The Zacks Medical Sector has primarily traded in line with the S&P 500 in 2022, down roughly 22%.
A titan in the sector, Johnson & Johnson JNJ, is on deck to unveil quarterly results on October 18th before the market open.
Headquartered in New Jersey, Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational corporation that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods.
Currently, the company carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) with an overall VGM Score of a C.
How does everything else shape up for the pharmaceutical titan heading into its quarterly print? Let’s take a closer look.
Share Performance & Valuation
Year-to-date, JNJ shares have displayed remarkable relative strength, down just 2% and easily crushing the general market’s performance.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
However, over the last three months, the story has been a bit different; JNJ shares have declined 7%, underperforming the S&P 500 by a fair margin.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Further, JNJ shares trade at respectable levels, further bolstered by its Style Score of a B for Value.
The company’s 16.4X forward earnings multiple sits just a tick below its 16.8X five-year median, reflecting a 22% discount relative to its Zacks Sector.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Quarterly Estimates
Analysts have been bearish for the quarter to be reported, with three downwards estimate revisions hitting the tape over the last several months. The Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate of $2.51 pencils in a nearly 4% drop in quarterly earnings Y/Y.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
However, the company’s top-line is in better shape; the Zacks Consensus Sales Estimate of $23.5 billion suggests a marginal 0.7% year-over-year uptick.
Quarterly Performance & Market Reactions
JNJ has a stellar earnings track record, exceeding the Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate in each quarter dating all the way back to 2012. Just in its latest print, the company penciled in a slight 0.8% EPS beat.
Top-line results have left some to be desired as of late, with Johnson & Johnson exceeding revenue estimates just once across its last four prints. Below is a chart illustrating the company’s revenue on a quarterly basis.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For those that like to trade around the company’s earnings releases, it’s worth noting that JNJ shares have moved upwards following five of its last six quarterly reports.
Putting Everything Together
JNJ shares have been remarkably defensive in 2022 but have lagged behind the general market over the last several months.
Valuation multiples don’t appear stretched, with the company’s forward earnings multiple sitting just below its five-year median and nowhere near its Zacks Sector average.
Analysts have been bearish in their earnings outlook, and estimates reflect a decline in earnings but an uptick in revenue – likely a reflection of margin compression.
JNJ has consistently exceeded bottom-line estimates throughout its history, but top-line results have left some to be desired over its last four prints.
Heading into the quarterly print, Johnson & Johnson JNJ carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) with an Earnings ESP Score of 1.3%.
FREE Report: The Metaverse is Exploding! Don’t You Want to Cash In?
Rising gas prices. The war in Ukraine. America’s recession. Inflation. It’s no wonder why the metaverse is so popular and growing every day. Becoming Spider Man and fighting Darth Vader is infinitely more appealing than spending over $5 per gallon at the pump. And that appeal is why the metaverse can provide such massive gains for investors. But do you know where to look? Do you know which metaverse stocks to buy and which to avoid? In a new FREE report from Zacks’ leading stock specialist, we reveal how you could profit from the internet’s next evolution. Even though the popularity of the metaverse is spreading like wildfire, investors like you can still get in on the ground floor and cash in. Don’t miss your chance to get your piece of this innovative $30 trillion opportunity – FREE.>>Yes, I want to know the top metaverse stocks for 2022>>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Image and article originally from www.nasdaq.com. Read the original article here.