Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

JNJ vs. PG Valuation of 16-17x earnings is cheaper than PG. A healthcare company: medical devices, healthcare, pharma. PG is just consumer products, trading at 23x earnings. More opportunity in JNJ, with a caveat on the talc lawsuits. Medical device side should do well post-Covid. Dividends similar in the 2.5% range.

Doesn't own, but likes it. Steady, strong technical chart on the upswing. 17x earnings for a 9% growth rate. Diversified products, strong management. Great for cashflow and long-term growth. He prefers Pfizer and ABBV. See his Top Picks today. Yield is 2.6%.

JNJ vs. ABT Healthcare is in a more defensive space, moving up during the pandemic. Likes both. JNJ has a fairly nice dividend at 2.5%. 18x forward earnings for 8% growth. Performing decently, but underperforming the S&P. ABT is more in medical devices. Marginally underperforming since last March. 22x earnings with a higher growth rate of 14%. Bit more torque with ABT, and they're also in the Covid detection space. If he had to choose, it would be ABT.

Opportunity for Pfizer and J&J are solid. You give up some appreciation when you select a stock with higher yield. However, total return is the most important. There is more diversification with JNJ with medical supplies. Pfizer's partnership with BioNtech is positive. There is renewed chatter about drug price controls. Both offer good prospective.

This morning the news said that distribution has been halted in the US, so the stock is declining today. Like Pfzier, JNJ is seeing a one-time bump because of their vaccine. JNJ is struggling in their consumer business as consumers move to generic drugs, not branded. Also, litigation remains a cloud, referring to asbestos in its Baby Powder. There are other opportunities in healthcare, like Anthem, the insurer, or retailer CVS, or Abbvie trading at a reasonable PE and offers good growth.