Johnson & Johnson Stock: Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish?

Company Overview - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is a global healthcare conglomerate with a market cap of $455 billion, headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and founded in 1886. The company operates in innovative prescription medicines, advanced surgical and medical technologies, and legacy consumer brands [1]. Performance Metrics - JNJ has outperformed the broader market in 2025, with stock gains of 30.6% year-to-date and 17.6% over the past 52 weeks, compared to the S&P 500 Index's gains of 16.3% and 17.7% respectively [2]. - In the healthcare sector, JNJ has also outperformed the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV), which has risen 4.9% in 2025 and experienced a 2.6% decline over the past 52 weeks [3]. Financial Results - For Q3 2025, JNJ reported a revenue growth of 6.8% year-over-year to $24 billion and an adjusted EPS increase of 16% to $2.80, indicating solid growth in both top and bottom lines. The company raised its full-year 2025 revenue guidance midpoint to approximately $93.2 billion while maintaining its adjusted EPS guidance at around $10.85 [4]. - Analysts project an adjusted EPS of $10.86 for fiscal 2025, reflecting an 8.8% year-over-year increase, with JNJ having exceeded Wall Street's earnings expectations in each of the last four quarters [5]. Analyst Ratings - The stock has a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating, with 25 analysts covering it, including 13 "Strong Buys," two "Moderate Buys," and 10 "Holds" [5]. - A month ago, the configuration was slightly less bullish, with 11 analysts giving "Strong Buy" recommendations. J.P. Morgan analyst Chris Schott reiterated a "Hold" rating on JNJ with a price target of $205 [6]. - The mean price target for JNJ is $202.35, indicating a modest 7.1% upside potential, while the highest target of $225 suggests a notable 19.1% premium to current price levels [6].