CEO Joaquin Duato presented a strong outlook for Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) revenue growth in 2026, with particular optimism about oncology. Duato identified six major growth drivers, three in pharma (oncology, immunology, and neuroscience) and three in medtech (surgery, cardiovascular, and vision). These drivers position J&J to reach 5-7% annual growth and even exceeding that by the end of the decade, with potential to reach double digit growth in the 2030s. Oncology is set to play a major role in J&J’s op ...

Core Insights - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is recognized as one of the 14 Best Dividend Growth Stocks to buy and hold in 2026 [1] - Barclays has raised its price target for JNJ from $197 to $217, citing strong sales from key drugs like Darzalex, Tremfya, and Simponi, which may exceed Q4 consensus estimates [2] - The company has invested $10.4 billion in research and development (R&D) through Q3, positioning itself as a leading innovator globally, while also maintaining strong free cash flow [3] Financial Performance - JNJ's R&D investment of $10.4 billion supports its ongoing revenue and earnings growth, allowing for continued dividend increases, currently yielding approximately 2.5% [3] - The recent acquisition of Halda Therapeutics for $3.1 billion is expected to enhance JNJ's capabilities in cancer treatment [3] Oncology Sector - Oncology is a significant area for JNJ, with key products like Rybrevant and Lazcluze targeting advanced non-small cell lung cancer, and Inlexzo expected to contribute to the oncology portfolio [4]

Core Insights - The Meridian Hedged Equity Fund reported a return of 1.67% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500 Index which returned 8.13% and the CBOE S&P 500 BuyWrite Index which returned 3.53% [1] Company Overview - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is a major player in the healthcare sector, focusing on innovative pharmaceuticals and medical devices [3] - The company has a market capitalization of $495.785 billion, with its stock closing at $205.78 per share on December 23, 2025 [2] Performance Metrics - Johnson & Johnson's stock experienced a one-month return of -0.43% but gained 41.09% over the last 52 weeks [2] Strategic Developments - Johnson & Johnson is facing a critical transition as sales from its blockbuster drug Stelara decline due to patent expiration, but it is countering this with a strong pipeline of new drugs, particularly in oncology and immunology [3] - The company secured FDA approval for Inlexzo, a new bladder cancer treatment, and its lung cancer drug Rybrevant is moving closer to broader adoption following positive trial data [3] - Strong sales momentum from other key drugs has compensated for the decline in Stelara, and favorable legal developments have eased concerns regarding ongoing talc litigation [3] Investment Sentiment - Johnson & Johnson was held by 103 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, an increase from 95 in the previous quarter [4] - Despite its potential, some analysts believe that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and less downside risk compared to Johnson & Johnson [4]

Industry Overview - The drug and biotech sector has shown recovery after a weak first half, with large drugmakers signing pricing agreements with the Trump administration [1] - Dealmaking activity surged in the second half, boosting investor confidence, with the Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry outperforming the S&P 500 in the past three months [1][4] - Innovation is at its peak, particularly in areas like obesity, cell and gene therapy, and next-gen oncology treatments, attracting investor attention [2] - Despite headwinds such as pipeline setbacks and regulatory risks, the outlook for growth in 2026 remains favorable due to rapid innovation and increased use of AI in drug development [2] Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly has achieved significant success with its tirzepatide medicines, including diabetes drug Mounjaro and weight loss medicine Zepbound, which are key revenue drivers [6][7] - Strong sales growth in 2025 is attributed to international market launches and improved production, with continued demand expected in 2026 [7] - Lilly is investing in obesity treatments with new molecules in clinical development, including orforglipron and retatrutide, with regulatory applications filed for orforglipron [8][9] - Despite challenges like declining product prices and competition in the GLP-1 market, Lilly's stock has risen 39.3% year to date, with 2026 earnings estimates improving from $30.78 to $33.61 per share [10] Johnson & Johnson - J&J has shown strong operational performance in 2025, with double-digit revenue growth from key brands despite the loss of exclusivity for Stelara [11] - The Innovative Medicine segment is expected to accelerate growth in 2026, driven by key products and new launches [12] - J&J's MedTech business has improved, with growth driven by acquired cardiovascular businesses and new product launches expected to contribute to 2026 growth [13][14] - The company has advanced its pipeline significantly and is on an acquisition spree, with a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a stock rise of 43.3% year to date [17] AbbVie - AbbVie faces declining sales from Humira due to loss of exclusivity but has successfully launched new immunology medicines Skyrizi and Rinvoq, generating combined sales of $18.5 billion in the first nine months of 2025 [18][19] - Strong market growth and new indications for these drugs are expected to drive future growth, alongside contributions from newer drugs [20] - AbbVie anticipates a high single-digit CAGR through 2029, supported by robust performance from Skyrizi and Rinvoq, with a Zacks Rank of 3 and a stock rise of 28.2% year to date [21][22] Amgen - Amgen's revenue growth is driven by key medicines like Repatha and new biosimilars, compensating for declines from mature drugs [23][24] - The company is focusing on obesity treatments with its candidate MariTide, which differentiates itself with a convenient dosing method [24] - Amgen's stock has risen 27.3% year to date, with 2026 earnings estimates increasing from $21.43 to $21.62 per share [25] AstraZeneca - AstraZeneca has several blockbuster drugs exceeding $1 billion in sales, with newer products contributing to growth despite losses from mature brands [26][27] - The company expects to achieve industry-leading top-line growth through 2030, with plans to launch 20 new medicines and generate $80 billion in total revenues [28] - AstraZeneca faces challenges such as competition and regulatory impacts but maintains a stable earnings estimate of $5.15 per share for 2026, with a stock rise of 10.7% year to date [29][30]

Core Insights - Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) stock has increased by 16.7% over the past three months, primarily driven by strong third-quarter 2025 results that exceeded expectations in both revenue and earnings, along with an upward revision of sales guidance for the year [1][9]. Group 1: Company Performance - J&J's Innovative Medicine unit has shown consistent growth, with sales rising 3.4% in the first nine months of 2025 despite the loss of exclusivity for its product Stelara, which previously accounted for around 18% of the unit's sales [5][16]. - The Innovative Medicine segment achieved over $15 billion in sales for the second consecutive quarter, supported by key drugs such as Darzalex, Erleada, and Tremfya, as well as new products like Carvykti and Tecvayli [5][8]. - J&J anticipates accelerated growth in the Innovative Medicine segment in 2026, driven by both existing and newly launched products [6]. Group 2: Pipeline and Regulatory Developments - J&J has made significant progress in its pipeline, achieving key clinical and regulatory milestones, including approvals for new treatments like Inlexzo and Imaavy [7]. - The company believes that ten of its new products in the Innovative Medicine segment have the potential to generate peak sales of $5 billion [11]. Group 3: MedTech Segment and Strategic Moves - J&J's MedTech business has shown improvement, particularly due to acquisitions in the cardiovascular sector, and plans to separate its Orthopaedics franchise into a standalone company to focus on high-growth markets [12][13]. - The company expects better growth in the MedTech segment in 2026, driven by the adoption of new products and a focus on higher-growth markets [14]. Group 4: Challenges and Legal Issues - J&J faces challenges in China due to the volume-based procurement (VBP) program, which is impacting sales [15]. - The company is dealing with over 73,000 lawsuits related to its talc-based products, which allege health risks, and has recently shifted back to the traditional tort system after a failed bankruptcy strategy [19][20]. Group 5: Stock Performance and Valuation - J&J's stock has outperformed the industry, rising 42.5% year-to-date compared to a 16.0% increase in the industry [22]. - The stock is currently trading at a price/earnings ratio of 18.04, which is higher than the industry average of 17.04 and above its five-year mean of 15.65 [26]. Group 6: Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for J&J's 2025 earnings has increased slightly from $10.86 to $10.87 per share, while the estimate for 2026 has risen from $11.37 to $11.48 [29].