CVS vs. JNJ: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at CVS and JNJ, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | CVS | JNJ |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | CVS Health Corporation | Johnson & Johnson |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Providers & Services | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 83.58 billion USD | 420.06 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of CVS and JNJ by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | CVS | JNJ |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 3.65% | 1.68% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 1.68% | 13.16% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 21.50% | 13.62% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 18.08% | 9.09% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 6.12% | 5.88% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 46.80% | 20.61% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 8.81M | 8.74M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 9.27M | 8.75M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 30.38% | 20.14% |
| Beta | 0.60 | 0.38 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
CVS
5.95%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 26.03%
- Q3
- 13.74%
- Median
- 8.26%
- Q1
- 4.13%
- Min
- -3.62%
CVS’s Return on Equity of 5.95% is on par with the norm for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
JNJ
30.39%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 38.59%
- Q3
- 19.84%
- Median
- 11.90%
- Q1
- 5.63%
- Min
- -9.96%
In the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, JNJ’s Return on Equity of 30.39% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
CVS
1.17%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 12.40%
- Q3
- 5.93%
- Median
- 1.96%
- Q1
- 0.93%
- Min
- -6.10%
CVS’s Net Profit Margin of 1.17% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
JNJ
25.00%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 34.51%
- Q3
- 17.73%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 5.99%
- Min
- -7.73%
A Net Profit Margin of 25.00% places JNJ in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
CVS
2.44%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 19.05%
- Q3
- 10.21%
- Median
- 4.22%
- Q1
- 1.98%
- Min
- -4.27%
CVS’s Operating Profit Margin of 2.44% is around the midpoint for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
JNJ
30.18%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 41.53%
- Q3
- 23.00%
- Median
- 16.24%
- Q1
- 9.24%
- Min
- -6.94%
An Operating Profit Margin of 30.18% places JNJ in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | CVS | JNJ |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 5.95% | 30.39% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 1.78% | 12.16% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 1.17% | 25.00% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 2.44% | 30.18% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 13.82% | 67.98% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
CVS
0.80
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.01
- Q3
- 1.49
- Median
- 1.30
- Q1
- 0.94
- Min
- 0.17
CVS’s Current Ratio of 0.80 falls into the lower quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
JNJ
1.01
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 4.49
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.74
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- 0.11
JNJ’s Current Ratio of 1.01 falls into the lower quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
CVS
0.86
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.17
- Q3
- 1.18
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.45
- Min
- 0.00
CVS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.86 is typical for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
JNJ
0.65
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 2.44
- Q3
- 1.07
- Median
- 0.42
- Q1
- 0.11
- Min
- 0.00
JNJ’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.65 is typical for the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
CVS
3.08
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 14.47
- Q3
- 7.15
- Median
- 5.45
- Q1
- 2.04
- Min
- -4.44
CVS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.08 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
JNJ
34.01
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 103.95
- Q3
- 44.18
- Median
- 9.83
- Q1
- 2.82
- Min
- -42.71
JNJ’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 34.01 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | CVS | JNJ |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.80 | 1.01 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.62 | 0.68 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.86 | 0.65 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 3.08 | 34.01 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
CVS
4.07%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 5.38%
- Q3
- 2.22%
- Median
- 0.55%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 4.07%, CVS offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Health Care Providers & Services industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
JNJ
2.89%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 6.98%
- Q3
- 3.32%
- Median
- 2.13%
- Q1
- 0.14%
- Min
- 0.00%
JNJ’s Dividend Yield of 2.89% is consistent with its peers in the Pharmaceuticals industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
CVS
74.62%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 186.69%
- Q3
- 74.82%
- Median
- 26.76%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CVS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 74.62% is within the typical range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
JNJ
53.34%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 165.20%
- Q3
- 90.59%
- Median
- 49.13%
- Q1
- 28.91%
- Min
- 0.00%
JNJ’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 53.34% is within the typical range for the Pharmaceuticals industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | CVS | JNJ |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.07% | 2.89% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 74.62% | 53.34% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
CVS
18.34
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 55.89
- Q3
- 30.85
- Median
- 21.17
- Q1
- 12.63
- Min
- 0.00
CVS’s P/E Ratio of 18.34 is within the middle range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
JNJ
18.47
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 42.51
- Q3
- 26.88
- Median
- 19.11
- Q1
- 15.12
- Min
- 0.00
JNJ’s P/E Ratio of 18.47 is within the middle range for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
CVS
0.22
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.10
- Q3
- 1.74
- Median
- 0.67
- Q1
- 0.24
- Min
- 0.00
In the lower quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, CVS’s P/S Ratio of 0.22 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.
JNJ
4.62
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 7.55
- Q3
- 4.54
- Median
- 2.11
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
JNJ’s P/S Ratio of 4.62 is in the upper echelon for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
CVS
1.13
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 7.61
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.53
- Q1
- 1.14
- Min
- 0.77
CVS’s P/B Ratio of 1.13 is in the lower quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
JNJ
4.68
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 9.78
- Q3
- 4.96
- Median
- 2.23
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.60
JNJ’s P/B Ratio of 4.68 is within the conventional range for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | CVS | JNJ |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 18.34 | 18.47 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.22 | 4.62 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.13 | 4.68 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 13.42 | 22.56 |