Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company's Innovative Medicine segment offers products for various therapeutic areas, such as immunology, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis; infectious diseases comprising HIV/AIDS; neuroscience, consisting of mood disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and schizophrenia; oncology, such as prostate cancer, hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and bladder cancer; cardiovascular and metabolism, including thrombosis, diabetes, and macular degeneration; and pulmonary hypertension comprising pulmonary arterial hypertension through retailers, wholesalers, distributors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals for prescription use. Its MedTech segment provides Interventional Solutions, including electrophysiology products to treat heart rhythm disorders; the heart recovery portfolio, which includes technologies to treat severe coronary artery disease requiring high-risk PCI or AMI cardiogenic shock; and neurovascular care that treats hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. this segment also offers an orthopaedics portfolio that includes products and enabling technologies that support hips, knees, trauma, spine, sports, and other; surgery portfolios comprising advanced and general surgery technologies, as well as solutions for breast aesthetics, ear, nose, and throat procedures; contact lenses under the ACUVUE Brand; and TECNIS intraocular lenses for cataract surgery. It distributes its products to wholesalers, hospitals, and retailers, as well as physicians, nurses, hospitals, eye care professionals, and clinics. Johnson & Johnson was founded in 1886 and is based in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Johnson & Johnson

GSK plc GSK reported third-quarter 2025 core earnings of $1.48 per American depositary share (ADS), which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.26. Core earnings increased 11% year over year on a reported basis and 14% at a constant exchange rate (CER), driven by favorable product mix, higher royalty income and lower net finance costs during the quarter.
Quarterly revenues rose 7% on a reported basis and 8% at CER to $11.52 billion (£8.55 billion), driven by the rising sales across all business segments, especially HIV, oncology and respiratory medicines. The top line also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.16 billion.
All growth rates mentioned below are on a year-over-year basis and at CER.
GSK’s Segmental Discussion
GSK reports under three segments — General Medicines, Specialty Medicines and Vaccines. While sales in the Specialty Medicines increased 16%, the General Medicines franchise rose 4%. Sales in the Vaccine segment were up 2%.
GSK’s Specialty Medicines Drive Top Line
HIV sales rose 12% during the quarter, driven by an increase in patient demand for Dovato and long-acting medications like Apretude and Cabenuva. Sales in the quarter also benefited from favorable pricing due to channel mix, which offset the impact of the IRA Medicare Part D redesign.
GSK generates the majority of its HIV sales from its dolutegravir franchise, comprising two-drug regimens — Dovato and J&J JNJ-partnered Juluca — and three-drug regimens — Triumeq and Tivicay.
Dovato sales rose 24%, while those of the J&J-partnered Juluca declined 2%.
Tivicay sales remained flat during the quarter, while those of Triumeq fell 26%.
Sales of Apretude and Cabenuva rose 75% and 48%, respectively. These two long-acting medicines contributed more than 75% of the total HIV growth during the quarter and now account for nearly 25% of HIV sales.
Oncology sales rose 39%, driven by strong demand for Jemperli and Ojjaara/Omjjara.
Jemperli sales rose 79% during the quarter, driven by increased patient uptake across the United States and Europe following the drug’s label expansion to treat all adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.
New blood cancer drug Ojjaara/Omjjara generated £146 million in product sales, compared with £138 million in the second quarter of 2025, driven by continued strong uptake in the United States. Contributions from Europe and International are also increasing, following recent launches in France, Spain, Italy, Australia and Canada.
Zejula sales fell 4% in the quarter due to increased competition across ex-U.S. territories.
Sales of the respiratory drug Nucala were up 14% during the quarter, mainly driven by strong performance across all markets. This upside was partially offset by continued pricing pressures in the United States due to the IRA Medicare Part D redesign.
Sales of the immuno-inflammation drug Benlysta were up 17% in the quarter, reflecting strong product demand across the United States and Europe.
GSK did not record any sales of its Vir Biotechnology VIR-partnered Xevudy during the quarter.
GSK’s General Medicines Rise
This rise was primarily due to the encouraging sales performance of its asthma inhaler, Trelegy Ellipta, which rose 25% during the quarter. This sales growth was mainly attributed to strong volume growth across all marketed regions, which more than offset the continued pricing pressures in the United States due to the IRA Medicare Part D redesign.
While Anoro Ellipta sales fell 5%, sales of Ventolin declined 10%. Relvar/Breo Ellipta sales rose 7%.
While Advair/Seretide sales declined 7%, sales of Flixotide/Flovent fell 12%.
GSK’s Vaccine Sales Rise
This increase was mainly driven by increased uptake of meningitis, RSV and shingles vaccines in ex-U.S. markets.
Sales of the company’s shingles vaccine, Shingrix, rose 13% during the quarter, driven by rising sales in ex-U.S. markets. This was partially offset by lower sales in the United States.
In Meningitis vaccines, sales of Bexsero rose 11%, while Menveo sales were down 1%. Sales of the RSV vaccine, Arexvy, rose 36% during the quarter, driven by uptake in ex-U.S. markets.
Sales of Established vaccines declined 8%, owing to the impact of divested brands, as well as lower sales for Cervarix and Synflorix vaccines. Sales growth was also impacted due to unfavorable CDC stockpile movements for the Boostrix vaccine in the United States.
Operating Expenses
Core selling, general and administration costs rose 5% to £2.16 billion. This upside was primarily due to continued disciplined investments to support new product launches.
Core research and development expenses rose 10% to £1.55 billion, attributed to the company’s continued investment in pipeline advancement.
GSK Upgrades 2025 Guidance
The company raised its financial guidance for 2025. GSK now expects sales to increase 6-7% during the year, compared to the previously issued guidance of achieving growth towards the top end of the 3-5% range.
Sales of Specialty Medicines are now expected to increase at a mid-teens percentage at CER in 2025, compared with the previously expected low-teens percentage growth. GSK reiterated its sales guidance for the General Medicines segment, which is expected to be broadly stable at CER.
The company also reiterated its Vaccine sales outlook for the year, expecting sales to either decrease by a low single-digit percentage or remain broadly stable.
GSK also increased guidance for both core operating profit and core EPS. It now expects core operating profit to grow 9-11%, while core EPS is expected to rise by 10-12%. Before this revision, the company forecasted both metrics to grow toward the top end of its previously issued guided range of 6-8%.
GSK also reiterated most of its previously issued guidance. R&D is expected to increase at a rate slightly higher than sales growth, while SG&A is expected to grow at a low single-digit percentage. The adjusted tax rate is expected to be around 17.5%.
Per GSK, the above guidance factors in the impact of tariffs.
Our Take on GSK’s Results
GSK reported better-than-expected Q3 results. The Specialty Medicines and General Medicines franchises continued to drive the company’s sales, partially offset by the soft performance of the Vaccines segment. Although U.S. sales were partly impacted by pricing pressures from the Medicare Part D redesign and softer demand for the Arexvy and Shingrix vaccines, they were more than offset by volume growth for many products, including Dovato, Cabenuva, Apretude, Jemperli and Trelegy.
Driven by the encouraging demand for its marketed drugs, GSK raised its outlook for the full year. Alongside the results, GSK reiterated its outlook for 2031, expecting to generate sales of more than £40 billion. Shares of GSK were trading higher in pre-market today, likely attributed to these factors.
The stock has gained 29% year to date, compared with the industry’s 11% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
To support its long-term targets, GSK has prioritized its focus on HIV, immunology/respiratory and oncology therapeutic areas. It has 80 assets in clinical development, which include 16 candidates that are either in late-stage development or under regulatory review.
This year, the company expects to launch five new products/line extensions. The FDA has approved four products so far this year — Blujepa (for uncomplicated urinary tract infection), Penmenvy (the 5-in-1 meningococcal vaccine), Nucala (for COPD) and Blenrep (relaunch in multiple myeloma). The FDA’s decision on depemokimab (for severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps) is anticipated in December.
GSK intends to launch 15 new drugs between 2025 and 2031, each with a peak sales potential of over £2 billion.
GSK PLC Sponsored ADR Price
GSK’s Zacks Rank
GSK currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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GSK's Q3 Earnings & Sales Beat Estimates, Stock Up on Raised '25 View

The average one-year price target for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has been revised to $204.02 / share. This is an increase of 10.96% from the prior estimate of $183.86 dated September 27, 2025.
The price target is an average of many targets provided by analysts. The latest targets range from a low of $171.70 to a high of $236.25 / share. The average price target represents an increase of 9.14% from the latest reported closing price of $186.93 / share.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 5,652 funds or institutions reporting positions in Johnson & Johnson. This is an increase of 11 owner(s) or 0.20% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to JNJ is 0.76%, an increase of 6.96%. Total shares owned by institutions increased in the last three months by 1.28% to 1,996,430K shares. The put/call ratio of JNJ is 0.74, indicating a bullish outlook.
What are Other Shareholders Doing?
VTSMX - Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares holds 77,375K shares representing 3.22% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 76,075K shares , representing an increase of 1.68%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in JNJ by 16.42% over the last quarter.
VFINX - Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares holds 68,297K shares representing 2.84% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 66,899K shares , representing an increase of 2.05%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in JNJ by 16.46% over the last quarter.
Geode Capital Management holds 60,609K shares representing 2.52% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 59,384K shares , representing an increase of 2.02%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in JNJ by 16.28% over the last quarter.
Jpmorgan Chase holds 56,102K shares representing 2.34% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 54,062K shares , representing an increase of 3.64%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in JNJ by 14.40% over the last quarter.
Norges Bank holds 31,929K shares representing 1.33% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 0K shares , representing an increase of 100.00%.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Price Target Increased by 10.96% to 204.02

In early trading on Tuesday, shares of Sherwin-Williams topped the list of the day's best performing Dow Jones Industrial Average components, trading up 7.5%. Year to date, Sherwin-Williams registers a 6.2% gain.
And the worst performing Dow component thus far on the day is Johnson & Johnson, trading down 1.0%. Johnson & Johnson is showing a gain of 30.3% looking at the year to date performance.
Two other components making moves today are Nike, trading down 0.7%, and Microsoft, trading up 2.5% on the day.
VIDEO: Dow Movers: JNJ, SHW
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Dow Movers: JNJ, SHW

AbbVie ABBV is set to report third-quarter 2025 earnings on Oct. 31, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter’s sales and earnings is pegged at $15.59 billion and $1.80 per share, respectively. The company’s earnings estimates for 2025 have declined from $12.02 per share to $10.81 in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ABBV’s Earnings Surprise History
AbbVie’s performance has been impressive, with its earnings exceeding expectations in each of the trailing four quarters. It delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 2.46%. In the last reported quarter, the pharma giant delivered an earnings surprise of 2.77%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Our Model Predicts for ABBV
Per our proven model, companies with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) have a good chance of delivering an earnings beat. This is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
AbbVie currently has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Factors Likely to Have Shaped ABBV’s Upcoming Results
For the third quarter of 2025, AbbVie expects adjusted earnings to be in the range of $1.74-$1.78 per share. The company expects net revenues of approximately $15.5 billion. Currency is expected to have a positive impact of around 1% on sales.
AbbVie’s top-line growth in the quarter is likely to have been driven by higher sales of newer immunology drugs, Skyrizi and Rinvoq. Approvals in new indications are expected to have been driving strong revenues for these drugs. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Skyrizi sales is pegged at $4.56 billion, while the same for Rinvoq is pinned at $2.16 billion. Our model estimate for Skyrizi and Rinvoq sales is pegged at $4.54 billion and $2.16 billion, respectively.
ABBV lost patent protection for its blockbuster immunology drug Humira in the United States in January 2023 and has been facing sales erosion ever since. The drug lost exclusivity in ex-U.S. territories in 2018. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Humira sales is pegged at $1.15 billion, while our estimate for the same is pinned at $1.16 billion.
In the oncology franchise, we expect J&J JNJ-partnered Imbruvica sales to have declined due to competition from novel oral therapies. The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for the J&J-partnered drug’s sales are pegged at $708 million and $703 million, respectively.
Roche RHHBY-partnered Venclexta sales are likely to have risen as new patient starts might have improved, driven by strong demand for both CLL and AML indications. The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for the Roche-partnered drug’s sales are pegged at $712 million and $727 million, respectively.
We expect AbbVie to record modest revenues from the recently approved lung cancer therapy Emrelis.
Sales of the neuroscience franchise have shown strong growth in recent quarters. The growth is likely to have been driven by higher sales of Botox Therapeutic, depression drug Vraylar and new migraine drugs — Ubrelvy and Qulipta. Similar to the previous quarters, we expect most of the sales of the recently launched Parkinson’s disease drug Vyalev coming from ex-U.S. markets in the to-be-reported quarter, though U.S. uptake should start contributing as well.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for neuroscience product sales are pegged at $2.74 billion and $2.73 billion, respectively.
In the aesthetics franchise, we expect overall sales to have recovered from the sluggish sales of Botox and Juvederm fillers, as experienced in the past few quarters. The improvement is likely driven by stabilizing demand for the facial injectable market in the United States and easing macroeconomic pressures, which is expected to have improved consumer sentiment. The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for aesthetics product sales are pegged at $1.27 billion and $1.30 billion, respectively.
Nonetheless, a single quarter’s results are not so important for long-term investors. Let us delve deeper to understand whether to buy, sell or hold the stock at present.
ABBV’s Stock Price Performance & Valuation
Shares of AbbVie have surged over 28% this year so far compared with the industry’s 6% growth. The stock has also outperformed the sector and the S&P 500 index, as seen in the chart below.
ABBV Stock Outperforms Industry, Sector & S&P 500
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, AbbVie is trading at a premium to the industry. Based on the price/earnings (P/E) ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 16.60 times forward earnings, slightly higher than its industry’s average of 15.58. The stock is also trading above its five-year mean of 13.27.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Our Investment Thesis on ABBV Stock
AbbVie has faced its biggest challenge — Humira biosimilar erosion — quite well through the successful launches of Skyrizi and Rinvoq. Driven by the performance of these two drugs, the company expects to return to robust revenue growth in 2025, just the second year following the U.S. Humira LOE, with a projected high single-digit revenue CAGR through 2029.
While competitive pressure on Imbruvica and declining filler sales pose some headwinds, sales growth from drugs like Venclexta, Vraylar, Ubrelvy, Elahere, Epkinly and Qulipta helps more than offset these losses. These therapies, though smaller in scale than the immunology medications, provide valuable diversification and steady growth that support AbbVie’s overall performance.
However, the company’s recent spree of acquisitions and licensing deals has begun to weigh on near-term earnings expectations. For the third quarter of 2025, AbbVie expects its EPS to be impacted by $1.50 due to an IPR&D charge of around $2.7 billion, reflecting payments tied to its aggressive business development activities. This includes the recent acquisition of privately held biotech Capstan Therapeutics, which added an investigational in vivo tLNP anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy to AbbVie’s immunology pipeline. The deal was valued at up to $2.1 billion.
While these transactions broaden AbbVie’s pipeline reach, they have also added substantial near-term expenses that are weighing on profitability and triggering downward revisions in EPS estimates.
Short-Term Investors May Sell ABBV Stock
Given the elevated IPR&D expenses, short-term investors may consider exiting ABBV stock, as profitability and EPS are likely to remain under pressure in the near term. However, long-term investors may choose to stay invested, since rising sales from Skyrizi, Rinvoq, and other key therapies, along with an expanding pipeline, highlight AbbVie’s sustained efforts to strengthen its long-term growth and profitability outlook.
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Should You Buy AbbVie Stock Ahead of Q3 Earnings Report?

Halozyme Therapeutics HALO is scheduled to report third-quarter 2025 results on Nov. 3, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales and earnings for the third quarter is pegged at $336.9 million and $1.62 per share, respectively. Earnings estimates for 2025 have increased from $6.01 to $6.18 per share over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
HALO's Earnings Surprise History
Halozyme has an encouraging history of earnings surprises. The company beat on earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 19.74%. In the last reported quarter, HALO posted an earnings surprise of 25.20%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Does Our Model Say for HALO?
Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Halozyme this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. This is the case here, as you will see below. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Halozyme has an Earnings ESP of +2.53% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Factors Shaping HALO’s Upcoming Results
Halozyme has collaboration agreements with large pharma companies that use its novel drug delivery technology, ENHANZE, for the development of subcutaneous (SC) formulations of their currently marketed drugs. These agreements generate royalties on sales of marketed drugs, milestone payments and annual license fees, which comprise Halozyme’s top line.
Halozyme has eight marketed partnered drugs based on this technology, including the SC formulation of J&J’s JNJ Darzalex and Roche’s RHHBY Phesgo.
Halozyme’s top line in the third quarter is likely to have been driven by higher royalty payments from Roche for Phesgo and J&J for SC Darzalex as well as argenx’s Vyvgart Hytrulo, due to robust demand. Our model estimates Halozyme's revenues from royalties to increase at a CAGR of 23.2% over the next three years.
Halozyme has two commercial proprietary products, Hylenex and Xyosted, with the latter acquired from Antares Pharma in 2022. Incremental sales from these products are also likely to have boosted Halozyme’s revenues during the upcoming quarter.
Revenues under collaborative agreements increased substantially in the last reported quarter, a trend most likely to have continued in the third quarter as well.
HALO’s Recent Key Developments
Halozyme recently entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Elektrofi, a biopharmaceutical company known for its ultra-high concentration microparticle technology for biologics, branded as Hypercon.
The transaction is expected to be closed later in the fourth quarter of 2025 and is likely to expand and diversify Halozyme’s drug delivery technology offerings for continued long-term revenue growth into 2040.
Per the deal, Halozyme will make an upfront payment of $750 million to Elektrofi, with up to three additional milestone payments of $50 million each, contingent upon regulatory approvals for three separate products.
Simultaneously with the Elektrofi Deal, Halozyme reaffirmed the 2025 revenue guidance that it had provided earlier in August.
The company continues to expect total revenues in the range of $1.28 billion to $1.36 billion, while royalty revenues are anticipated in the range of $825-$860 million. Adjusted EBITDA is expected in the band of $865-$915 million. Adjusted EPS is expected in the range of $6.00-$6.40 in 2025.
Investors will be keen to know whether the company increases the guidance further or maintains it on the upcoming earnings call.
HALO’s Stock Price Performance & Valuation
Year to date, shares of Halozyme have rallied 38.4% compared with the industry’s rise of 9.3%. The stock has also outperformed the sector and the S&P 500 during the same time frame, as seen in the chart below.
HALO Stock Outperforms Industry, Sector & S&P 500
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Halozyme is trading at a premium to the industry. Going by the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, the stock currently trades at 6.97 times trailing 12-month sales value, higher than 2.26 times for the industry. The stock is trading below its five-year mean of 8.41.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Our Investment Thesis on HALO Stock
Halozyme holds a strong financial position, with $548 million in cash (as of June 2025) and no near-term outstanding debt, providing enough liquidity to fund ongoing operations.
Higher royalties from its partners should continue to boost the top line, while incremental contributions from its proprietary products should aid revenues during the third quarter. The recent Elektrofi Deal should help the company diversify its drug delivery technology offerings and drive long-term growth.
However, Halozyme’s heavy reliance on partners for income through royalties and collaborations remains a concern. In addition, many of its partnered products face strong competition in the United States, including from biosimilars.
Stay Invested in HALO's Stock
Though Halozyme is trading at a premium compared to the industry, the company has growth potential. The rising estimates reflect analysts’ optimistic outlook for the stock.
We believe Halozyme is a good stock to have in one’s portfolio as of now, based on its strong overall financial performance. Those who already own the stock may retain it for some time to see if the company can sustain its strong first-half performance into the second half.
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Is Halozyme Stock a Portfolio Must-Have Ahead of Q3 Earnings?

Key Points
Intuitive Surgical just put up a strong quarter, reminding Wall Street that it is a growth stock.
Merck is a drug giant with a yield near the highest levels of the past decade and a reasonable payout ratio.
Johnson & Johnson is a medical device and pharmaceutical company that also happens to be a Dividend King.
If you are looking for a healthcare stock to add to your portfolio as October draws to a close, consider Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), Merck (NYSE: MRK), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). Each of them comes with a very different type of appeal. Here's why each one could be worth buying hand over fist, for the right investor.
1. Growth: Intuitive Surgical
Intuitive Surgical is a one-trick pony in that all it does is make surgical robots. That, however, is a pretty exciting medical device technology that is really only getting started. The big benefit is that surgical robots help improve patient outcomes thanks to increased precision and less invasive techniques. But there are two stories to watch here.
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The first issue that's important to monitor is the growth in the company's installed base of surgical robots. In the third quarter of 2025, the company's da Vinci system saw a 13% increase in its installed base. The company's newer Ion endoluminal system benefited from a 30% increase. Overall, this growth resulted in 20% more procedures using Intuitive Surgical's robots in the quarter, year over year. Very clearly, this company is still growing strongly.
The second big issue, however, is a bit more subtle. Roughly 75% of the revenue on Intuitive Surgical's income statement come from services and instruments and accessories. So the growth in the installed base is building a powerful annuity-like income stream. If you are focused on growth, Intuitive Surgical's shares are still down about 15% from their 52-week highs and could be worth a closer look.
2. High yield: Merck
Merck is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies on the planet with a very long history of success behind it. That's no small feat, given that the drug industry is highly technical, ultra competitive, and tightly regulated. The company is dealing with some company-specific and industry-wide issues right now, but it seems highly likely that it will muddle through in fine shape. Most importantly, it is likely to get through while still supporting its historically high 3.7% dividend yield.
There's nothing all that shocking going on here. Merck has some drugs that are set to see their patents expire. This is known as a patent cliff. Investors are worried that it won't find new drugs to offset the hit. The timing of new drugs may not match exactly with the loss of revenue from older drugs, but it seems likely that this is a short-term issue.
The best part here, other than the dividend being near the high end of its 10-year range, is that Merck's dividend payout ratio is a reasonable 50% or so. In other words, yield seekers can get a well-positioned drugmaker with a high yield and a dividend that looks secure.
3. Dividend King: Johnson & Johnson
If what you really want in a healthcare stock is to create an income stream that grows steadily over time, then you'll want to take a gander at Johnson & Johnson. The company is diversified across the drug and medical device sectors and is a major player in each one. While the yield is 2.7%, the real story is that J&J has increased its dividend annually for over six decades.
That streak makes J&J a Dividend King. But it isn't just any old Dividend King, it has the longest dividend streak of any healthcare stock. This clearly sets the company apart from the pack.
Given the company's size and the diversity of its business, there are almost always things to like and things to dislike about J&J. For example, on the negative side of things, it is dealing with lingering class action lawsuits around talcum powder that it sold. On the plus side, the drug business recently launched some new drugs that look like they have blockbuster potential, including Spravato, which helps patients deal with depression.
All in, if you want diverse healthcare exposure and a reliable, growing dividend, J&J will probably be your pick of this trio.
One of these healthcare stocks should fit the bill
October is almost over, but you still have time to buy Intuitive Surgical, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson. You probably won't buy all three, since they each have slightly different appeals. But if you take the time to dig in, you might find that one of them ends up in your portfolio before November gets underway.
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Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Intuitive Surgical and Merck. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Healthcare Stocks to Buy Hand Over Fist in October

(RTTNews) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Monday announced findings from the long-term extensions of the Phase 3 GRAVITI, GALAXI 2 and GALAXI 3 studies, showing impact of TREMFYA in adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease.
The GRAVITI study evaluated TREMFYA SC induction and maintenance therapy versus placebo, whereas the GALAXI 2 and 3 studies evaluated TREMFYA IV induction and SC maintenance therapy versus placebo and STELARA.
The new 96-week data revealed that patients treated with TREMFYA 400 mg subcutaneous induction or 200 mg intravenous induction followed by SC maintenance dose regimens of either 100 mg every eight weeks or 200 mg every four weeks show high rates of long-term clinical remission, endoscopic response, endoscopic remission, and deep remission.
Further, the results demonstrated that TREMFYA can provide endoscopic remission through either SC or IV induction, allowing people with moderate to severely active Crohn's disease to manage their condition with greater independence and confidence.
In the pre-market hours, JNJ is trading at $189.25, down 0.62 percent on the New York Stock Exchange.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

JNJ Studies Show Positive Impact Of TREMFYA In Crohn's Disease Patients

(RTTNews) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) on Monday reported positive Week 28 results from its Phase 2b ANTHEM-UC study evaluating icotrokinra in adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC).
At Week 28, icotrokinra showed sustained and clinically meaningful efficacy, with all doses demonstrating higher rates of clinical response, clinical remission, endoscopic improvement, and histologic-endoscopic mucosal improvement (HEMI) compared with placebo.
These findings build on Week 12 data presented at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2025, where all icotrokinra doses showed superiority to placebo for the study's primary endpoint of clinical response.
Based on the ANTHEM-UC study results, Johnson & Johnson has initiated the ICONIC-UC Phase 3 trial in adults and adolescents with moderately to severely active UC, as well as the ICONIC-CD Phase 2b/3 study in adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease.
Icotrokinra is also under evaluation in the pivotal Phase 3 ICONIC program for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and in the ICONIC-PSA 1 and ICONIC-PSA 2 studies for active psoriatic arthritis.
A New Drug Application (NDA) for icotrokinra was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2025, seeking approval for the treatment of individuals aged 12 years and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
Johnson & Johnson stock had closed Friday's trading at $190.40, down 1.08%.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson Reports Positive Phase 2b Results For Icotrokinra In Ulcerative Colitis

Key Points
Focus on profitable, proven companies with strong brands and steady cash flow.
Buffett recommends S&P 500 index funds for long-term wealth building.
Compounding works best for those who stay invested through market cycles.
Few investors command the same level of respect as Warren Buffett, the billionaire chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B). Nicknamed the "Oracle of Omaha," Buffett has spent six decades compounding wealth at an extraordinary pace for the company -- generating a staggering 5,502,284% total return over that span.
To put that into perspective, Berkshire's long-term compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9% is roughly double the long-term performance of the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), even when accounting for dividend reinvestment in the index.
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While Buffett's track record is nearly unmatched, the good news is his investment strategy is surprisingly straightforward. His approach can be distilled into a few timeless principles -- simple enough for any first-time investor to follow, yet powerful enough to build generational wealth.
1. Focus on businesses you understand
Buffett's investing philosophy is refreshingly simple: Buy high-quality companies at fair prices and hold them for the long haul -- often decades. He avoids complex or speculative ventures, instead focusing on businesses with durable competitive advantages, steady earnings growth, and trustworthy management.
Buffett's portfolio reflects this discipline. It's concentrated in consumer staples, financial services, and energy -- sectors he believes will remain indispensable through all economic cycles. Berkshire's top holdings -- Apple, American Express, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Chevron, and Occidental Petroleum -- share some common threads: predictable cash flow, powerful brands, and shareholder-friendly capital allocation programs.
Equally telling are the companies Buffett tends to avoid. He's long steered clear of unproven tech start-ups, cyclical industries, and commoditized businesses that lack pricing power.
For investors, his example underscores a timeless truth: Resist the temptation to follow herd mentality. In investing, such an approach is similar to being a victim of the greater fool theory. Instead, seek out businesses with a long record of profitability, reliable dividends, and management teams that treat shareholders as partners.
2. The power of passive investing
Buffett long acknowledged that most investors are better off buying index funds rather than picking individual stocks. His reasoning is simple: Over time, the S&P 500 mirrors the growth of the American economy. It's composed of world-class companies like Apple, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Walmart, and JPMorgan Chase that consistently reinvest profits, raise dividends, and drive long-term wealth creation.
For first-time investors, buying an S&P 500 exchange-traded fund (ETF) through providers like Vanguard, Fidelity, or Charles Schwab is one of the smartest, most stress-free ways to follow Buffett's playbook. This approach provides instant diversification across hundreds of top U.S. companies -- with no need for market timing, stock picking, or guesswork.
3. Think long-term and stay consistent
Buffett's success never hinged on predicting market moves -- it's built on patience, discipline, and the power of compounding. He's held some of his core positions for decades, steadily reinvesting dividends and allowing time do the heavy lifting.
The key lesson for beginners is consistency. Invest regularly, reinvest your dividends, double down on winners, and trim laggards. Avoid chasing hot stocks, cryptocurrencies, or viral trends that promise quick riches but lack fundamental strength.
Market corrections and downturns will happen, but Buffett views them as opportunities, not setbacks. They allow disciplined investors to buy quality companies at attractive prices. As he has famously advised, "You want to be greedy when others are fearful, and you want to be fearful when others are greedy."
In the end, wealth creation is less about timing the market and more about spending long periods of time in the market. Staying calm, patient, and committed to your long-term plan is what separates successful investors from emotional traders -- and it's the mindset that turns ordinary savers into extraordinary investors.
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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Charles Schwab is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Adam Spatacco has positions in Apple and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Charles Schwab, Johnson & Johnson, and Occidental Petroleum and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short December 2025 $95 calls on Charles Schwab, and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Warren Buffett's Investing Playbook -- Simplified for First-Time Stock Buyers

Key Points
Kenvue was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in mid-2023, and its life is starting out a little rough.
Pfizer is working through typical drug industry issues, but there's a notable dividend risk to consider.
Omega Healthcare has proven it is a reliable dividend stock, and it's getting back on the growth track.
A big dividend yield is nice to see, but it shouldn't be the only thing you look at when buying a stock. The actual business behind the yield is, in fact, more important. That's why you'll need to think carefully about your risk tolerance when you look at high-yielding healthcare stocks like Kenvue (NYSE: KVUE), Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), and Omega Healthcare (NYSE: OHI). Here's a quick review of all of these high-yield healthcare stocks.
Kenvue gets off on the wrong foot
Kenvue was spun off from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) in mid-2023. It basically owns its former parent's over-the-counter products. It is more like a consumer staples company than a healthcare company in many ways, even though it sells things like Tylenol. Tylenol is notable right now because it was just highlighted as a potential risk if taken during pregnancy. That led investors to dump the stock.
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On top of that, the healthcare-focused consumer staples maker is also performing a bit poorly right now. In the second quarter of 2025, sales fell 4% and organic sales dropped 4.2%. Adjusted earnings came in at $0.29 per share, down from $0.32 in the same quarter of 2024. It isn't shocking for a newly separated business to have some issues as it starts out its new, stand-alone life. And given the generally stable nature of consumer staples products, it is probably worth giving the company the benefit of the doubt.
But at the same time, the stock has fallen notably, and the yield has risen to a rather high 5.5%. The average dividend yield for a consumer staples stock is 2.7%. If you can handle some near-term uncertainty and have a contrarian streak, Kenvue may be of interest to you. Just go in recognizing that there isn't much of a dividend track record to go on here (though it is worth noting that its former parent is a Dividend King).
Pfizer is doing what needs to be done
Pfizer is one of the oldest and most respected pharmaceutical companies in the world. It has proven that it knows how to survive in what is a very technologically complicated and competitive business. Yet the stock has a huge 6.9% yield right now as it faces down some typical industry headwinds.
There are perception issues around drugmakers that are a hindrance today. But Pfizer is working to get back into favor, noting that it recently inked a deal with the U.S. government to make sizable capital investments in the country, keep consumer costs low, and avoid tariff issues. In addition, the company recently inked a deal to buy Metsera (NASDAQ: MTSR) to bolster its drug pipeline. That's an effort to offset the expected hit from a patent cliff the company is facing and was necessitated by Pfizer's lack of success with its own pipeline of drug candidates.
However, dealing with the government and patents is just normal for the drug industry. Still, the high yield highlights a real risk. Pfizer cut its dividend when it acquired Wyeth back in 2009. With the payout ratio hovering in the 90% range, which is high, the board of directors might choose to cut the dividend again as it completes its Metsera deal. It is probably best to view Pfizer as a turnaround story, noting that the stock price has fallen nearly 60% since late 2021. If the dividend holds, it is icing on the cake.
3. Omega Healthcare stood tall through the storm
Omega Healthcare is going to be the easiest stock for dividend investors to love on this list. The company is a senior-housing-focused real estate investment trust (REIT). The dividend yield is an attractive 6.6%. But the big story is around what happened to the dividend during the coronavirus pandemic.
That period of time was particularly difficult for senior housing assets, since the elderly were most at risk and COVID-19 spread most easily in group settings. Omega had to deal with a large number of tenants who couldn't pay their rent. That process is nearly over -- and here's the impressive part -- the dividend was sustained right through all of it. Many peers resorted to dividend cuts. In fact, Omega is starting to grow again, with over half a billion dollars in assets acquired in the second quarter of 2025 alone.
The worst is over, and now Omega can get back to more normal operations. Only buy it if you don't mind investing in an industry that was in the news in a bad way just recently. That said, this REIT is offering a huge dividend yield and is, frankly, one of the cleanest dirty shirts in the senior housing niche.
Don't just look at yield when buying these stocks
Kenvue, Pfizer, and Omega are all interesting dividend stocks with high yields. But you need to dig into each of the stories before you hit the buy button. Of the trio, Omega is probably the least risky choice, given how well it survived the pandemic. Kenvue is a bit of an unknown, but its business is fairly stable despite some post-J&J separation wobbles. And Pfizer is almost certain to survive and thrive, but what happens to the dividend is less clear, given the company's dividend history.
Should you invest $1,000 in Pfizer right now?
Before you buy stock in Pfizer, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Pfizer wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 20, 2025
Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kenvue and Pfizer. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $13 calls on Kenvue. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.