New York, Jan 16, 2026, 19:34 EST — After-hours
- J&J shares dipped 0.4% by Friday’s close and barely moved in after-hours trading
- With a shortened trading week ahead, attention turns to the quarterly results due January 21
- Investors are refocusing on FDA fast-track reviews and consumer-health news
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) shares held steady in after-hours trading Friday, following a 0.41% drop that closed the day at $218.66. The after-hours session typically sees lighter volume. 1
Investors are counting on earnings to steer the market next week, even as policy shifts and geopolitical developments keep the backdrop noisy. Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth, described it as “an imperative that earnings actually carry the news cycle.” 2
On Friday, U.S. stocks closed almost unchanged after a volatile session ahead of the long weekend, with healthcare dragging the S&P 500 sectors down 0.8%. Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial, noted that most investors would “take that as a win,” given the S&P 500 remains near 7,000. 3
Johnson & Johnson plans to report its fourth-quarter results around 6:45 a.m. ET on Jan. 21, followed by an investor call at 8:30 a.m. ET. CEO Joaquin Duato, CFO Joseph J. Wolk, and investor relations chief Darren Snellgrove will lead the call. The company identified its key segments as Innovative Medicine and MedTech. 4
Regulatory risk is back on the radar. More than six drugmakers are involved in the FDA Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher Program — a fast-track system aimed at delivering approval decisions within one to two months for select drugs. But some companies are holding back, wary of potential legal fallout, according to six industry insiders. So far, 18 vouchers have been handed out, covering drugs from Johnson & Johnson, Merck, GSK, and Regeneron. Yet, only a single drug has been approved through the program. “It’ll be hard to unmake history,” said McKinsey senior partner Greg Graves. 5
Consumer-health stocks drew fresh attention after proxy adviser ISS urged Kimberly-Clark shareholders to back its planned purchase of Tylenol maker Kenvue. The decisive vote is slated for Jan. 29. Since spinning off from Johnson & Johnson’s consumer-health division in 2023, Kenvue shares have dropped 35%, Reuters noted. 6
Still, an empty calendar doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing. Should management’s 2026 guidance come in cautious, or if investors catch any hint of increased legal or regulatory risks, defensive healthcare stocks could face selling pressure alongside the broader market.
Wednesday brings the earnings release and conference call, where investors will zero in on updates for the drug pipeline, MedTech growth rates, and how changes in the FDA review process might ripple through.
