CVS vs. JNJ: CVS Health vs. Johnson & Johnson Stock Comparison

July 16, 2026

How do CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) share the Health Care sector but sit in different industry groups — CVS in Health Care Equipment & Services and JNJ in Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences.

Company profile comparison for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Profile Item	CVS	JNJ
Name	CVS Health Corporation	Johnson & Johnson
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Health Care	Health Care
GICS Industry Group	Health Care Equipment & Services	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS Industry	Health Care Providers & Services	Pharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-Industry	Health Care Services	Pharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization	135.12 billion USD	620.51 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CVS

JNJ

GSPC

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Metric	CVS	JNJ
Total Return (1Y)	69.46%	68.39%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	18.66%	21.00%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.89%	11.88%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CVS

JNJ

GSPC

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Metric	CVS	JNJ
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	31.10%	18.73%
Beta (5Y)	0.61	0.24
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-56.79%	-18.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)	8.21M	8.13M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CVS and JNJ are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Metric	CVS	JNJ
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	2.10	3.43
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.99	6.25

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 26.42% sits in the top ROE quartile, while CVS Health (CVS) at 3.75% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for JNJ.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.75%

Max: 53.65%
Q3: 13.62%
CVS: 3.75%
Median: 3.75%
Q1: -16.92%
Min: -59.21%

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

26.42%

Max: 99.40%
JNJ: 26.42%
Q3: 2.50%
Median: -32.34%
Q1: -62.68%
Min: -158.89%

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Health Care Equipment & Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 21.83% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while CVS Health (CVS) at 0.72% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.72%

Max: 30.40%
Q3: 8.65%
Median: 1.61%
CVS: 0.72%
Q1: -9.31%
Min: -34.34%

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

21.83%

JNJ: 21.83%
Max: 9.98%
Q3: 2.77%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -2.26%
Min: -9.05%

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Health Care Equipment & Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 27.41% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CVS Health (CVS) at 4.12%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.12%

Max: 35.33%
Q3: 12.87%
Median: 5.56%
CVS: 4.12%
Q1: -3.30%
Min: -25.61%

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

27.41%

Max: 100.30%
JNJ: 27.41%
Q3: 4.40%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -131.52%
Min: -332.88%

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Health Care Equipment & Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Metric	CVS	JNJ
ROE (TTM)	3.75%	26.42%
ROA (TTM)	2.67%	8.42%
Net Margin (TTM)	0.72%	21.83%
Operating Margin (TTM)	4.12%	27.41%
Gross Margin (TTM)	13.39%	68.04%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Metric	CVS	JNJ
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.85%	6.05%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.63%	5.60%

EPS Growth

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Metric	CVS	JNJ
EPS Growth (YoY)	-62.02%	90.50%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-24.73%	17.90%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 0.87 and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 1.03 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.87

Max: 7.79
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.03
Q1: 1.36
CVS: 0.87
Min: 0.04

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.03

Max: 26.16
Q3: 12.33
Median: 5.81
Q1: 2.71
JNJ: 1.03
Min: 0.23

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Health Care Equipment & Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 0.68 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while CVS Health (CVS) at 1.01 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.01

Max: 2.02
CVS: 1.01
Q3: 1.00
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.15
Min: 0.00

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.68

Max: 1.60
Q3: 0.68
JNJ: 0.68
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Health Care Equipment & Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Metric	CVS	JNJ
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.87	1.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.01	0.68
Net Debt / EBITDA	4.32	0.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 2.55% and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 2.02% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.55%

CVS: 2.55%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.02%

JNJ: 2.02%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Health Care Equipment & Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

CVS Health (CVS) reports payout ratio above 100% at 116.67%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reports 60.25%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

116.67%

CVS: 116.67%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

60.25%

JNJ: 60.25%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Health Care Equipment & Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Metric	CVS	JNJ
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.55%	2.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	116.67%	60.25%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both CVS Health (CVS) at 45.65 and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 29.77 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

45.65

Max: 83.39
Q3: 46.58
CVS: 45.65
Median: 29.68
Q1: 21.19
Min: 1.04

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

29.77

Max: 78.47
Q3: 47.85
JNJ: 29.77
Median: 25.59
Q1: 15.75
Min: 2.21

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Health Care Equipment & Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CVS Health (CVS) at 0.33 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 6.44 prices around its industry’s middle — CVS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.33

Max: 8.94
Q3: 4.47
Median: 2.05
Q1: 1.10
CVS: 0.33
Min: 0.04

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.44

Max: 61.00
Q3: 27.53
Median: 7.98
JNJ: 6.44
Q1: 3.53
Min: 0.01

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Health Care Equipment & Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

CVS Health (CVS) at 1.74 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 7.64 carries an above-peer premium to book — JNJ is pricier on assets.

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.74

Max: 12.68
Q3: 6.06
Median: 2.99
CVS: 1.74
Q1: 1.55
Min: -2.10

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

7.64

Max: 14.51
JNJ: 7.64
Q3: 7.18
Median: 3.79
Q1: 1.69
Min: -6.49

CVS Health (CVS) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Health Care Equipment & Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CVS Health (CVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Metric	CVS	JNJ
P/E Ratio (TTM)	45.65	29.77
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.33	6.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.74	7.64
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.85%	2.02%