JNJ vs. NVO: Johnson & Johnson vs. Novo Nordisk Stock Comparison
How do Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) 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) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) 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 Novo Nordisk (NVO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | JNJ | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Johnson & Johnson | Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Denmark |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Pharmaceuticals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 664.95 billion USD | 177.74 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | April 30, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | JNJ | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 53.82% | -5.29% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 27.51% | -23.41% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.71% | -4.13% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | JNJ | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 21.23% | 45.98% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.21 | 0.67 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -18.41% | -74.70% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.93M | 12.11M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | JNJ | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.33 | -0.21 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 3.66 | -0.28 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 20.02% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 58.38% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
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%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
58.38%
- Max
- 109.18%
- NVO
- 58.38%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 33.92% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 16.20% also retains a top-quartile share.
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%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
33.92%
- NVO
- 33.92%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 25.74% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 40.05% 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%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
40.05%
- Max
- 83.12%
- NVO
- 40.05%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | JNJ | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 20.02% | 58.38% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.46% | 19.05% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.20% | 33.92% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 25.74% | 40.05% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 67.78% | 83.33% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 6.05% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 6.43% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 90.50% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 1.77% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for JNJ.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | JNJ | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.05% | 6.43% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.60% | 20.43% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 90.50% | 1.77% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 17.90% | 23.52% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 1.02 and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.85 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
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
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.85
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- NVO
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 0.55 and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.62 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
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
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.62
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- NVO
- 0.62
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | JNJ | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.02 | 0.85 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.55 | 0.62 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.79 | 0.49 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 1.94% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 29.03% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
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%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
29.03%
- NVO
- 29.03%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 80.12% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 45.36% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
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%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
45.36%
- NVO
- 45.36%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | JNJ | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.94% | 29.03% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 80.12% | 45.36% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 10.18 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 41.92 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NVO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
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
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
10.18
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- NVO
- 10.18
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.53 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 6.69 prices around its industry’s middle — NVO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.53
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- NVO
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 5.43 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.
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
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.43
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- NVO
- 5.43
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | JNJ | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 41.92 | 10.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.69 | 0.53 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 8.16 | 5.43 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.78% | 18.43% |