Johnson & Johnson’s Board of Directors has approved a cash dividend of 1.30 dollars per share for the first quarter of 2026. The dividend will be paid on March 10, 2026 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 24, 2026, with an ex-dividend date of February 24, 2026. This distribution represents an annualized payout of 5.20 dollars per share and maintains the company’s record of more than 60 consecutive years of dividend increases. The payout ratio stands at approximately 50%, underscoring the company’s commitment to returning capital to shareholders from its strong free cash flow generation.

During the third quarter, Ascent Group LLC reduced its holding in Johnson & Johnson by 8.3%, selling 5,723 shares and ending the period with 63,449 shares valued at 11.77 million dollars. Other institutional investors made varied moves, including new positions worth between 27,000 and 35,000 dollars by several boutique advisory firms, and a 262.9% increase in holdings by Signature Resources Capital Management LLC. Overall, approximately 70% of shares remain in the hands of institutional funds and hedge vehicles. On the research side, four analysts have assigned a Strong Buy recommendation, fourteen have rated the stock as Buy and nine as Hold, resulting in an average consensus of Moderate Buy. Sell-side firms have recently lifted their year-end targets, reflecting confidence in the company’s pipeline of more than 20 novel therapies and its leadership in MedTech innovations.