Johnson & Johnson Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NYSE:JNJ)

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Tuesday. Investors bought 34,603 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 29% compared to the typical volume of 26,861 call options.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 23,054 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $251.27, for a total value of $5,792,778.58. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 23,003 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,779,963.81. This trade represents a 50.06% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Elizabeth Forminard sold 15,918 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $257.00, for a total value of $4,090,926.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 16,994 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,367,458. The trade was a 48.37% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 63,972 shares of company stock valued at $16,245,605 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Johnson & Johnson

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of JNJ. Blueline Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Cresta Advisors Ltd. bought a new stake in Johnson & Johnson during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. DecisionPoint Financial LLC raised its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 104.2% during the fourth quarter. DecisionPoint Financial LLC now owns 147 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 49.0% in the fourth quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 149 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 55.0% in the second quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 203 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Johnson & Johnson News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Johnson & Johnson this week:

• Positive Sentiment: J&J reported second-quarter sales of $25.31 billion, up 6.6% year over year, while adjusted EPS of $2.90 exceeded analysts’ $2.84 consensus. Management also raised its 2026 outlook, reinforcing confidence in near-term earnings growth. Johnson & Johnson Stock Jumps 3% as Healthcare Rotation Lifts Shares
• Positive Sentiment: The FDA cleared the AI-powered MONARCH QUEST 3 bronchoscopy system. The updated platform adds robotic visualization, airway-access capabilities, AI-assisted planning and imaging support, potentially expanding J&J’s presence in advanced lung diagnostics. J&J secures FDA clearance for MONARCH QUEST 3 bronchoscopy system
• Positive Sentiment: Investors are increasingly viewing immunology and neuroscience as growth engines. New products in these areas could help offset the loss of exclusivity for blockbuster drug Stelara and reduce reliance on mature pharmaceutical franchises. J&J’s New Growth Powerhouses: Immunology and Neuroscience
• Positive Sentiment: Options activity was notably bullish, with traders purchasing 34,603 call contracts—about 29% above the average call volume—indicating increased speculative interest in further gains.
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent FDA progress for J&J’s broader robotic-surgery portfolio, including the OTTAVA system, strengthens the long-term MedTech narrative, although commercial adoption and competitive positioning remain unproven.
• Negative Sentiment: Quiver data shows 21 insider sales and no insider purchases over the past six months. These transactions may reflect compensation or diversification, but the lack of buying is a modest sentiment headwind.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on the company. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $250.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $285.00 to $298.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $254.00 to $263.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Argus set a $300.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $265.00 to $287.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $268.22.

Johnson & Johnson Trading Up 3.3%

Shares of Johnson & Johnson stock traded up $8.68 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $271.05. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 7,835,099 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,287,332. The stock has a market cap of $653.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.24. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $253.21 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $241.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.81. Johnson & Johnson has a 52 week low of $173.33 and a 52 week high of $274.90.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 15th. The company reported $2.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.06. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 32.42% and a net margin of 21.48%.The company had revenue of $25.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.06 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.77 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Johnson & Johnson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.600-11.750 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Johnson & Johnson will post 11.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 25th will be given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 25th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Johnson & Johnson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.11%.

About Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson is a multinational healthcare company headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of products across pharmaceuticals, medical devices and previously consumer health. Founded in 1886 by the Johnson family, the company has grown into a global healthcare organization with operations and sales in many countries around the world.

The company’s pharmaceuticals business, organized largely under its Janssen research and development organization, focuses on prescription medicines across therapeutic areas such as immunology, infectious disease, oncology and neuroscience.