Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ – Get Rating) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Friday. Stock traders acquired 36,050 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 31% compared to the average daily volume of 27,550 call options.

Johnson & Johnson Trading Up 0.9%

JNJ traded up $1.54 during trading on Friday, reaching $166.62. 272,258 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,235,801. Johnson & Johnson has a one year low of $155.72 and a one year high of $186.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $438.07 billion, a PE ratio of 24.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.61. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $169.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $174.20.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ – Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 19th. The company reported $2.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.57 by $0.02. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 19.21% and a return on equity of 36.14%. The company had revenue of $24.02 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $23.85 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.48 EPS. Johnson & Johnson’s quarterly revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 23rd were paid a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.71%. The ex -dividend date was Monday, August 22nd. Johnson & Johnson’s dividend payout ratio is currently 65.79%.

Johnson & Johnson announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, September 14th that authorizes the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 1.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Johnson & Johnson

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Advisor Resource Council increased its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 807.8% in the 4th quarter. Advisor Resource Council now owns 14,316 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,450,000 after acquiring an additional 12,739 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the fourth quarter valued at $370,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 326.6% in the fourth quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 37,291 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,379,000 after purchasing an additional 28,550 shares during the last quarter. Forefront Analytics LLC grew its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Forefront Analytics LLC now owns 1,919 shares of the company’s stock valued at $328,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Laraway Financial Inc purchased a new position in Johnson & Johnson in the fourth quarter valued at about $924,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.59% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

JNJ has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. SVB Leerink decreased their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $200.00 to $194.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 20th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 13th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $174.00 to $173.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $205.00 to $201.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 20th. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Wednesday, June 22nd. They issued an “outperform” rating for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $189.78.

Johnson & Johnson Company Profile

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Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches and develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company’s Consumer Health segment offers baby care products under the JOHNSON’S and AVEENO Baby brands; oral care products under the LISTERINE brand; skin health/beauty products under the AVEENO, CLEAN & CLEAR, DR.

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