GSK vs. JNJ: GSK vs. Johnson & Johnson Stock Comparison

Company Profile

GSK (GSK) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) are both classified in the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry within the broader Pharmaceuticals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) trades as ordinary local shares, while GSK (GSK) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Both GSK (GSK) at 28.27% and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 20.02% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

For every dollar of sales, both GSK (GSK) at 12.97% and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 16.20% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

Both GSK (GSK) at 32.14% and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 25.74% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

Both GSK (GSK) at 4.11% and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 6.05% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Both GSK (GSK) at 123.15% and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 90.50% sit in the top peer quartile for EPS growth, so each is compounding per-share earnings faster than typical industry peers.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

Both GSK (GSK) at 0.86 and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 1.02 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 0.55 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while GSK (GSK) at 1.30 uses more debt funding than most peers.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

Both GSK (GSK) at 1.57% and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 1.94% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

Both GSK (GSK) at 63.33% and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 80.12% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Both GSK (GSK) at 17.54 and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 41.92 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

GSK (GSK) at 3.01 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 6.69 prices around its industry’s middle — GSK costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

GSK (GSK) at 4.02 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 8.16 carries an above-peer premium to book — JNJ is pricier on assets.

Valuation Metrics