Johnson & Johnson $JNJ Holdings Decreased by Simplify Asset Management Inc.

Key Points

• Simplify Asset Management cut its Johnson & Johnson position by 14.3% in the third quarter, selling 10,422 shares and retaining 62,457 shares valued at approximately $16.5 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 69.55% of J&J.
• Wall Street’s overall view remains positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $275.92, although one analyst recently downgraded the stock to “Hold.”
• J&J exceeded quarterly earnings expectations with $2.59 in EPS and $25.40 billion in revenue, while maintaining a quarterly dividend of $1.34, equivalent to a 2.0% yield.

Simplify Asset Management Inc. cut its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ - Free Report) by 14.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 62,457 shares of the company's stock after selling 10,422 shares during the quarter. Johnson & Johnson accounts for about 0.3% of Simplify Asset Management Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Simplify Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $16,535,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Financial Insights Inc. grew its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 2.9% during the third quarter. Financial Insights Inc. now owns 3,477 shares of the company's stock worth $921,000 after buying an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Petersen Hastings Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 9.7% in the third quarter. Petersen Hastings Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 1,304 shares of the company's stock worth $345,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. William Mack & Associates Inc. raised its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. William Mack & Associates Inc. now owns 1,540 shares of the company's stock worth $408,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Victory Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 24.0% in the third quarter. Victory Financial Group LLC now owns 9,130 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,417,000 after buying an additional 1,769 shares during the period. Finally, Great Lakes Retirement Inc. grew its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 7.4% during the third quarter. Great Lakes Retirement Inc. now owns 8,783 shares of the company's stock worth $2,325,000 after purchasing an additional 603 shares during the period. 69.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

JNJ has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. HSBC increased their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $290.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $260.00 target price on Johnson & Johnson in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Argus set a $300.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. TD Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Tuesday, October 20th. Finally, Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Johnson & Johnson from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Johnson & Johnson presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $275.92.

Trending Headlines about Johnson & Johnson

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

• Positive Sentiment: Icotyde, J&J’s oral plaque-psoriasis treatment, is reportedly gaining traction among U.S. dermatologists and being prescribed earlier in the treatment process. Strong adoption could support pharmaceutical growth and help offset declines in older products. Does Johnson & Johnson Have a New Edge in Plaque Psoriasis?
• Positive Sentiment: J&J presented 26 abstracts at TCT 2026 supporting the safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of its Impella heart pumps. The data may strengthen the long-term outlook for the MedTech portfolio despite recent weakness. Johnson & Johnson Presents Impella Data at TCT 2026
• Positive Sentiment: J&J continues to be highlighted as a dependable dividend stock, supported by more than five decades of annual payout increases. That income profile can provide downside support for long-term investors. Dividend Kings With 50-Plus Years of Payout Increases
• Neutral Sentiment: J&J’s recent performance has been strong, with shares reportedly up 42% over the past year, helped by progress toward resolving talc litigation and growth from newer medicines. Analysts are debating whether that advance has already priced in much of the improvement. Johnson & Johnson Is Up 42% in a Year
• Neutral Sentiment: Broker sentiment remains generally favorable, but the article questions how much weight investors should place on consensus recommendations as J&J trades near its 52-week high and at an elevated earnings multiple. Johnson & Johnson Broker Ratings
• Negative Sentiment: MedTech growth slowed in the third quarter because of international-market challenges and weakness at Abiomed. Investors may be concerned that a rebound in the fourth quarter will not fully offset the segment’s short-term disappointment. JNJ MedTech Segment Disappoints in Q3
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts see potential earnings pressure in 2027, while the market is already assigning a premium valuation after strong gains. That combination increases the risk of profit-taking if growth slows. Johnson & Johnson Strong Q3 Growth, but 2027 Could Test Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz announced an investigation into potential claims on behalf of J&J investors. Although such announcements do not establish wrongdoing, they add headline and litigation risk. Pomerantz Investor Investigation

Johnson & Johnson Trading Down 0.7%

Shares of Johnson & Johnson stock opened at $273.39 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market cap of $658.13 billion, a PE ratio of 41.42, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.21. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $265.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $246.94. Johnson & Johnson has a 1 year low of $185.12 and a 1 year high of $282.02.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 13th. The company reported $2.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.53 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $25.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $25.38 billion. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 16.20% and a return on equity of 31.64%. The firm's revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.80 EPS. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.050-11.150 EPS. Analysts expect that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 24th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 24th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. Johnson & Johnson's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 81.21%.

Insider Transactions at Johnson & Johnson

In other news, EVP Elizabeth Forminard sold 15,918 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $257.00, for a total value of $4,090,926.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 16,994 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,367,458. The trade was a 48.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jennifer Taubert sold 15,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.36, for a total value of $3,950,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 194,451 shares of the company's stock, valued at $51,210,615.36. This represents a 7.16% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 64,515 shares of company stock valued at $17,271,766 in the last three months. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Johnson & Johnson Profile

Johnson & Johnson NYSE: JNJ is a global healthcare company headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Founded in 1886, the company develops and markets products and services for patients, healthcare professionals and institutions worldwide.

Johnson & Johnson operates through two principal segments: Innovative Medicine and MedTech. Innovative Medicine focuses on pharmaceuticals for areas such as immunology, oncology, neuroscience, infectious diseases and cardiovascular conditions.

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