J&J Q1 outlook

Johnson & Johnson reported first-quarter sales of $24.1 billion on April 14 and raised its 2026 outlook after posting adjusted earnings per share of $2.70. (jnj.com) The company had been scheduled to report on April 14, and Wall Street had been looking for about $23.6 billion in revenue and adjusted earnings per share of $2.68. Johnson & Johnson said reported sales rose 9.9% from a year earlier, with operational growth of 6.4%. (jnj.com); (investor.jnj.com) Johnson & Johnson now expects 2026 reported sales of $100.8 billion at the midpoint and adjusted earnings per share of $11.55 at the midpoint. The company said that would represent about 7.0% sales growth and 7.1% adjusted earnings growth for the year. (jnj.com) The quarter was closely watched because Stelara, a psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease drug, has been losing exclusivity. Johnson & Johnson’s 2025 annual report said companywide growth excluding Stelara was 6.1% in 2025, while Stelara sales were negatively affected by copycat competition after patent protection weakened. (jnj.com) Johnson & Johnson has been leaning on newer medicines and devices to offset that pressure. In its first-quarter release, the company highlighted approvals for Icotyde in plaque psoriasis, Tecvayli plus Darzalex Faspro in earlier-line multiple myeloma, Varipulse Pro in Europe, and Tecnis PureSee in the United States. (jnj.com) That strategy was already visible in 2025 results. Johnson & Johnson said in January that Darzalex generated more than $14 billion in 2025 sales, while Shockwave and Carvykti each crossed $1 billion in annual sales. (jnj.com); (jnj.com) The company is also trying to broaden its growth base beyond its older blockbuster drugs. Johnson & Johnson completed the Intra-Cellular Therapies acquisition in 2025, adding Caplyta, and has kept emphasizing six core businesses: oncology, immunology, neuroscience, cardiovascular, surgery, and vision. (jnj.com); (jnj.com) For investors, April 14 turned from a test of whether Johnson & Johnson could absorb Stelara pressure into a quarter where the company beat the consensus figures it had been facing and lifted its full-year targets. (jnj.com); (investor.jnj.com)