Johnson & Johnson $JNJ Stock Holdings Cut by Cooke & Bieler LP

Key Points

• Cooke & Bieler LP cut its Johnson & Johnson stake by 68.5% in the third quarter, selling 174,820 shares and retaining 80,499 shares valued at about $21.3 million. Institutional investors collectively own 69.55% of J&J.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive overall, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $275.92, although some firms cited valuation and MedTech execution risks.
• J&J reported quarterly adjusted EPS of $2.59, ahead of estimates, and revenue rose 5.9% year over year to $25.40 billion. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $1.34 per share, equivalent to a 2.0% annual yield.

Cooke & Bieler LP reduced its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ - Free Report) by 68.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 80,499 shares of the company's stock after selling 174,820 shares during the period. Cooke & Bieler LP's holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $21,311,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wavvest Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the 3rd quarter valued at $542,000. Kraft Davis & Associates LLC bought a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the 3rd quarter worth about $212,000. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC grew its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 22,144 shares of the company's stock worth $5,862,000 after purchasing an additional 663 shares during the last quarter. Sawyer & Company Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the 3rd quarter worth about $3,792,000. Finally, City State Bank lifted its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. City State Bank now owns 11,275 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,985,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.55% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently commented on JNJ. Citigroup increased their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $298.00 to $303.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, October 5th. Raymond James Financial set a $280.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Scotiabank reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $305.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Leerink Partners lowered their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $276.00 to $272.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Johnson & Johnson from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b+)" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $275.92.

Johnson & Johnson News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: The United Kingdom approved J&J’s oral psoriasis treatment, expanding the company’s commercial opportunity in a major market and strengthening its immunology pipeline. UK approves J&J's oral psoriasis pill
• Positive Sentiment: J&J reported first real-world data for its VARIPULSE Pro platform and 12-month outcomes for the OMNYPULSE platform in atrial-fibrillation treatment. The results could support adoption of its MedTech portfolio and help offset weakness in other device businesses. J&J reports VARIPULSE Pro and OMNYPULSE data
• Positive Sentiment: J&J has benefited from investor rotation into defensive healthcare and consumer-staples companies amid broader large-cap weakness, reinforcing demand for its relatively stable earnings and dividend profile. Defensive stocks attract buyers
• Neutral Sentiment: J&J’s implied fair value was raised from $270.59 to $279.41 per share, but analyst views remain divided. Supporters cite earnings resilience and the drug pipeline, while others point to valuation, MedTech execution risk and possible dilution from recent deals. J&J fair value adjustment
• Negative Sentiment: A proposed combination involving J&J’s orthopedics business and Smith & Nephew reportedly collapsed over a leadership dispute. The development removes potential strategic benefits and may raise questions about execution, although Smith & Nephew declined to comment. Orthopedics merger reportedly collapsed
• Negative Sentiment: J&J reclaimed its 50-day moving average, but falling earnings estimates, a premium valuation and weakness in MedTech are limiting the bullish technical signal. Erste Group also downgraded the shares to “Hold,” adding to near-term investor caution. J&J stock outlook and valuation concerns

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 33,597 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.74, for a total transaction of $9,230,439.78. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 25,447 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,991,308.78. This trade represents a 56.90% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Jennifer Taubert sold 15,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 17th. The shares were 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 directly owned 194,451 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $51,210,615.36. The trade was a 7.16% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 64,515 shares of company stock valued at $17,271,766. 0.16% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Johnson & Johnson Stock Down 1.3%

Johnson & Johnson stock opened at $264.13 on Friday. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $265.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $250.21. Johnson & Johnson has a fifty-two week low of $184.66 and a fifty-two week high of $281.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $635.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.02, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 0.81.

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

Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 24th will be given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 24th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Johnson & Johnson's dividend payout ratio is currently 81.21%.

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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