 2025 U.S. FDA Fast Track designation in HDFN, and warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA) in July 2019, gMG in December 2021, FNAIT in March 2024, Sjögren's disease (SjD) in March 2025, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in January 2026 U.S. FDA Orphan drug status for wAIHA in December 2019, HDFN in June 2020, gMG in February 2021, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in October 2021 and FNAIT in December 2023 U.S. FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for HDFN in February 2024 and for SjD in November 2024 U.S. FDA granted Priority Review in gMG in Q4 2024 and wAIHA in Q2 2026 The legal manufacturer for IMAAVY is Janssen Biotech, Inc.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION 

What is the most important information I should know about IMAAVY?

IMAAVY is a prescription medicine that may cause serious side effects, including:

Infections are a common side effect of IMAAVY that can be serious. Receiving IMAAVY may increase your risk of infection. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following infection symptoms: fever chills shivering cough sore throat fever blisters burning when you urinate Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions may happen during or up to a few weeks after your IMAAVY infusion. Get emergency medical help right away if you get any of these symptoms during or after your IMAAVY infusion: a swollen face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat difficulty swallowing or breathing itchy rash (hives) chest pain or tightness Infusion-related reactions are possible. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these symptoms during or a few days after your IMAAVY infusion: headache rash nausea fatigue dizziness chills flu-like symptoms redness of skin Do not receive IMAAVY if you have a severe allergic reaction to nipocalimab-aahu or any of the ingredients in IMAAVY. Reactions have included angioedema and anaphylaxis.

Before using IMAAVY, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

ever had an allergic reaction to IMAAVY. have or had any recent infections or symptoms of infection. have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). People who take IMAAVY should not receive live vaccines. are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known whether IMAAVY will harm your baby. Pregnancy Safety Study. There is a pregnancy safety study for IMAAVY if IMAAVY is given during pregnancy or you become pregnant while receiving IMAAVY. Your healthcare provider should report IMAAVY exposure by contacting Janssen at 1-800-526-7736 or www.IMAAVY.com. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What are the possible side effects of IMAAVY?

IMAAVY may cause serious side effects. See "What is the most important information I should know about IMAAVY?"

The most common side effects of IMAAVY include: respiratory tract infection, peripheral edema (swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet), and muscle spasms.

These are not all the possible side effects of IMAAVY. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for IMAAVY and discuss any questions you have with your doctor.

Dosage Form and Strengths: IMAAVY is supplied as a 300 mg/1.62 mL and a 1,200 mg/6.5 mL (185 mg/mL) single-dose vial per carton for intravenous injection.

ABOUT JOHNSON & JOHNSON
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow and profoundly impact health for humanity.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/ or at www.innovativemedicine.jnj.com. 

Follow us at @JNJInnovMed.

Janssen Biotech, Inc. is a Johnson & Johnson company. 

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of IMAAVY. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Johnson & Johnson's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com, www.investor.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

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SOURCE Johnson & Johnson

I keep hitting the buy button on Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ | JNJ Price Prediction) because I have stopped trying to find a more reliable income engine for the back half of my life. Every time I look at the rest of my portfolio and feel the urge to do something clever, I add more JNJ instead. It is the position I never have to babysit.

The thesis is simple. I want a check that shows up, grows a little every year, and is backed by a business diversified enough that no single product failure can break the payout. JNJ has been doing exactly that for longer than I have been alive.

The board just authorized a 3.1% increase to the quarterly dividend, taking it from $1.30 to $1.34 per share, the company’s 64th consecutive year of dividend growth. That is an institution.

The receipts behind the conviction The first thing I check, every time, is whether the cash is actually there. In 2025, operating cash flow came in at $24.53 billion against a dividend payout of $12.38 billion, leaving the dividend covered 1.98x by cash from operations. Free cash flow after capital expenditures landed at $19.70 billion, and management is guiding to roughly $21 billion in free cash flow for 2026.

Behind that sits about $22 billion in cash and marketable securities and one of only two AAA prime credit ratings among U.S. companies. The check is getting cut from a fortress.

The second piece is that the underlying business is accelerating, not coasting. Q1 2026 revenue was $24.06 billion, up 9.9% year over year, with adjusted EPS of $2.70 marking the fourth consecutive earnings beat. Management raised full-year guidance to a revenue midpoint of $100.8 billion and an adjusted EPS midpoint of $11.55.

DARZALEX did $3.96 billion in the quarter, up 22.5%. TREMFYA grew 68.3%. CARVYKTI grew 62.1%. The company now has 28 platforms generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue.

The third piece is what I pay for that durability. The forward P/E sits at about 20, the beta is 0.256, and the stock has still returned 58.27% over the past year and 162.92% over the past decade. I am not paying a growth multiple for a low-volatility compounder.

The risk I do not pretend away STELARA is rolling off a cliff. Sales fell 59.7% to $656 million in Q1 2026, dragging Innovative Medicine by roughly 920 basis points. Layer on $330 million of litigation charges tied to ongoing talc exposure and you have real headwinds. I do not wave that away.

What I notice is that JNJ absorbed all of it and still grew revenue almost 10%, because 96% of Innovative Medicine ex-STELARA grew at 16.6%. The new launches, ICOTYDE among them, are arriving on schedule. The portfolio was built for exactly this kind of patent transition.

Why the buy button stays active CFO Joseph Wolk said it plainly on the Q1 call: “we recognize our shareholders value a growing dividend.” That sentence, backed by 64 years of follow-through, is why I keep buying. I am buying decades of dividend checks from the most diversified healthcare balance sheet in the world, and I plan to keep doing it until the math stops working, which on this evidence is not happening anytime soon.