Johnson & Johnson Stock Surged 50%, Here’s Why
Over the nearly nine months from May 2025 to February 2026, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)’s stock surged 52%, fueled by stronger earnings, crucial product wins, and legal breakthroughs. Behind that 3.2% revenue lift and margin boost lies a story of innovation, risk management, and strategic reshaping—let’s explore what moved the needle.
Below is an analytical breakdown of stock movement into key contributing metrics.
| 5082025 | 2022026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Price ($) | 152.2 | 230.8 | 51.6% |
| Change Contribution By: | |||
| Total Revenues ($ Mil) | 89,331.0 | 92,149.0 | 3.2% |
| Net Income Margin (%) | 24.4% | 27.3% | 11.6% |
| P/E Multiple | 16.8 | 22.1 | 31.7% |
| Shares Outstanding (Mil) | 2,407.2 | 2,408.3 | -0.0% |
| Cumulative Contribution | 51.6% |
So what is happening here? The stock soared 52%, driven by a 3.2% revenue boost, a 12% margin improvement, and a 32% jump in valuation. Let’s dig into the key events behind these shifts.
Here Is Why Johnson & Johnson Stock Moved
- Strong Q4 2025 Earnings: Q4 2025 adjusted EPS met and revenue beat estimates, with strong 2026 guidance.
- Key Product Approvals: Multiple new product approvals like CAPLYTA and RYBREVANT FASPRO boosting the pipeline.
- Talc Lawsuit Developments: $8B talc settlement rejected (Apr 2025); expert testimony allowed (Jan 2026), increasing legal risk.
- Stelara Patent Cliff: Successfully navigated significant biosimilar erosion for blockbuster drug Stelara.
- Orthopaedics Spinoff: Plans on track for mid-2027 Orthopaedics unit spin-off, focusing on higher-growth areas.
Our Current Assesment Of JNJ Stock
Opinion: We currently find JNJ stock fairly priced. Why so? Have a look at the full story. Read Buy or Sell JNJ Stock to see what drives our current opinion.
Risk: To get a grip on risk for JNJ, check out how it performed in major market sell-offs. It slid about 35% in both the Dot-Com bubble and the Global Financial Crisis. During the Covid crash, the dip was roughly 27%. Even less headline-grabbing shocks like 2018’s correction and the recent inflation squeeze still saw drops close to 18%. The stock isn’t immune. No matter how solid it seems, big market turmoil can punch through.
JNJ stock may have seen strong gains recently, but investing in a single stock without detailed, thorough analysis can be risky. The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 — the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.