Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Trading 2.7% Higher - What's Next?

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) saw its shares rise by 2.7% during trading on Monday. The stock peaked at $151.70 before closing at $150.74. During the trading session, approximately 4.2 million shares changed hands, which is a notable decrease of 54% from the average daily volume of around 9.2 million shares. Previously, the stock closed at $146.82.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Numerous research analysts have provided insights on Johnson & Johnson shares. For instance, Citigroup lowered its price target for the stock from $185.00 to $175.00 while maintaining a "buy" rating. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating, setting a price target of $181.00. Meanwhile, Guggenheim raised its target price from $156.00 to $162.00, offering a "neutral" rating. Raymond James reduced its price target from $170.00 to $165.00 but kept an "outperform" rating for the company. Lastly, Barclays adjusted their price goal from $160.00 to $159.00 and assigned an "equal weight" rating. Overall, out of the analysts monitoring the stock, nine have a hold rating, eight have a buy rating, and one has issued a strong buy rating. The consensus rating is "Moderate Buy" based on an average price target of $170.06.

Johnson & Johnson Trading Up 4.0 %

The company currently holds a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.79, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. Johnson & Johnson has a market capitalization of approximately $367.73 billion. Its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 22.97, with a P/E/G ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.51. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $147.85, while its 200-day moving average price is $156.10.

Johnson & Johnson Reports Earnings

The company recently announced its earnings results on January 22nd. It reported earnings per share (EPS) of $2.04 for the quarter, surpassing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.99 by $0.05. Johnson & Johnson reported a return on equity of 34.35% and a net margin of 18.20%. The revenue for the quarter reached $22.52 billion, slightly above the estimated $22.44 billion. Compared to the prior year, the company’s EPS was down from $2.29. Analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post earnings of approximately $10.56 per share in the current year.

Dividend Announcement

The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.24 per share, which is payable on March 4th. Shareholders who are on record by February 18th will receive this dividend. The ex-dividend date is also set for February 18th. This dividend translates to an annualized amount of $4.96, yielding 3.25%. The payout ratio for the dividend stands at 74.59%.

Insider Activity

On a related note, Director Mark A. Weinberger purchased 1,000 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock on December 12th, acquiring them at an average price of $147.22, totaling $147,220 for the transaction. Following this purchase, he holds 1,000 shares valued at the same amount. This acquisition, disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), indicates a 0.16% ownership stake by company insiders.

Institutional Transactions

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently adjusted their stakes in Johnson & Johnson. Summit Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings by 0.6%, bringing their total to 10,007 shares, valued at $1.46 million. Powers Advisory Group LLC also raised its stake by 0.6%, resulting in ownership of 9,489 shares worth $1.54 million. Eagle Wealth Strategies LLC grew its position by 2.8% to hold 2,294 shares valued at $372,000. Furthermore, Knuff & Co LLC boosted its holdings by 0.7%, while Perkins Coie Trust Co increased its shares by 1.8%. Overall, institutional investors hold 69.55% of Johnson & Johnson's stock.

About Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson is a holding company that is engaged in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of healthcare products. The company operates through two primary segments: Innovative Medicine and MedTech. The Innovative Medicine segment focuses on areas including immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular health, and pulmonary hypertension.

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