Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Shares Down 1.2% After Insider Selling

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s share price traded down 1.2% during trading on Friday following insider selling activity. The stock traded as low as $274.75 and last traded at $275.12. Approximately 3,878,798 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 52% from the average session volume of 8,138,780 shares. The stock had previously closed at $278.43.

Specifically, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 33,597 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.74, for a total transaction of $9,230,439.78. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 25,447 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,991,308.78. This represents a 56.90% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $250.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Scotiabank restated an “outperform” rating and set a $305.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of Johnson & Johnson from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $265.00 to $287.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Johnson & Johnson from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Johnson & Johnson presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $272.83.

Key Stories Impacting Johnson & Johnson

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains supportive. JNJ received an upgrade that helped it reach a new 12-month high, while the broader analyst view is rated “Moderate Buy.” UBS also began coverage, potentially increasing institutional attention. Johnson & Johnson Reaches New 12-Month High Following Analyst Upgrade Johnson & Johnson Receives Average Rating of Moderate Buy
• Positive Sentiment: Johnson & Johnson’s 64-year record of dividend growth remains a key support for income-oriented investors. Strong profitability and the company’s diversified healthcare portfolio help sustain the dividend despite competitive pressure on a major drug. Johnson & Johnson Is Boring Which Makes Its Dividend Nearly Perfect
• Neutral Sentiment: Management will discuss the business at the Deutsche Bank Healthcare Summit on September 17. The event could provide updates on pharmaceuticals, litigation and forward guidance, but it is not itself a change to earnings expectations. Johnson & Johnson to Participate in the Deutsche Bank 2026 Healthcare Summit
• Negative Sentiment: Profit-taking and valuation risk are elevated after JNJ gained about 60% over the past year versus roughly 21% for the S&P 500. Analysts question whether the current price already discounts growth above management’s near-term outlook. Was JNJ Stock Rally Actually Its Own? Is Johnson & Johnson Stock Priced For More Growth Than It Has Guided?
• Negative Sentiment: An executive vice president sold 33,597 shares worth approximately $9.2 million, reducing his holdings by 56.9%. The sale may reinforce short-term concerns about insider conviction, although it does not change JNJ’s fundamentals. SEC insider transaction filing
• Negative Sentiment: An analyst lowered the FY2026 EPS forecast, adding pressure to expectations. Talc litigation also remains unresolved despite a proposed path toward settlement, while the Louisiana verdict continues to focus attention on legal liability and potential costs. Johnson & Johnson dividend and competition analysis

Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $663.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.24. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $261.57 and its 200 day moving average price is $244.85.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) last announced 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. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 32.42% and a net margin of 21.48%.The company had revenue of $25.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.06 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.77 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly 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. Analysts forecast that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 25th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 25th. Johnson & Johnson’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.11%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Johnson & Johnson

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Outlook Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Blueline Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Johnson & Johnson in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Cresta Advisors Ltd. purchased a new stake in Johnson & Johnson during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 49.0% during the 4th quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 149 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Matrix Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 56.2% in the 2nd quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 150 shares of the company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.