Johnson & Johnson’s Board of Directors has approved a cash dividend of $1.30 per share for the first quarter of 2026, marking the company’s 61st consecutive year of annual dividend increases. The record date for eligible shareholders is February 24, 2026, with the dividend payable on March 10, 2026. This quarterly payout represents an annualized dividend of $5.20 per share and underscores J&J’s commitment to returning capital to shareholders through a sustained, rising distribution policy.

According to its latest SEC filing, Ascent Group LLC trimmed its position in Johnson & Johnson common stock by 8.3% during the third quarter, selling 5,723 shares and ending the period with 63,449 shares. The reduced holding was valued at approximately $11.8 million at the time of the filing. This adjustment is part of a broader pattern among institutional investors, 69.55% of the company’s shares are held by institutions and hedge funds, with several firms both adding new stakes and modestly lightening existing exposures over the same period.

Research teams at five major brokerages have recently raised their outlook on Johnson & Johnson, updating coverage between November and December 2025. Morgan Stanley moved to an equal-weight rating with a target of $197, Guggenheim upgraded to buy with a $227 objective, Scotiabank initiated sector-outperform coverage at $230, BMO Capital Markets reiterated outperform, and Goldman Sachs elevated its rating to buy with a $240 goal. Among 27 analysts surveyed, four carry strong-buy recommendations, 14 recommend buy and nine rate the stock as hold, translating into an average consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target of $211.25.