JNJ vs. MA: Johnson & Johnson vs. Mastercard Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA) 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

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is classified in the Health Care sector (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences), whereas Mastercard (MA) belongs to Financials (Financial Services) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Company profile comparison for Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA)
Profile Item	JNJ	MA
Name	Johnson & Johnson	Mastercard Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Health Care	Financials
GICS Industry Group	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences	Financial Services
GICS Industry	Pharmaceuticals	Financial Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Pharmaceuticals	Transaction & Payment Processing Services
Market Capitalization	664.95 billion USD	568.62 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	May 25, 2006
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

JNJ

GSPC

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs. Mastercard (MA), 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 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA)
Metric	JNJ	MA
Total Return (1Y)	53.82%	20.00%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	27.51%	19.98%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.71%	14.49%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

JNJ

GSPC

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs. Mastercard (MA), 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 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA)
Metric	JNJ	MA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	21.23%	23.57%
Beta (5Y)	0.21	0.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-18.41%	-28.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)	6.93M	2.98M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

JNJ and MA 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 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA)
Metric	JNJ	MA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	2.33	0.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	3.66	1.00

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Mastercard (MA) at 231.37% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 20.02% also sits in the top quartile.

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.02%

Max: 109.18%
JNJ: 20.02%
Q3: 6.23%
Median: -26.66%
Q1: -64.05%
Min: -167.77%

MA

Financial Services industry group

231.37%

MA: 231.37%
Max: 44.78%
Q3: 21.85%
Median: 12.91%
Q1: 4.48%
Min: -18.71%

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 16.20% and Mastercard (MA) at 46.73% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

16.20%

Max: 18.05%
JNJ: 16.20%
Q3: 4.78%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -4.14%
Min: -17.05%

MA

Financial Services industry group

46.73%

Max: 62.84%
MA: 46.73%
Q3: 28.05%
Median: 15.36%
Q1: 4.82%
Min: -28.52%

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 25.74% and Mastercard (MA) at 60.53% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

25.74%

Max: 83.12%
JNJ: 25.74%
Q3: 14.77%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -78.82%
Min: -207.40%

MA

Financial Services industry group

60.53%

Max: 107.33%
MA: 60.53%
Q3: 55.90%
Median: 30.09%
Q1: 14.60%
Min: -44.34%

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA)
Metric	JNJ	MA
ROE (TTM)	20.02%	231.37%
ROA (TTM)	8.46%	24.45%
Net Margin (TTM)	16.20%	46.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)	25.74%	60.53%
Gross Margin (TTM)	67.78%	--

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 6.05% and Mastercard (MA) at 16.42% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 90.50% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Mastercard (MA) at 18.93% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for JNJ.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA)
Metric	JNJ	MA
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.05%	16.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.60%	13.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)	90.50%	18.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	17.90%	17.36%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) shows current ratio of 1.02; Mastercard (MA) doesn’t get one — Financial Services balance sheets aren’t split into current and non-current buckets, so short-term liquidity there is judged through regulatory measures instead.

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.02

Max: 25.13
Q3: 12.13
Median: 5.52
Q1: 2.47
JNJ: 1.02
Min: 0.10

MA

Financial Services industry group

MA: --
Max: --
Q3: --
Median: --
Q1: --
Min: --

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs. Mastercard (MA): MA’s current ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for JNJ only.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) shows debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55; for Mastercard (MA) the ratio is set aside — in Financial Services, balance-sheet leverage is part of the business model itself, so capital-adequacy measures do the job this ratio does elsewhere.

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.55

Max: 1.42
Q3: 0.65
JNJ: 0.55
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

MA

Financial Services industry group

MA: --
Max: --
Q3: --
Median: --
Q1: --
Min: --

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs. Mastercard (MA): MA’s debt-to-equity ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for JNJ only.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA)
Metric	JNJ	MA
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.02	--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.55	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.79	--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Mastercard (MA) at 0.53% pays an industry-typical yield; Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 1.94% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.94%

JNJ: 1.94%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MA

Financial Services industry group

0.53%

Max: 9.77%
Q3: 3.92%
Median: 1.09%
MA: 0.53%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Mastercard (MA) at 17.63% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 80.12% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

80.12%

JNJ: 80.12%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MA

Financial Services industry group

17.63%

Max: 241.07%
Q3: 97.36%
Median: 25.77%
MA: 17.63%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA)
Metric	JNJ	MA
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.94%	0.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	80.12%	17.63%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 41.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Mastercard (MA) at 34.15 sits in the richer quartile — MA needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

41.92

Max: 85.34
Q3: 43.46
JNJ: 41.92
Median: 26.69
Q1: 13.30
Min: 0.07

MA

Financial Services industry group

34.15

Max: 45.85
MA: 34.15
Q3: 24.64
Median: 15.37
Q1: 9.68
Min: 0.16

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 6.69 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Mastercard (MA) at 15.67 clears its benchmark range — MA looks notably rich on sales.

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.69

Max: 58.18
Q3: 25.77
Median: 7.30
JNJ: 6.69
Q1: 3.01
Min: 0.01

MA

Financial Services industry group

15.67

MA: 15.67
Max: 9.23
Q3: 4.57
Median: 2.72
Q1: 1.28
Min: -0.55

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 8.16 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Mastercard (MA) at 84.30 prices even higher, above its industry range.

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.16

Max: 13.53
JNJ: 8.16
Q3: 6.54
Median: 3.25
Q1: 1.69
Min: -5.59

MA

Financial Services industry group

84.30

MA: 84.30
Max: 7.79
Q3: 3.63
Median: 1.57
Q1: 0.81
Min: -0.39

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Mastercard (MA)
Metric	JNJ	MA
P/E Ratio (TTM)	41.92	34.15
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.69	15.67
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.16	84.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.78%	--