Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) Shares Decline Following Analyst Downgrade

On Friday, shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) experienced a minor decline of 0.2% during trading after Bank of America revised their price target for the stock down from $166.00 to $160.00. Currently, Bank of America holds a neutral rating on the stock.

Throughout the trading session, Johnson & Johnson's stock reached a low of $146.61 before concluding the day at $147.48. The day's trading volume was 3,098,640 shares, which represents a substantial decrease of 61% compared to the average session volume of 7,846,918 shares, with the stock having closed at $147.77 on the previous day.

Recent Analyst Ratings

Several research analysts have recently commented on Johnson & Johnson. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on the stock with an "outperform" rating and a price target of $190.00 in a report dated November 15th. Additionally, Wells Fargo increased their price target for the company from $163.00 to $166.00 and assigned a rating of "equal weight" following their review on October 16th.

On the same day, StockNews.com downgraded Johnson & Johnson from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating. In contrast, Morgan Stanley increased their target price from $169.00 to $175.00, maintaining an "equal weight" rating. Royal Bank of Canada also lifted their price target from $178.00 to $181.00 while keeping an "outperform" rating on the stock.

Currently, there are seven research analysts who have assigned a hold rating, while another seven have given it a buy rating. Data from MarketBeat.com indicates that Johnson & Johnson has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $174.29.

Insider Transactions

In a notable insider transaction, Director Mark A. Weinberger bought 1,000 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock on December 12th at an average price of $147.22 per share, amounting to a total purchase value of $147,220. This acquisition increased his holdings in the company, raising it to a total of 1,000 shares valued at $147,220. The details of this transaction were filed with the SEC and can be accessed through official documents.

Institutional Ownership

In recent months, institutional investors have made various adjustments to their holdings in Johnson & Johnson. IFS Advisors LLC increased its position by an impressive 138.9% during the fourth quarter, now owning 172 shares valued at approximately $25,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares.

Similarly, Highline Wealth Partners LLC purchased new shares in the company during the third quarter, worth around $31,000, while RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC invested about $35,000 during the same timeframe. Additionally, Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC increased their stake by 58.7% in the third quarter, now holding 246 shares valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares. Overall, institutional investors make up 69.55% of Johnson & Johnson's stock ownership.

Current Financial Overview

Johnson & Johnson holds a market capitalization of $353.99 billion, with a P/E ratio of 21.28 and a PEG ratio of 2.30. The stock exhibits a beta of 0.51 and has a 50-day moving average of $148.51, alongside a 200-day moving average of $155.96. The company maintains a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, with a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.79.

Dividend Announcement

Recently, Johnson & Johnson declared a quarterly dividend of $1.24 per share, set to be paid on March 4th to shareholders recorded as of February 18th. This dividend will have an ex-dividend date on February 18th, representing an annualized dividend of $4.96 and a dividend yield of 3.37%. The company's current dividend payout ratio stands at 71.78%.

About Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson, along with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, and sale of a wide array of healthcare products globally. The company’s Innovative Medicine segment provides therapeutic products across various areas such as immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular, metabolism, and pulmonary hypertension.

JNJ, Stock, Analyst