JNJ vs. PLTR: Johnson & Johnson vs. Palantir Stock Comparison

Company Profile

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is classified in the Health Care sector (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences), whereas Palantir (PLTR) belongs to Information Technology (Software & Services) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has more than two decades of public-market history since January 2, 1962, whereas Palantir (PLTR) listed on September 30, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Palantir (PLTR) has an aggressive beta of 1.63, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is defensive at 0.21 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 20.02% and Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% 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.

Both Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 25.74% and Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 6.05%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 90.50% also sits in the top quartile.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 1.02 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 0.55 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

Palantir (PLTR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reports a yield of 1.94%, ranking against industry peers normally.

Palantir (PLTR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reports a payout of 80.12%, ranking against industry peers normally.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 41.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 6.69 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 clears its benchmark range — PLTR looks notably rich on sales.

Both look rich against book: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 8.16 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 prices even higher, above its industry range.

Valuation Metrics