Core Viewpoint - Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE) is positioned in the consumer health industry with a competitive landscape, and recent analyst ratings reflect mixed sentiments regarding its stock performance [1][2][3]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Jefferies has set a price target of $18 for KVUE, indicating a potential upside of about 4.65% from its current trading price of $17.20 [1][6]. - The consensus rating among eighteen brokerages is a "Hold," with an average 1-year target price of $20.23, suggesting a more optimistic outlook compared to Jefferies' target [2][6]. - Recent reports show varied opinions, with Johnson Rice maintaining a "neutral" rating, Citigroup lowering its target from $20.00 to $17.00, and Canaccord Genuity reducing its target from $26.00 to $15.00 [3]. Group 2: Stock Performance and Market Presence - KVUE's current stock price is $17.20, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.81% or $0.14, with fluctuations between $17.18 and $17.44 on the trading day [4]. - Over the past year, KVUE's stock has experienced significant volatility, with a high of $25.17 and a low of $14.02 [4]. - The company's market capitalization is approximately $32.96 billion, with a trading volume of 42.63 million shares, indicating a strong market presence despite mixed analyst ratings [5].

Core Viewpoint - Kenvue Inc. has received a downgrade from Jefferies, reflecting a cautious outlook on the stock amidst a competitive consumer health market [1][5]. Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - Kenvue's current stock price is $17.20, with a consensus rating of Hold from eighteen brokerages [2]. - Among the analysts, twelve recommend holding, five suggest buying, and one strongly advises buying, with an average 1-year target price of approximately $20.23 [2]. - Johnson Rice maintains a "neutral" rating, while Citigroup has lowered its price target from $20.00 to $17.00, also keeping a "neutral" stance [3]. - Canaccord Genuity Group revised their price objective from $26.00 to $15.00, reaffirming a "hold" rating [3]. Recent Stock Fluctuations - Kenvue's stock has recently decreased by 0.81%, or $0.14, trading between $17.175 and $17.44 [4]. - Over the past year, the stock reached a high of $25.17 and a low of $14.02 [4]. - The company's market capitalization is approximately $32.96 billion, with a trading volume of 42.63 million shares today [4].

Group 1: Company Overview - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is a prominent healthcare company with a diverse product range in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health, competing with major players like Pfizer and Merck [1] - The company's current trading price is $224.44, with a recent increase of $2.95, marking a 1.33% rise [4] - JNJ's market capitalization is approximately $540.7 billion, with a trading volume of 6,976,710 shares [4] Group 2: Financial Outlook - Johnson & Johnson has projected sales between $100 billion and $101 billion for 2026, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $98.5 billion, indicating strong growth potential [2][6] - The company expects adjusted earnings per share to range from $11.43 to $11.63, reflecting confidence in its financial performance [2][6] Group 3: Segment Performance - The Innovative Medicine segment is anticipated to grow despite the loss of exclusivity for Stelara, driven by products like Darzalex and Tremfya, along with new product launches [3] - The MedTech segment is also expected to experience stronger growth, although it may face challenges from China's volume-based procurement policies [3] Group 4: Stock Performance - Over the past year, JNJ's stock price has fluctuated between a low of $141.50 and its current high of $224.44, reflecting the dynamic nature of the healthcare industry [5] - Morgan Stanley has set a price target of $262 for JNJ, suggesting a potential upside of 16.73% from its current trading price [1][6]

The current macro investing climate is one in which investors have plenty to consider. On the one hand, growth stocks continue to outperform as investors look for ways to capitalize on a surprisingly robust bull market. Yes, we've already seen plenty of history made in early 2026, with geopolitical issues and newfound ramped up tariff rhetoric recently sending the VIX back above 20 for the first time in months. However, I'm of the view that the choppiness we could see for the remainder of the year may outpa ...

UNIONDALE, NY, Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProPhase Labs, Inc. (OTC: PRPH) (“ProPhase” or the “Company”), a next-generation biotech, genomics and consumer products company, today provided an operational update on the progress of its Crown Medical Collections initiative relating to legacy COVID-19 testing receivables held by its laboratory subsidiaries currently in Chapter 11 proceedings. Crown Medical Collections (“Crown Medical”), which serves as special counsel to the Debtors for the collection of a ...

Group 1 - Prenetics Global Limited has ceased its daily Bitcoin purchasing activity as of December 4 and will not acquire Bitcoin in the future following Board approval [1][6] - The company currently holds 510.03 BTC, valued at over $44.8 billion, and will continue to hold these as a treasury reserve asset [6] - The decision to stop acquiring Bitcoin is influenced by a lack of confidence in digital asset treasuries amid a market crash [7] Group 2 - Prenetics is focusing its resources on the IM8 brand, co-founded by David Beckham, which has achieved over $100 million in annualized recurring revenue since its launch [2][9] - The management team believes that dedicating attention to IM8 represents a significant opportunity for sustainable shareholder value [9] - The stock price of PRE was trading at $15.72, down 3.5% on the day of the announcement [9]

Core Viewpoint - The Meridian Hedged Equity Fund's third-quarter 2025 performance reflects a market more influenced by policy easing than weakening fundamentals, achieving a net return of 1.67% despite concerns over stagflation [1] Fund Performance - The fund's return of 1.67% in Q3 2025 is compared to the S&P 500 Index's return of 8.13% and the CBOE S&P 500 BuyWrite Index's return of 3.53% [1] Company Focus: Kenvue Inc. - Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE), a consumer health company with brands like Tylenol and Neutrogena, is highlighted as a key investment despite a one-month return of -0.06% and a 52-week loss of 21.06% [2][3] - Kenvue's stock closed at $17.02 on December 23, 2025, with a market capitalization of $32.609 billion [2] Investment Rationale for Kenvue Inc. - The fund sees potential for Kenvue to unlock value through reinvestment in underfunded brands, cost optimization, and margin improvement [3] - Recent market reactions to studies linking acetaminophen to autism risk during pregnancy are viewed as overblown, with minimal revenue impact expected from pregnant women, who represent less than 1% of Tylenol's global sales [3] Hedge Fund Interest - Kenvue Inc. was held by 73 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, an increase from 72 in the previous quarter, indicating growing interest [4] - Despite this interest, the fund suggests that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and lower downside risk compared to Kenvue [4]

Core Viewpoint - The Perrigo Company plc is facing a class action lawsuit due to alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with claims that the company and its executives made misleading statements regarding the financial health of its infant formula business acquired from Nestlé [1][3]. Summary by Sections Class Action Lawsuit Details - The class action lawsuit is titled French v. Perrigo Company plc and covers securities purchases made between February 27, 2023, and November 4, 2025 [1]. - Investors have until January 16, 2026, to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit [1]. Allegations Against Perrigo - The lawsuit alleges that Perrigo's acquisition of Nestlé's Gateway infant formula plant was plagued by significant underinvestment and operational deficiencies [3]. - Specific claims include the need for substantial capital expenditures beyond initial estimates to address these issues, leading to overstated financial results [3]. Financial Impact and Stock Performance - On February 27, 2024, Perrigo disclosed acquisition-related charges of $35 million to $45 million for remediation efforts, resulting in a 50% decline in earnings per share compared to the previous year [4]. - Following this announcement, Perrigo's stock price fell over 15% [4]. - On May 7, 2024, Perrigo reported net sales of $91 million, a decrease of 34.5%, and a gross margin decline of 90 basis points, leading to a nearly 10% drop in stock price [5]. - On August 6, 2025, Perrigo's adjusted gross profit decreased by $30 million (6.9%), with a reported gross margin of 34.4%, causing an 11% decline in stock price [6]. - On November 5, 2025, Perrigo announced a strategic review of its infant formula business and slashed its fiscal year 2025 outlook, resulting in a stock price drop of over 25% [7]. Company Background - Perrigo provides over-the-counter health and wellness solutions and has been involved in significant acquisitions to expand its product offerings [2].

Core Viewpoint - A Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million to two women who allege that Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder caused their ovarian cancer, marking a significant development in ongoing litigation against the company [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Developments - The recent verdict is part of a long-standing legal battle regarding claims that talc in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower body powder is linked to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma [2]. - In October, another California jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma, asserting that her cancer was due to asbestos contamination in the baby powder [3]. - The latest jury awarded $18 million to Monica Kent and $22 million to Deborah Schultz and her husband, highlighting the plaintiffs' long-term loyalty to the brand [4]. Group 2: Company Response and Strategy - Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the jury's liability verdict and compensatory damages, asserting that it has won 16 out of 17 ovarian cancer cases previously tried [4]. - The company maintains that the jury's findings contradict decades of independent scientific evaluations that confirm talc is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer [5]. - In response to declining sales, Johnson & Johnson replaced talc in its baby powder with cornstarch in 2020 and faced a setback in April when a U.S. bankruptcy court judge denied its plan to pay $9 billion to settle related litigation claims [5].

Core Thesis - Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is viewed positively due to its diversified business model, strong financials, and consistent dividend growth, making it an attractive investment opportunity [1][4]. Business Overview - J&J operates in three major divisions: pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health products, with pharmaceuticals being the largest growth driver [2]. - The company’s consumer health brands, such as Tylenol and Band-Aid, provide stability and relevance in everyday life, ensuring recurring demand and resilient cash flows [2]. Financial Performance - J&J's revenues increased from $70 billion in 2015 to nearly $89 billion projected for 2024, with operating income exceeding $61 billion [3]. - The company maintains a conservative payout ratio of around 55–60%, supporting its status as a Dividend King with 62 consecutive years of dividend increases [3]. Investment Metrics - J&J scores above 90 on the MaxDividends framework, indicating strong stability across sales growth, profit growth, net income resilience, payout safety, and low leverage [4]. - The stock has a moderate dividend yield of 2.8% and steady growth of approximately 6%, with valuation metrics suggesting it is slightly undervalued compared to peers [4]. Recent Performance - Since a previous bullish thesis in January 2025, J&J's stock price has appreciated by approximately 40.42%, reflecting strong fundamentals and continued investor confidence [5].