New York, Jan 5, 2026, 20:16 EST — Market closed
- Johnson & Johnson shares fell 1.47% to $204.31, lagging a broader market rise.
- UBS reiterated a Buy rating but trimmed EPS forecasts after management flagged about $0.20 of adjusted EPS dilution tied to a recent deal.
- Next catalysts: the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference on Jan. 12 and J&J’s Q4 earnings and 2026 guidance on Jan. 21.
Johnson & Johnson shares ended down 1.47% at $204.31 on Monday, giving back early gains even as Wall Street analysts reiterated bullish calls on the healthcare conglomerate. 1
The move matters because investors are heading into a dense stretch of company updates, with management set to speak at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference next week and to deliver fourth-quarter results later this month. In a market that has leaned into cyclical names, defensive stocks like J&J often need a clean guidance message to keep money flowing in. 2
Analysts are also recalibrating earnings models after a recent acquisition added near-term costs, a wrinkle that can matter for a stock that is widely held for its steady profits and dividend. UBS cut its estimates on the back of management’s comments about earnings dilution, even while keeping its positive stance on the shares. 1
UBS analyst Danielle Antalffy reiterated a Buy rating and a $214 price target, but lowered the firm’s earnings-per-share forecasts after management flagged roughly $0.20 of total adjusted EPS dilution split between 2025 and 2026. “We reiterate our view that JNJ’s underlying fundamentals remain strong,” Antalffy wrote. 1
Adjusted EPS is profit per share that excludes certain items companies and analysts treat as one-offs. “Dilution” means those deal-related costs reduce per-share earnings versus what they would have been otherwise. 1
Johnson & Johnson said late last month it had completed its $3.05 billion cash acquisition of Halda Therapeutics, and that it expected about $0.20 of adjusted EPS dilution split equally between 2025 and 2026 because of items including employee equity awards, financing and integration costs. The company said it will provide commentary on full-year 2026 guidance on its Jan. 21 earnings call. 3
Wolfe Research, meanwhile, raised its price target on Johnson & Johnson to $240 from $225 and maintained an “outperform” rating, MarketBeat reported. A price target is an analyst’s estimate of where a stock could trade over the next 12 months. 4
The day’s tape was mixed for healthcare. The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund fell 0.3%, while the broader market advanced, with the S&P 500 up 0.64% and the Dow rising 1.23%, according to MarketWatch. 5
Technically, J&J traded between $200.94 and $207.02 on Monday and finished near its 50-day moving average of about $201, data compiled by MarketBeat showed. The shares’ 12-month range sits roughly between $140.68 and $215.18, leaving investors watching whether the stock can hold the $200 area as support while it approaches its recent highs. 4
A key risk is that deal-related costs or integration work prove heavier than expected, squeezing near-term earnings and pressuring the multiple investors are willing to pay for a defensive name. Any disappointing update on product momentum or the outlook for 2026 could also hurt sentiment, particularly with litigation and policy headlines a recurring overhang for large drugmakers.
Next up, investors will focus on Johnson & Johnson’s fireside chat at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference on Jan. 12, ahead of the company’s Jan. 21 earnings call and 2026 guidance update. 2
