Johnson & Johnson $JNJ Shares Purchased by Groupe la Francaise

Key Points

• Groupe la Française increased its Johnson & Johnson stake by 991.4% in the second quarter, purchasing 180,477 additional shares for a total holding worth approximately $50.5 billion. Institutional investors collectively own 69.55% of JNJ.
• J&J reported better-than-expected quarterly results, with adjusted EPS of $2.90 and revenue of $25.31 billion, while maintaining 2026 EPS guidance of $11.60–$11.75. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $274.13.
• Potential catalysts include reported talks to sell the DePuy Synthes orthopedics business for about $20 billion and strong RYBREVANT cancer-trial results. However, insiders have sold shares recently, and a failed depression-drug trial and controversy over 340B discount requirements present risks.

Groupe la Francaise grew its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ - Free Report) by 991.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 198,681 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 180,477 shares during the period. Groupe la Francaise's holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $50,466,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in JNJ. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al acquired a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the 2nd quarter worth about $207,865,000. Carlson Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 3.6% in the second quarter. Carlson Financial Inc. now owns 3,288 shares of the company's stock valued at $835,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System raised its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 25,103.8% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 943,488,645 shares of the company's stock valued at $239,617,811,000 after buying an additional 939,745,213 shares during the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 105.7% during the second quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 25,667 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,519,000 after buying an additional 13,188 shares during the period. Finally, Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC NC boosted its position in Johnson & Johnson by 1.1% during the second quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC NC now owns 9,997 shares of the company's stock worth $2,539,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Johnson & Johnson

In related news, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 33,597 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.74, for a total value of $9,230,439.78. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 25,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,991,308.78. This trade represents a 56.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jennifer Taubert sold 15,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, 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 ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 87,569 shares of company stock worth $23,064,544 over the last ninety days. 0.16% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting Johnson & Johnson

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

• Positive Sentiment: J&J is reportedly in discussions with Apollo Global Management to sell its DePuy Synthes orthopedics business for approximately $20 billion. A transaction could unlock significant value, provide capital for debt reduction, buybacks or acquisitions, and sharpen the company’s focus on higher-growth businesses. However, DePuy Synthes generated $9.3 billion in sales last year, so investors will weigh proceeds against the loss of ongoing revenue. J&J in talks to sell DePuy Synthes to Apollo for $20 billion
• Positive Sentiment: Phase 3 PAPILLON results for RYBREVANT plus chemotherapy showed median overall survival of 34.3 months in patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The durable benefit strengthens the commercial outlook for a key oncology product and supports J&J’s strategy of offsetting pressure from older medicines. RYBREVANT PAPILLON study results
• Positive Sentiment: Management is targeting double-digit growth despite anticipated biosimilar competition for STELARA, suggesting confidence in new product launches, oncology momentum and broader pharmaceutical diversification. Johnson & Johnson targets double-digit growth
• Neutral Sentiment: At the Morgan Stanley healthcare conference, J&J presented its business outlook and strategy; the available report provides no specific new guidance likely to materially change earnings expectations. Morgan Stanley healthcare conference transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Contineum Therapeutics said the mid-stage trial of JNJ-5120, or PIPE-307, failed to meet its primary objective in major depressive disorder. The failure removes or delays a potential pipeline opportunity, though the financial impact may be limited because the program is partnered. Contineum and J&J depression drug trial
• Negative Sentiment: J&J’s requirement that providers submit claims data to receive 340B discounts could generate pushback from hospitals and safety-net providers, increasing reputational, legal or policy risk around the company’s pricing practices. J&J 340B reporting requirement

Johnson & Johnson Price Performance

Johnson & Johnson stock opened at $266.81 on Tuesday. Johnson & Johnson has a 1 year low of $173.33 and a 1 year high of $281.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 1.09. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $263.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $246.08. The company has a market cap of $642.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.92, a PEG ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.24.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The company reported $2.90 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $25.31 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.06 billion. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 21.48% and a return on equity of 32.42%. Johnson & Johnson's revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.77 earnings per share. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.600-11.750 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 25th were given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 25th. Johnson & Johnson's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.11%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on JNJ shares. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $284.00 to $294.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. TD Cowen increased their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $250.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "buy" rating and set a $282.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Argus set a $300.00 price objective on Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $285.00 to $298.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. One 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $274.13.

About Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson NYSE: JNJ is a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical and medical device products. Founded in 1886 and headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the company serves patients, healthcare professionals and institutions in markets around the world.

Johnson & Johnson operates through two primary business segments: Innovative Medicine and MedTech. Innovative Medicine focuses on prescription treatments in areas including immunology, oncology, neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, infectious diseases, and pulmonary hypertension.

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