Key PointsThe first quarter of 2024 is coming to a wrap, showing investors where the most prominent Wall Street investors find opportunities to allocate funds. Three stocks became targets for investors like Buffett, Dalio, and Burry. Each has its own merit for being considered. Far from blindly following these pros, investors can see why these stocks are still potential additions in the coming cycle.5 stocks we like better than HSBCWhen the biggest names on Wall Street make an investment decision, the world ...

Core Viewpoint - Johnson & Johnson is positioned as a highly reliable dividend stock, supported by strong cash flow and a robust balance sheet, making it an attractive option for income-seeking investors [1]. Financial Strength - Johnson & Johnson holds a AAA bond rating from multiple credit agencies, indicating a superior capacity to meet financial obligations, even better than the U.S. federal government [2]. - The company ended the first quarter with $26 billion in cash and marketable securities against $34 billion in debt, resulting in a net debt of only $7 billion and a low leverage ratio [2]. - In the previous year, Johnson & Johnson generated $18 billion in free cash flow, which was sufficient to cover its net debt twice over [2]. Dividend Sustainability - The company produced $18 billion in excess cash after investing $15.1 billion in R&D, easily covering its dividend outlay of $11.8 billion and allowing for $2.5 billion in stock repurchases [3]. - Johnson & Johnson raised its dividend by 4.2% earlier this year, marking the 62nd consecutive year of dividend increases, placing it among the elite Dividend Kings [4]. Dividend Yield Comparison - Johnson & Johnson's current dividend yield stands at 3.4%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.4%, providing $34 in annual dividend income for every $1,000 invested compared to $14 from the S&P 500 [5]. - The company anticipates operational sales growth of 5% to 7% annually through 2030, which is expected to drive adjusted operational earnings-per-share growth of over 7% annually [5]. Investment Flexibility - Johnson & Johnson's strong balance sheet and free cash flow allow for continued investments in R&D and acquisitions, enhancing its earnings and dividend growth potential [6].

These healthcare stocks can provide enviable long-term portfolio growth.The healthcare industry has proven to be particularly resilient to the ebb and tide of market sentiment through the years. While stock performance is individual to each company and its own unique growth story, there's a reason these businesses generally stay the course even when overall macro conditions are suffering.Broadly speaking, healthcare companies provide products and solutions that people need no matter what is happening with t ...

Is this top healthcare stock worth adding to your portfolio today?Johnson & Johnson (JNJ -0.46%) is an iconic name in healthcare, with a history that goes back to the 1800s. But in recent years it has faced some considerable challenges, namely to do with lawsuits and the legal battles it faces with respect to its talc products. And today it's a leaner company after having spun off its consumer health business.But the market still appears concerned -- shares of Johnson & Johnson are down 8% in the past 12 mo ...

PM Images The first quarter has come to a close! We are pumped up to share our March dividend income summary. My wife and I earned almost $5,000 in passive income this month. In this article, we will break down the dividend income received, the individual breakdown, and share how much of the income came from individual stocks and mutual funds or ETFs. Why I Invest in Dividend Stocks I invest in dividend stocks to grow my passive income with dividend income. One day, my dividend income will be large enough ...

ToplineAn Illinois court late Friday ordered pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue to pay $45 million to a family that alleged the companies’ talcum-based baby powder led to the death of a relative diagnosed with a fatal cancer linked to asbestos exposure, the company’s latest legal issue involving talc products.Friday’s ruling in Illinois came a day after a judge in Florida rejected similar claims. Getty Images Key FactsTheresa Garcia died in July 2020 after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a ...

With continued volatility in the stock market right now, it’s no wonder investors are looking for stocks with proven track records to bolster their portfolios. While U.S. stocks opened strong on Monday after a concerning ending to the prior week, investors are still uneasy about the current state of the market. Tensions in the Middle East, concerns that the Federal Reserve may not reduce interest rates as fast as previously hoped and fears over continued inflation are still top of mind for many investors ri ...

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has emphasized the pivotal role of medical technology (MedTech) in advancing healthcare.During a Tuesday (April 16) call with analysts to discuss the first quarter (Q1) and full-year 2023 financial results, the pharmaceutical giant underscored its commitment to bolstering its reputation as an “innovation powerhouse.” A significant move in this direction is the acquisition of Shockwave Medical, with an enterprise value of approximately $13.1 billion. According to the company, the purc ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Worldwide sales for Q1 2024 were $21.4 billion, an increase of 3.9% year-over-year, with U.S. growth at 7.8% and a decline of 0.3% outside the U.S. [8] - Net earnings for the quarter were $5.4 billion, with diluted earnings per share at $2.20, compared to a loss per share of $0.19 a year ago. Adjusted net earnings were $6.6 billion, with adjusted diluted earnings per share at $2.71, representing increases of 3.8% and 12.4% respectively compared to Q1 2023 [8][18]. Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Innovative Medicine sales were $13.6 billion, up 2.5%, with U.S. growth of 8.4% and a decline of 4% outside the U.S. Excluding the COVID-19 vaccine, operational sales growth was 8.3% [9]. - MedTech sales reached $7.8 billion, increasing by 6.3%, with U.S. growth of 6.6% and 6.1% outside the U.S. [13]. Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales growth in Europe, excluding the COVID-19 vaccine, was 6% [8]. - The pulmonary hypertension segment saw growth of 22.4%, driven by favorable patient mix and share gains for OPSUMIT and UPTRAVI [11]. Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced the acquisition of Shockwave Medical to enhance its cardiovascular portfolio, aligning with its strategy to become a best-in-class MedTech company [21]. - The completion of the Ambrx acquisition was highlighted as a move to strengthen the oncology portfolio [21]. Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving long-term growth goals with an operational sales compounded annual growth rate of 5% to 7% from 2025 to 2030 [41]. - The company anticipates continued growth in Innovative Medicine, particularly in the second half of the year, despite expected competition from biosimilars [34]. Other Important Information - The company invested $3.5 billion in R&D, representing 16.6% of sales, and announced a 4.2% increase in dividends, marking the 62nd consecutive year of dividend increases [31][32]. - The effective tax rate for the quarter was 16.9%, significantly lower than the previous year's 61.8% due to a tax benefit related to the talc settlement proposal [18]. Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on CARVYKTI and TECVAYLI sales performance - Management noted that CARVYKTI saw over 100% growth year-over-year, with strong demand and expanded manufacturing capacity. TECVAYLI is performing well with strong uptake in major markets [37][44][45]. Question: MedTech growth and one-time items impact - MedTech growth was reported at 6.3%, with double-digit growth in electrophysiology. One-time items included fewer selling days and revenue recognition changes impacting orthopedics [48][50]. Question: Future M&A strategy - The company emphasized a disciplined M&A strategy focused on long-term growth, with flexibility to consider various transaction types, including smaller and earlier-stage assets [54][56]. Question: Vision Care business performance - Management acknowledged recent performance issues in the Vision Care segment due to distributor inventory contraction but expressed confidence in the underlying health of the business and expected high single-digit growth for 2024 [58][59]. Question: Pulmonary Hypertension business growth - The segment experienced strong growth driven by OPSUMIT and UPTRAVI, with the introduction of OPSYNVI expected to enhance the portfolio further [63]. Question: SPRAVATO growth context - SPRAVATO showed over 70% growth, with strong uptake in treatment-resistant depression, and the company remains optimistic about its future performance [84]. Question: Drug price negotiations under IRA - Management expressed concerns about the IRA's impact on innovation but remains focused on patient access and ongoing discussions regarding pricing [86].

Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) first-quarter 2024 earnings came in at $2.71 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.64. Earnings rose 12.4% from the year-ago period.Adjusted earnings exclude intangible amortization and some other special items. Including these items, J&J reported first-quarter earnings of $2.20 per share against a loss of 19 cents in the year-ago quarter.Sales of this drug and medical devices giant came in at $21.38 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $21.40 billion ...