Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) stock traded around $208 on Thursday, December 18, 2025, with shares modestly lower on the session as investors weighed a busy late-year news cycle that includes fresh FDA wins in MedTech and oncology, new Wall Street target updates, and the continued legal overhang from talc litigation.
For long-term holders, the story remains familiar: J&J is a diversified healthcare bellwether spanning Innovative Medicine and MedTech—a blend that can cushion volatility, but also means the stock tends to react to a wide mix of regulatory, clinical, litigation, and analyst-driven headlines. [1]
Below is what matters most for JNJ stock as of Dec. 18, 2025, based on the day’s major headlines, the latest forecasts, and the most-circulated analyses.
JNJ stock price check: where Johnson & Johnson shares stand on Dec. 18, 2025
- Last seen: about $208.42 (down $1.91, roughly -0.9% on the day)
- 2025 performance: JNJ has posted an unusually strong run for a defensive mega-cap in 2025—variously cited as roughly high-40% to ~50% year-to-date, depending on whether the measure includes dividends and which reference date is used. [2]
That strong performance matters for today’s setup: when a blue-chip stock has already rerated higher, good news often has to be “better than expected” to push the next leg up, while “known risks” (like litigation) can still cap enthusiasm.
Key news from Dec. 18: FDA expands J&J MedTech’s TRUFILL n‑BCA indication
One of the most important J&J headlines dated today is in MedTech.
Johnson & Johnson MedTech announced the U.S. FDA approved an expanded indication for the TRUFILL n‑BCA Liquid Embolic System for embolization of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) to treat symptomatic subacute and chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) as an adjunct to surgery. [3]
Why investors care (even if it’s not an “overnight blockbuster” headline):
- cSDH is common in older adults, and recurrence after traditional surgical intervention is often cited in the 10%–20% range—creating room for approaches designed to reduce recurrence and improve outcomes. [4]
- J&J says the approval is supported by the MEMBRANE randomized controlled trial, which the company described as showing effectiveness advantages versus standard of care for MMA embolization in symptomatic cSDH, alongside safety support. [5]
- The company also framed TRUFILL n‑BCA as a “trusted solution” with a long neurovascular history, which can matter in procedure-driven markets where familiarity influences adoption. [6]
Independent coverage circulating today also points to a broader competitive context in liquid embolics (where multiple device players compete), keeping investor attention on how quickly physicians adopt new indications and how reimbursement and clinical guidelines evolve. [7]
Stock impact takeaway: MedTech approvals like this typically move JNJ stock only modestly in the short run, but they can strengthen the long-term narrative: durable procedure growth + innovation cadence.
Another major catalyst in the news cycle: Rybrevant Faspro approval sharpens J&J’s oncology push
While the TRUFILL headline is dated Dec. 18, the other dominant storyline in today’s coverage is oncology—specifically the FDA approval of a subcutaneous version of Rybrevant.
Johnson & Johnson announced the FDA approved RYBREVANT FASPRO (amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj) as a subcutaneously administered therapy for patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), across the indications of IV Rybrevant. [8]
J&J emphasized operational and patient-experience improvements versus IV infusion, including:
- Administration time reduced to ~five minutes (from several hours) [9]
- Administration-related reactions reduced to ~13% (SC) vs ~66% (IV arm) [10]
- Venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence cited as ~11% (SC) vs ~18% (IV arm) in the company’s discussion [11]
Industry analysis published today frames the approval as strategically important because it improves convenience—one of the big hurdles when competing against AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso, a once-daily oral tablet that has been a dominant EGFR therapy. [12]
That same analysis also underscores a nuanced investor point: while the SC formulation appears to improve some tolerability and logistics, VTE risk remains an area investors and clinicians will monitor, and adoption will depend on how physicians weigh convenience, safety, and efficacy. [13]
Notably, the Fierce Pharma report adds commercial context: it cites U.S. sales for Rybrevant + Lazcluze of $136 million in Q3 2025 and contrasts that with Tagrisso’s U.S. sales reaching $2.2 billion in the first nine months of 2025—a reminder that J&J is still in “share-taking mode,” not “category leader mode,” in this segment. [14]
Stock impact takeaway: The market often values oncology execution because it can drive multi-year revenue compounding. For JNJ stock, the question is less “is this good news?” (it is) and more “does it accelerate penetration enough to change medium-term growth expectations?”
Regulatory tailwind (recent): FDA “national priority voucher” tied to a J&J myeloma program
Another notable, very recent headline feeding into today’s JNJ stock narrative: Reuters reports the FDA granted a national priority voucher to a J&J blood cancer treatment program—describing the voucher as part of a new program intended to reduce review timelines for drugs critical to public health or national security. [15]
According to Reuters, the FDA’s Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program can cut review timelines to one to two months, compared with the usual 10–12 months timeframe described in the report. [16]
Reuters also reported the voucher was awarded to an experimental treatment involving Tecvayli in combination with Darzalex after late-stage trial results showing improvement over standard of care in multiple myeloma. [17]
Stock impact takeaway: This is not the same thing as an approval for a new label today—but investors tend to treat it as a pipeline acceleration signal, especially when paired with other regulatory wins in the same month.
The main risk headline investors keep revisiting: talc litigation and the $40 million verdict
Even with positive FDA headlines, Johnson & Johnson stock continues to trade with a legal “shadow”—and the market was reminded of that this week.
Reuters reported a California jury ordered J&J to pay $40 million to two women in a talc trial involving ovarian cancer claims, and noted J&J said it would appeal. [18]
The Reuters report also said J&J faces lawsuits from more than 67,000 plaintiffs related to talc products, and described repeated court rejections of bankruptcy-based approaches the company has pursued to resolve litigation, with the most recent rejection referenced as occurring in April. [19]
AP’s coverage similarly highlighted the jury award and included additional context that J&J stopped selling talc-based powder worldwide in 2023, while also noting a bankruptcy judge denied a proposed settlement plan tied to talc-related gynecological cancer claims (AP cited a $9 billion figure in its report). [20]
Stock impact takeaway: Litigation is a classic “headline risk” factor—hard to model precisely, capable of driving sentiment swings, and often acting as a ceiling on valuation multiples until investors feel the endgame is clearer.
Wall Street forecasts as of Dec. 18: where analysts see JNJ stock heading
After JNJ’s strong 2025 run, the most interesting part of today’s forecast picture is that consensus upside looks modest, even as some major firms publish much more bullish targets.
1) The consensus target is close to the current price
MarketWatch’s analyst estimates snapshot lists an average target price of $212.82 with 27 ratings. [21]
With JNJ around ~$208 today, that average implies roughly ~2% upside—suggesting much of the “good news” may already be reflected in the price, at least in consensus models. [22]
2) But the high-end targets have moved up toward $240
- A research-note summary circulated via TheFly says RBC Capital raised its price target to $240 from $230, maintaining an Outperform rating. [23]
- MarketScreener also circulated an item saying Goldman Sachs adjusted its price target to $240 from $213, maintaining a Buy rating. [24]
3) Target ranges remain wide
Zacks’ price target compilation shows a range (example snapshot) with forecasts cited as spanning $165 to $240 and an average target close to the then-current price. [25]
How to read this as an investor (and why it matters for JNJ stock):
When the average target sits near the current price but the high targets keep rising, it often signals a market split into two camps:
- Base-case camp: “Great company, but valuation is closer to fair after a big run.”
- Bull-case camp: “Pipeline + MedTech execution + oncology upgrades can sustain above-trend growth long enough to justify a higher multiple.”
The valuation debate: is J&J “expensive” after its surge—or still reasonable?
A widely shared valuation analysis this month (published Dec. 14) argued that even after a large 2025 move, JNJ could look undervalued under certain cash-flow assumptions—citing a P/E around ~20x and presenting a discounted cash flow framework that arrives at a materially higher intrinsic value than the prevailing share price at the time. [26]
It also explicitly tied the rerating narrative to investors “refocusing” on J&J’s pharmaceutical and MedTech franchises, while acknowledging ongoing pipeline and legal crosscurrents. [27]
Meanwhile, at least one analysis circulating today argues the company’s valuation premium can be justified by fundamentals like revenue growth and product mix (access to the full text is limited in some regions/tools, but the headline thesis and key metrics are being widely syndicated). [28]
Practical takeaway for readers: Valuation on JNJ often becomes a tug-of-war between (a) predictable cash generation and diversification, and (b) how much uncertainty investors assign to litigation and product-cycle transitions.
Dividend angle: why JNJ still shows up in “defensive income” portfolios
Even in a headline-driven week, many investors own Johnson & Johnson stock for a simpler reason: dividends.
Current dividend tracking indicates:
- Annual dividend: about $5.20 per share
- Yield: around ~2.5% (varies with price)
- Dividend growth streak: cited at 63 years [29]
Stock impact takeaway: In risk-off moments, that dividend profile can support demand. In risk-on rallies, it can also cause JNJ to lag faster-growing healthcare names—so it’s best understood as a “quality compounder” rather than a momentum vehicle.
What to watch next for Johnson & Johnson stock into 2026
Here are the themes most likely to drive JNJ shares after Dec. 18’s news burst:
- Rybrevant Faspro uptake and competitive dynamics
Watch how quickly the SC formulation changes prescribing behavior versus IV—and whether convenience meaningfully closes the gap against Tagrisso’s oral ease-of-use. [30] - MedTech follow-through from the TRUFILL indication expansion
The approval is a milestone; commercial traction and clinical adoption will determine how much it contributes to growth. [31] - Any new turns in the talc litigation path
Appeals, verdicts, and any settlement framework developments can swing sentiment quickly—even if the underlying business performs well. [32] - Analyst revisions as 2026 estimates firm up
With targets now clustering from the low $200s to $240, estimate changes (and the reasoning behind them) could become a bigger driver than day-to-day news flow. [33]
Bottom line
As of Dec. 18, 2025, Johnson & Johnson stock sits at the intersection of real operational momentum (two FDA-related wins spanning MedTech and oncology) and persistent headline risk (talc litigation). [34]
Wall Street’s average forecast implies limited near-term upside, but a growing set of bullish target revisions toward $240 suggests some firms believe JNJ can keep compounding faster than the market expects—especially if oncology execution improves and MedTech innovation continues to deliver. [35]
References
1. www.reuters.com, 2. simplywall.st, 3. www.jnj.com, 4. www.jnj.com, 5. www.jnj.com, 6. www.jnj.com, 7. neuronewsinternational.com, 8. www.jnj.com, 9. www.jnj.com, 10. www.jnj.com, 11. www.jnj.com, 12. www.fiercepharma.com, 13. www.fiercepharma.com, 14. www.fiercepharma.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.reuters.com, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. apnews.com, 21. www.marketwatch.com, 22. www.marketwatch.com, 23. www.tipranks.com, 24. www.marketscreener.com, 25. www.zacks.com, 26. simplywall.st, 27. simplywall.st, 28. seekingalpha.com, 29. stockanalysis.com, 30. www.fiercepharma.com, 31. www.jnj.com, 32. www.reuters.com, 33. www.marketwatch.com, 34. www.jnj.com, 35. www.marketwatch.com
