Simplify Asset Management Inc. Has $4.55 Million Stock Position in Johnson & Johnson $JNJ

Key Points

• Simplify Asset Management increased its Johnson & Johnson stake by 92.6% in the fourth quarter, ending with 21,960 shares valued at about $4.55 million.
• Wall Street sentiment on J&J remains constructive, with analysts assigning a Moderate Buy consensus and an average price target of $253.04; several firms recently raised their targets and ratings.
• Johnson & Johnson continues to show operational strength, posting quarterly EPS and revenue above estimates, raising its quarterly dividend to $1.34 per share, and benefiting from positive pipeline news such as China approval for nipocalimab.

Simplify Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ - Free Report) by 92.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 21,960 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 10,558 shares during the quarter. Simplify Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $4,545,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in JNJ. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 13.9% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 51,876 shares of the company's stock worth $7,502,000 after buying an additional 6,332 shares during the period. United Bank lifted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 110.7% in the first quarter. United Bank now owns 9,279 shares of the company's stock worth $1,539,000 after purchasing an additional 4,876 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 13.4% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,863 shares of the company's stock worth $896,000 after purchasing an additional 692 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Group Ltd. lifted 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 worth $226,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. lifted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 9.8% in 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. 69.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $225.00 to $251.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. Guggenheim increased their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $244.00 to $266.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, April 20th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $253.00 to $254.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. Finally, Johnson Rice raised shares of Johnson & Johnson from a "hold" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 13th. Twenty investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $253.04.

Key Johnson & Johnson News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Johnson & Johnson received favorable coverage for its diversified pharma and MedTech businesses, with analysts saying its pipeline progress and stronger 2026 outlook make it better positioned than Pfizer despite patent risks. J&J & Pfizer Face Patent Risks: Which Stock Looks Better Positioned?
• Positive Sentiment: The company announced China approval for nipocalimab, a regulatory win that expands the drug’s commercial potential and supports sentiment around J&J’s pipeline. Johnson & Johnson says nipocalimab approved in China
• Positive Sentiment: J&J also highlighted a next-generation coronary artery disease catheter, reinforcing growth prospects in its MedTech segment and ongoing innovation in interventional medicine. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Unveils Next-Gen Catheter for Coronary Artery Disease
• Positive Sentiment: J&J announced a collaboration to build a global intelligent operating room network with Abu Dhabi’s health department, adding another AI-driven MedTech initiative that could strengthen its long-term growth story. Johnson & Johnson Advances Creation of Global Intelligent OR Network
• Neutral Sentiment: J&J was included in broader dividend and blue-chip stock commentary, which may reinforce its reputation as a defensive income stock but does not appear to be a major direct driver. The Dividend Stocks That Can Replace a $65,000 Income and What They’ll Cost You
• Neutral Sentiment: Another article framed J&J as a defensive growth stock, supporting the bull case but offering little new fundamental information. Why Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Still Fits a Defensive Growth Case
• Negative Sentiment: ImmunityBio said its ANKTIVA-based bladder cancer data shows a cost advantage versus J&J’s TAR-200, which could raise competitive pressure in an important oncology area. IBRX Says ANKTIVA Delivers Up To $314K Cost Advantage Over J&J’s TAR-200

Johnson & Johnson Price Performance

Shares of JNJ opened at $234.67 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $564.91 billion, a PE ratio of 27.13, a PEG ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.27. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $234.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $223.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.03. Johnson & Johnson has a twelve month low of $149.04 and a twelve month high of $251.71.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 14th. The company reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $24.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $23.60 billion. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 21.83% and a return on equity of 32.60%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.77 earnings per share. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.450-11.650 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Johnson & Johnson Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 26th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 26th. This is a boost from Johnson & Johnson's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. Johnson & Johnson's payout ratio is 60.12%.

Johnson & Johnson 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.

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