Key Points J&J beat Wall Street estimates on sales and profits in the third quarter. The company recently announced the acquisition of a biotech with an innovative cancer treatment. 10 stocks we like better than Johnson & Johnson › Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE: JNJ) stock price is up more than 7% since the first trading day of November. What's going on with this healthcare giant? Well, J&J posted strong third-quarter results in mid-October that beat Wall Street's estimates. Sales rose nearly 7% over t ...

Group 1: Market Overview - The S&P 500 index is a key indicator of the overall market performance, reflecting the health of the U.S. economy [1] - Recent trends indicate fluctuations in the S&P 500, influenced by various economic factors and corporate earnings reports [1] Group 2: Company Analysis - General Dynamics Corporation has shown strong performance in defense contracting, with significant revenue growth attributed to increased government spending [1] - JM Smucker Company reported a rise in sales driven by higher demand for its food products, particularly during economic uncertainty [1] - Franklin Resources Inc. has experienced challenges in asset management, with a decline in assets under management impacting overall profitability [1]

Zymeworks (ZYME) on Tuesday announced plans to focus on a royalty-driven growth model backed by its internal R&D engine and licensing arrangements with companies such as Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). The move came hours after the Delaware-based biotech released encouraging ...

Core Insights - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Halda Therapeutics for $3.05 billion in cash, enhancing its oncology pipeline, particularly in prostate cancer treatments [1][3][10] Acquisition Details - The acquisition will incorporate Halda's proprietary RIPTAC platform, which is focused on developing oral, targeted therapies for various solid tumors, including the lead candidate HLD-0915 for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) [2][10] - HLD-0915 is currently in a phase I/II study and has shown promising anti-tumor activity, designed to induce selective tumor cell death and address treatment resistance mechanisms [2] Strategic Implications - This deal will bolster J&J's existing oncology portfolio, which includes established drugs like Zytiga, Erleada, and Akeega, and is expected to close in the coming months, subject to regulatory review [3][10] - J&J anticipates a dilution of approximately 15 cents to adjusted EPS in 2026 as a result of this acquisition [3] Recent M&A Activity - J&J has been actively pursuing acquisitions, completing around 60 deals in the past 18 months, including the acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapies, which added the antidepressant Caplyta to its portfolio [4] - The pharmaceutical sector has seen a surge in M&A activity, with notable deals including Merck's acquisition of Cidara Therapeutics for $9.2 billion and Pfizer's acquisition of Metsera for approximately $10 million [5][6] Financial Performance - J&J's shares have outperformed the industry, rising 38% year-to-date compared to the industry average of 13.9% [9] - The company's shares are currently trading at a price/earnings ratio of 17.49, slightly above the industry average of 16.71 and its five-year mean of 15.65 [11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for J&J's 2025 earnings has increased from $10.86 to $10.87 per share, while the estimate for 2026 has risen from $11.46 to $11.48 over the past month [12]

Johnson & Johnson has had the year 2025 circled, highlighted, bolded and underlined on its calendar for a long time. Why? Because patent exclusivity for Stelara, its longtime top-selling drug that treats psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease, expired this year, allowing so-called “biosimilars” to hit the market. In turn, the company has embraced acquisitions to keep its pipeline flowing. On Monday, it announced an agreement to pay $3.1 billion for Halda Therapeutics, a company specializing in prostate ...

Key TakeawaysThe Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) maintained its cash rate, signaling a cautious stance on inflation and the economic outlook, while acknowledging potential for future policy adjustments.Global equity markets experienced a downturn, with Seoul shares declining due to tech losses and Australian shares hitting a four-month low amidst significant losses in the banking and mining sectors.Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is set to bolster its oncology portfolio with the acquisition of Halda Therapeutics fo ...

Corporate Moves: Acquisitions, Succession, and IPOs - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) announced a definitive agreement to acquire Halda Therapeutics for $3.05 billion in cash, aiming to expand its oncology portfolio, particularly in treatments for solid tumors and prostate cancer [5] - Apple (AAPL) is reportedly intensifying preparations for CEO Tim Cook's succession, with John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, considered the likely successor [6] - The Pinkfong Company (403850.KQ), creator of "Baby Shark," saw its shares surge 55% above its IPO price on debut, pricing its IPO at 38,000 won per share and raising 76 billion won ($53 million) [7] Geopolitical and Economic Policy Developments - The UK has raised its bank deposit guarantee to £120,000 from £85,000, effective December 1, to keep pace with inflation and maintain public confidence in the banking system [8] - U.S. sanctions on Russian oil majors Rosneft and Lukoil are effectively reducing Russian oil revenues, pushing crude prices to multi-year lows and expected to negatively impact Russian oil export volumes [10]

Vida Ventures Marks Fourth Major Portfolio Acquisition in 2025, Capping a Record-Setting Year for Its Science-Led, Discipline-Driven Strategy Share LOS ANGELES & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vida Ventures ("Vida†), a next-generation life sciences venture firm, today announced its fourth major Vida portfolio acquisition of 2025, capping an unprecedented year of strategic exits and reinforcing the firm's disciplined, science-first approach to company building and investing. Earlier today, Halda Therapeutics ann ...

Core Insights - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 557.24 points (-1.18%) on November 17, 2025, influenced by upcoming earnings reports and a backlog of economic data [1] - Anticipation surrounds key corporate earnings from Nvidia, Walmart, and Home Depot, which are expected to provide insights into the AI, technology, and consumer sectors [1] - Delayed economic data, including the September jobs report, is expected to impact perceptions of the U.S. economy and Federal Reserve interest rate decisions [1] Company Performance - Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, and Merck & Co. were among the biggest gainers, reflecting a shift towards defensive or healthcare-related stocks amid market uncertainty, with gains of 2.08%, 1.82%, and 1.11% respectively [2] - American Express led the declines with a drop of 2.37%, attributed to increased net write-off rates in U.S. Consumer Card Member loans, followed by IBM (-2.13%), Salesforce (-1.94%), and Apple (-1.73%) [3]

Market Overview - Stocks are trading lower, continuing a recent struggle to find stability, with concerns about stretched valuations in the technology sector and debt-driven spending on data centers and AI impacting market performance [1] - Amazon is seeking to raise $15 billion through a bond sale, its first in three years, which will benefit large banks managing the sale, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley [1] Sector Analysis - The consumer staples sector is currently the worst-performing sector year to date, but may see a return of interest due to concerns about tech valuations and a slowing economy [1] - The household products group is favored over the food and beverage category due to the accelerating adoption of GLP-1s, which could introduce uncertainty in the food and beverage space [1] Company Insights - Kimberly-Clark announced the acquisition of Kenvue, valuing the consumer health company at approximately $49 billion, which initially led to a 14% drop in Kimberly-Clark's shares [1] - Concerns regarding the acquisition include the high price paid for Kenvue amid Tylenol and talc-related lawsuits, as well as the strategic fit of a toilet paper company entering healthcare [1] - The merger is expected to create a company with ten $1 billion brands and generate $2.4 billion in potential value through $1.9 billion in cost savings and $500 million in revenue synergies [1] - Kimberly-Clark is trading at less than 14 times 2026 earnings-per-share estimates, offering a 4.8% dividend yield [1] Additional Company Developments - Johnson & Johnson has seen a strong performance in 2025, with shares gaining about 38%, driven by its oncology portfolio, which is expected to grow from $21 billion in sales for 2024 to over $50 billion by 2030 [1] - The company announced the acquisition of Halda Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology firm, and is in the process of separating its orthopedics business to focus on high-growth segments [1] - Johnson & Johnson is trading for less than 20 times earnings, indicating a potentially attractive valuation [1]