Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Shares Up 0.8% – Here’s Why

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s stock price rose 0.8% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $143.67 and last traded at $143.43. Approximately 2,411,472 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 65% from the average daily volume of 6,904,866 shares. The stock had previously closed at $142.27.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on JNJ shares. Wolfe Research started coverage on Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Friday, November 15th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $190.00 price target on the stock. Bank of America reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $166.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $178.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $185.00 to $175.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $156.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $174.71.

Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance

The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $149.67 and its 200-day simple moving average is $156.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.03. The company has a market capitalization of $342.05 billion, a PE ratio of 20.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.51.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 15th. The company reported $2.42 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.21 by $0.21. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 35.45% and a net margin of 19.14%. The company had revenue of $22.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.17 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.66 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 9.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 4th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a dividend of $1.24 per share. This represents a $4.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. Johnson & Johnson’s dividend payout ratio is currently 71.78%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Johnson & Johnson

In other Johnson & Johnson news, Director Mark A. Weinberger purchased 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $147.22 per share, for a total transaction of $147,220.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 1,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $147,220. This represents a ∞ increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Johnson & Johnson

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of JNJ. Achmea Investment Management B.V. raised its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 8.0% during the second quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. now owns 219,746 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,118,000 after buying an additional 16,340 shares during the last quarter. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 6.4% in the second quarter. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 48,365 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,069,000 after purchasing an additional 2,920 shares in the last quarter. PFG Advisors grew its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. PFG Advisors now owns 32,027 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,681,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC raised its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 36.5% during the 2nd quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC now owns 3,677 shares of the company’s stock worth $537,000 after purchasing an additional 983 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wambolt & Associates LLC lifted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 11.9% in the second quarter. Wambolt & Associates LLC now owns 18,009 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,637,000 after acquiring an additional 1,922 shares during the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Johnson & Johnson Company Profile

Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company's Innovative Medicine segment offers products for various therapeutic areas, such as immunology, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis; infectious diseases comprising HIV/AIDS; neuroscience, consisting of mood disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and schizophrenia; oncology, such as prostate cancer, hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and bladder cancer; cardiovascular and metabolism, including thrombosis, diabetes, and macular degeneration; and pulmonary hypertension comprising pulmonary arterial hypertension through retailers, wholesalers, distributors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals for prescription use.