Topic: How To Invest

Pat: May I have your advice on whether or not to hold Johnson & Johnson? Thank you.

Article Excerpt

Johnson & Johnson, $103.96, symbol JNJ on New York (Shares outstanding: 2.8 billion; Market cap: $290.4 billion; www.jnj.com), operates through three divisions: Pharmaceutical (44% of revenue) makes anti-infective, antipsychotic, contraceptive, dermatological and gastrointestinal drugs; Medical devices and diagnostics (36%) sells equipment for joint reconstruction and managing circulatory diseases; Consumer (20%) makes over-the-counter products like Band-Aid bandages, Tylenol and Motrin painkillers, Listerine mouthwash and Neutrogena skin cream. In June 2014, the company sold its Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics subsidiary for $4.0 billion. Hospitals and clinics use this business’s products to determine blood type and detect diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis. The company is also selling its Cordis subsidiary, which makes cardiovascular products, like catheters and stents, for $2.0 billion. It expects to close this sale by the end of 2015. Excluding gains on asset sales and other unusual items, Johnson & Johnson earned $4.4 billion in the three months ended March 31, 2015, down 5.9% from $4.7 billion a year earlier. Per-share earnings fell 4.3%, to $1.56 from…