Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Stock Price Up 2% – Should You Buy?

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) shares traded up 2% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $241.46 and last traded at $239.93. 6,445,433 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 29% from the average session volume of 9,042,780 shares. The stock had previously closed at $235.27.

Trending Headlines about Johnson & Johnson

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

• Positive Sentiment: EMA/CHMP approved a label update allowing DARZALEX® (daratumumab) subcutaneous injections to be self- or caregiver‑administered from dose five across all approved indications in Europe — a first for an oncology injectable in Europe that could boost patient convenience, outpatient uptake and product competitiveness. Johnson & Johnson’s DARZALEX® (daratumumab) becomes the first oncology injectable approved for administration by patients or caregivers
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts are nudging fair value and price targets higher (some now in the $250–$280 range), reflecting confidence in product‑level drivers and JNJ’s positioning across medtech and innovative medicines. This supports continued upside sentiment. How The Story Is Shifting For Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) As Analyst Targets Rise
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks and other analysts highlight J&J’s pipeline momentum and recent approvals as drivers for stronger growth in 2026, suggesting new drugs could offset older product declines over time. J&J’s Pipeline Surge Sets Up Stronger Growth From New Drugs in 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Erste Group nudged FY2027 EPS estimates slightly higher — a modest validation of earnings power but not a large revision. (Supports analyst optimism but limited near‑term impact.)
• Neutral Sentiment: JNJ’s defensive qualities (Dividend King status, inclusion on favorite/defensive lists) keep it attractive to income and conservative investors, supporting demand in volatile markets. A Q2 2026 Playbook for Navigating Market Uncertainty (JNJ)
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks flags that Stelara’s LOE and biosimilar competition remain key headwinds for the Innovative Medicine unit — this could pressure near‑term sales as older blockbusters decline. Can New Drugs Drive J&J’s Innovative Medicine Despite Stelara LOE?
• Negative Sentiment: Near‑term earnings risk: previews indicate analysts expect a single‑digit EPS decline in Q1 — a reminder that upcoming quarterly results could pressure the shares if guidance or margins disappoint. What You Need To Know Ahead of Johnson & Johnson’s Earnings Release
• Neutral Sentiment: Litigation update: a large punitive award (~$950M) was overturned, which reduces some legal overhang, but smaller talc verdicts (e.g., $16M) remain — legal risk persists but headline pressure has eased. Punitive Damages Award Worth $950 Million Overturned Against Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), $16M Talc Verdict Stands

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on JNJ shares. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $208.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Morgan Stanley set a $253.00 target price on Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Wednesday, March 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $250.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $205.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Argus upped their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $210.00 to $240.00 in a report on Friday, January 23rd. One equities research 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.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $236.91.

Johnson & Johnson Trading Up 0.5%

The firm has a market cap of $579.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.75, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $236.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $210.03. 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 announced its quarterly earnings results on Saturday, January 31st. The company reported $2.46 earnings per share for the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 33.04% and a net margin of 28.46%.The company had revenue of $24.28 billion during the quarter. As a group, research analysts expect that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 EPS for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 24th were paid a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 24th. Johnson & Johnson’s payout ratio is currently 47.06%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Johnson & Johnson

In related news, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 6,197 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.39, for a total transaction of $1,508,287.83. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 23,003 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,598,700.17. This trade represents a 21.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 1,322 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.66, for a total transaction of $324,762.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 25,447 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,251,310.02. This trade represents a 4.94% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 30,142 shares of company stock worth $7,360,528. 0.16% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Johnson & Johnson

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of JNJ. Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 13.9% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 51,876 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,502,000 after acquiring an additional 6,332 shares during the period. United Bank raised its position in Johnson & Johnson by 110.7% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 9,279 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,539,000 after acquiring an additional 4,876 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 13.4% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,863 shares of the company’s stock valued at $896,000 after purchasing an additional 692 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Group Ltd. grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 12.8% in the second quarter. Wealth Group Ltd. now owns 1,482 shares of the company’s stock valued at $226,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares during the period. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. increased its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 9.8% during the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 73,680 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,255,000 after purchasing an additional 6,584 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.