Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Healthcare names are defensive and a portfolio needs them, but JNJ is flat YTD. If your portfolio is light in defensive names, then consider this. Buy according to your overall portfolio composition. Consumer and medical product
divisions have modest growth. Pharma is its big driver of growth.

Great company. Pharma, medical devices and consumer are their 3 divisions, which makes them unique--that diversification serves them well, unlike phrama companies depend solely on their pharma division. Has raised dividend for 54 years. Well run.

(Past Top Pick Oct.10, 2017,Up 10%) Their pharma is doing quite well. All health companies are facing patent losses, but J&J is positioned to weather this, because they're launching 10 new drugs in the next 18 months. In this defensive
environment, this should hold up well. Have been increasing their dividend for 56 years, now paying a 2.5% yield.

He loves it. The judgment against them is not significant. He has a model price of $160.81, a 20% upside. It is in the top 100 of the S&P 500 - it is US and priced in US Dollars – all the things he loves.

Trading at a high mulitple, but has tranditioned well from the consumer space to heathcare. It's well-positioned for international growth, but the rising US dollar is a headwind. Market performance is the best you'll get from J&J.

Their stock has done nothing this year, partially because of pricing pressure from Donald Trump. She thinks their pharma division is doing well, with lots of new products and a good pipeline. They have identified 10 drugs that have a $1 billion potential. This company spends 13% of revenues on R&D, which shows a serious level of investment in the future. They have also made some acquisitions to go into new areas. They have increased their dividend consistently for over 50 years. (Analysts’ price target is $143.29)

It is a very well run company. Pharma, medical supply and personal goods businesses. The pharma business is doing well. They have a number of drugs. Brands are not as valued by millennials as by their predecessors. This is the struggle that JNJ-N is having. They have a strong balance sheet and a nice dividend.

(Past Top Pick on May 16, 2017, Down 1.5%) Their pharma side and newly released drugs are doing very well which offsets their drugs that are going generic. They have a solid pipeline of 10 new drugs over the next few years, each drug expected to make $1-billion. They invest in R&D and buy companies occasionally, including one last year. Yield under 3%.

This is one of the “bluest” blue chip with a AAA credit rating. Consumer staples companies have had a tough time this year. It is a fabulous company and has several levers it could pull to unlock value. It is a good defensive investment with a good yield.

(A Past Top Pick on May 16, 2017, Up 6%) Expects tomorrow's Q1 report to be good. They're seeing good growth in their pharmaceutical division. They invest in their pipeline, so there's organic growth; They also make strategic acquisitions, like a Swiss biotech last year that focuses on heart diseases. In the pharma side, their investments are starting to pay off and offsetting some of their drugs going generic. A defensive play with strong financials.