Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) has been a top-performing stock this year. Investors, in many cases rotating out of riskier assets, have looked for companies with a strong track record of earnings growth, solid competitive positions, and a revenue stream they can count on — and J&J fits the bill.
As a healthcare player, J&J sells pharmaceuticals and medical devices that ensure a certain level of revenue, as patients need their procedures no matter what direction the stock market takes. Over time, the company's in-house research and acquisitions have built a market-leading portfolio that has kept earnings climbing. Investors, concerned about geopolitical uncertainties and risks to the artificial intelligence (AI) growth story, turned to J&J in the first half, sending the stock to a 22% gain.
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Last week, J&J delivered a blowout earnings report and increased full-year forecasts. But is it too late to buy this healthcare giant? Let's find out.
You might know J&J best for consumer products that you regularly use, from Band-Aid brand bandages to Tylenol. They've made J&J a household name. But the company actually spun off its consumer health business, which includes these products, as Kenvue a few years ago. This was in an effort to boost growth, with the idea of dedicating all of its resources to the higher-growth areas of pharmaceuticals and medtech.
The Kenvue spinoff came at a key moment, as J&J prepared to lose exclusivity of its blockbuster immunology drug Stelara. At its peak in 2024, Stelara brought in more than $10 billion. But the impending entry of rivals meant that Stelara sales would drop drastically.
J&J's move was a wise one, and the latest quarter illustrates this. Solid performance from immunology drug Tremfya and leading multiple myeloma drug Darzalex compensated for Stelara declines and drove more than 6% growth to $25 billion in total revenue — keeping J&J on track to reach its goal of $100 billion in annual revenue. Darzalex revenue jumped 18% to more than $4.2 billion in the quarter, while Tremfya soared 72% to $2 billion.
J&J faced one headwind in particular in the quarter. The medtech division saw some weakness — in an interview with CNBC, chief financial officer Joseph Wolk said sales of Abiomed heart pumps slipped after the release of a study questioning the use of Impella pumps during some high-risk procedures. Wolk said J&J plans to release data in the first half of next year that should alleviate concerns. It's important to remember that the company has 28 products or platforms that bring in revenue of at least $1 billion, offering it the fuel needed for ongoing growth.
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