Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is in an unusual “after the bell” setup today: there is no U.S. closing bell on Dec. 25 because the New York Stock Exchange is closed for Christmas Day, following a scheduled early close on Wednesday, Dec. 24. [1]
That means the most relevant read for investors heading into Friday, Dec. 26, 2025 is the last available close and after-hours quote from Dec. 24, plus the headline risks that can hit the tape while markets are shut.
Where JNJ stock stands heading into Friday’s open
Last regular-session close (Dec. 24):$207.78, up about 0.97% from the prior close. [2]
Last reported after-hours quote (Dec. 24, ~4:59 p.m. ET):$207.75, essentially flat vs. the close, on modest after-hours volume. [3]
Because the Dec. 24 session was shortened (an early close is standard for Christmas Eve), volume and price discovery can be thinner than usual—especially for large, defensive names like J&J. [4]
52-week context: JNJ is trading near the upper end of its one-year range (roughly $140–$215), which matters because “good news” sometimes needs to be very good to push a stock through recent highs, while negative surprises can trigger faster pullbacks when positioning is crowded. [5]
Why “after-hours today” is really “after-hours from Dec. 24”
If you’re looking at brokerage apps tonight and seeing a timestamp from yesterday, it’s not a glitch.
- NYSE was closed Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day). [6]
- The market closed early at 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 24. [7]
- Major U.S. exchanges are scheduled to operate a full session on Friday, Dec. 26. [8]
So, any “after-hours” price you see today is typically the most recent after-hours print from Dec. 24, not a new trading session on Dec. 25.
The biggest current catalysts for Johnson & Johnson stock
Even when markets are closed, legal, policy, and FDA-related headlines can reshape expectations for the next open. Here are the themes investors are most focused on right now.
1) Talc litigation: headline risk is back in focus
The most market-moving J&J story in late December has been talc-related litigation, after a Baltimore jury ordered J&J and entities tied to its talc supply chain to pay more than $1.5 billion to a plaintiff alleging asbestos exposure from talc-based products caused cancer. J&J has said it will appeal and continues to dispute the scientific basis of the claims. [9]
Key details investors are watching:
- Reuters reported the company faces more than 67,000 lawsuits related to talc products and cancer claims. [10]
- J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the U.S. in 2020 and globally in 2023, shifting to cornstarch-based alternatives—yet legal exposure remains a recurring market overhang. [11]
- Additional recent verdicts (including a Minnesota jury award of $65.5 million reported by AP) keep the story active and unpredictable into year-end. [12]
What to watch before the open (Dec. 26):
- Any appeal-related updates, new trial dates, or settlement chatter
- Whether mainstream outlets (Reuters/AP) publish follow-up coverage during the holiday lull
- Signs that legal outcomes are shifting from “noise” to “financially material” in analyst models
2) U.S. drug pricing policy: J&J is still a name to watch
Another major overhang for big pharma into 2026 is U.S. drug pricing policy, especially after the White House announced additional “most-favored-nation” pricing agreements with multiple drugmakers tied to the TrumpRx initiative. [13]
What’s notable for J&J investors: Reuters reported that Johnson & Johnson was among the remaining large drugmakers not yet signed at the time of the latest round of agreements (along with AbbVie and Regeneron). [14]
Why it matters for JNJ stock:
- If J&J ultimately joins, investors will scrutinize which products are included, how discounts are structured, and whether there’s any offsetting benefit (e.g., tariff relief or other policy considerations referenced in coverage). [15]
- If J&J stays out longer than peers, markets may price in a higher headline risk premium in the near term.
What to watch before the open (Dec. 26):
- Any official updates from the White House or credible reporting confirming whether J&J’s status has changed since the last Reuters update
- Reaction across the pharma group (sympathy moves can pull JNJ even without company-specific news)
3) FDA and product pipeline: steady “fundamentals” headlines
Away from the courtroom and Washington, J&J has also had recent FDA- and pipeline-linked news flow that supports the longer-term “innovation” narrative.
Recent examples from company and major-market coverage include:
- FDA approval of RYBREVANT FASPRO (a subcutaneous option intended to simplify administration for certain EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer settings). [16]
- FDA approval expanding the indication for TRUFILL n‑BCA in the treatment pathway for symptomatic subacute and chronic subdural hematoma (as an adjunct to surgery). [17]
- Reuters also reported that the FDA granted a national priority voucher to J&J’s Tecvayli + Darzalex combination in multiple myeloma under the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program, which is designed to compress review timelines for priority products. [18]
These items typically don’t move JNJ day-to-day like litigation does, but they matter for earnings durability and for how analysts frame 2026–2027 growth.
Earnings are the next “scheduled” catalyst: Jan. 21, 2026
The next major hard date on the calendar is Johnson & Johnson’s Fourth Quarter 2025 earnings call, scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 (8:30 a.m. ET). [19]
Why this matters before Friday’s open:
- Holiday weeks are often low-volume, but investors still position early for the next major catalyst—especially when a stock is near highs.
- J&J’s most recent quarterly update (Q3 2025) included reported sales growth of 6.8% to $24.0 billion, adjusted EPS of $2.80, and an increase in estimated full-year sales guidance to $93.7B at the midpoint, while reaffirming full-year adjusted EPS guidance of $10.85 at the midpoint. [20]
Expect pre-earnings commentary to focus on:
- The company’s “priority areas” emphasis (oncology, immunology, neuroscience, cardiovascular, surgery, vision) and what that means for 2026 outlook. [21]
- Any updated language on litigation reserves or risk posture
- The path of growth across Innovative Medicine and MedTech
Dividends still matter for JNJ investors — but the next key date isn’t tomorrow
Johnson & Johnson remains a flagship dividend name, with the company highlighting 60+ consecutive years of dividend increases in its investor materials. [22]
For near-term context, J&J previously declared a $1.30 quarterly dividend for Q4 2025 (payable Dec. 9, 2025, with an ex-dividend date of Nov. 25, 2025). [23]
At around $208/share, that dividend level implies an annualized yield in the ballpark of ~2.5% (simple annualization: $1.30 × 4). (Yield derived from the declared dividend and latest price.) [24]
What analysts and forecasters are saying today (Dec. 25)
Because it’s a holiday, most “fresh” research today is roundup-style rather than major new notes. Still, a few widely-circulated items are shaping the conversation:
- Trefis (Dec. 25) characterized JNJ as “fairly priced”, citing strong profitability and financial stability but a relatively high valuation, and pegged a value estimate around $206 versus a market price around $208 (about ~1% downside in that framework). [25]
- MarketBeat (Dec. 25) aggregated Street sentiment as roughly “Moderate Buy” with an average target price around $210.25, and highlighted a subset of recent price-target changes (including a higher bull-case target cited in its roundup). [26]
Takeaway: forecast dispersion is narrow near current levels, which can amplify the impact of non-modelable developments—especially litigation or policy shocks.
What to watch before the market opens Friday, Dec. 26
Here’s a practical checklist for JNJ traders and long-term investors ahead of the next session.
1) Any new talc litigation headlines overnight
This remains the clearest near-term “gap risk” factor. A single credible update can change sentiment fast. [27]
2) Updates on drug pricing agreements and whether J&J joins
Because Reuters has framed J&J as one of the remaining large holdouts, a confirmation headline (either way) can move not just JNJ but the whole pharma complex. [28]
3) Liquidity and “holiday tape” effects
With Christmas behind and year-end approaching, some participants return—but conditions can still be thinner than normal, making moves look bigger than they are.
4) Market tone and seasonality into Dec. 26
MarketWatch noted that Dec. 26 has historically been a consistently positive day for the S&P 500 (with caveats), which matters because JNJ often trades partly as a “market beta + defensives” hybrid. [29]
5) Macro calendar: likely quiet, but delayed releases can hit
Some regular daily/weekly releases that would fall on Christmas can shift to Friday (depending on the series). The Federal Reserve’s calendar notes that certain releases scheduled for Dec. 25 are released on Dec. 26. [30]
At the same time, several economic calendars show little in the way of major scheduled indicators on Dec. 26. [31]
Bottom line for JNJ stock into the Dec. 26 open
Johnson & Johnson stock heads into Friday with shares holding near $208 after a modestly higher close on Christmas Eve and flat after-hours pricing. [32]
The biggest near-term swing factors are not product launches or dividend math—they’re headline-driven:
- Talc litigation developments
- Drug pricing policy and whether J&J joins peer agreements
- Any surprise corporate or FDA news that arrives in a low-liquidity window
If you want one sentence to take into Friday: JNJ is trading like a steady blue chip—until a courtroom or policy headline makes it trade like an event stock. [33]
This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
References
1. www.nyse.com, 2. www.marketwatch.com, 3. www.marketwatch.com, 4. www.nyse.com, 5. www.marketbeat.com, 6. www.nyse.com, 7. www.nyse.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. apnews.com, 13. www.whitehouse.gov, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. www.jnj.com, 17. www.jnj.com, 18. www.reuters.com, 19. www.investor.jnj.com, 20. www.investor.jnj.com, 21. www.investor.jnj.com, 22. investor.jnj.com, 23. www.investor.jnj.com, 24. www.investor.jnj.com, 25. www.trefis.com, 26. www.marketbeat.com, 27. www.reuters.com, 28. www.reuters.com, 29. www.marketwatch.com, 30. www.federalreserve.gov, 31. www.economy.com, 32. www.marketwatch.com, 33. www.reuters.com
