New York, Feb 24, 2026, 15:02 (ET) — Regular session
- Johnson & Johnson shares barely budged in afternoon trading, while U.S. stocks moved higher.
- Investors are watching for fresh oncology updates, while legal risks over drug marketing claims remain in the spotlight.
- Dividend mechanics muddied the day’s action.
Johnson & Johnson stock hovered near flat in the afternoon, edging lower by 0.1% to $245.6 as traders weighed a batch of drug news and court updates. Shares moved in a tight band, between about $244.6 and $247.3, after picking up 1.4% the previous session. The S&P 500, meanwhile, showed more strength, up around 0.8%. 1
The stock’s slow, consistent climb this year means there’s not much room for shock. So, traders jump when either of its main businesses — high-priced drugs or medical devices — gets nudged, or when legal troubles flare up.
Right now, oncology’s at the heart of this balancing act. Tweaks to labels and fresh dosing strategies may offer doctors more flexibility, but competitors keep challenging any suggestions of outright superiority—and those disputes sometimes end up in court.
Johnson & Johnson on Monday said the European Commission has cleared new dosing options for subcutaneous Rybrevant (amivantamab)—that’s the shot given under the skin—broadening its marketing authorisation to cover all previously approved IV uses. The PALOMA studies backed the switch. According to the company, subcutaneous delivery takes about five minutes, compared to roughly five hours for the initial intravenous dose. “Having the option to transition from every-two-week to every-four-week dosing allows us to better align treatment with individual patient needs,” said Silvia Novello, a professor at the University of Turin, in the release. 2
Bayer took Johnson & Johnson to Manhattan federal court on Monday, hitting back at Erleada’s latest campaign. The German company says J&J is misleading the public with talk of a “51% reduction in risk of death” over Bayer’s own prostate-cancer drug, Nubeqa. Bayer claims J&J is leaning on a retrospective analysis that’s biased by patient selection and wants the court to step in with an injunction and damages. For context: Erleada sales reached $3.57 billion in 2025, according to the complaint. That compares with Nubeqa’s 1.63 billion euros in sales during the first nine months of the same year. Johnson & Johnson, for its part, isn’t backing down. “Litigation does not change data,” a spokesperson said in an emailed statement. 3
Real-world evidence draws on data from everyday patient care instead of tightly controlled clinical trials. It’s a fast way to get answers, though critics say it risks baking in hidden group differences—the so-called “selection bias” Bayer is relying on.
Shares were trading ex-dividend on Tuesday. Johnson & Johnson has set its quarterly dividend at $1.30, payable March 10 for shareholders on record as of the close Feb. 24. The ex-dividend date is also Feb. 24—anyone buying the stock Tuesday or later misses out on that payout. 4
MedTech chief Timothy Schmid unloaded 1,322 shares at $245.66 each on Feb. 20, according to a separate filing. That sale brings his direct holdings down to 25,447 shares. 5
Blackstone Life Sciences has signed a co-funding deal with Johnson & Johnson, targeting joint financing for current and upcoming clinical trials of bleximenib (JNJ-75276617), an experimental oral menin inhibitor aimed at acute myeloid leukemia. “We believe that bleximenib’s promising clinical data, combined with Johnson & Johnson’s deep expertise … create a strong foundation,” said Nicholas Galakatos of Blackstone. 6
The jump from headlines to actual sales? Rarely straightforward. The Bayer case may stretch out, and if it ends up restricting what can be said in marketing, that alone could slow Erleada’s momentum—even if the drug’s label stays the same.
March 10 marks the next date on investors’ calendars, as company executives take the stage at 11:30 a.m. ET during the Barclays Global Healthcare Conference for a fireside chat. Traders are expected to home in on any updates about the rollout speed for oncology products, along with how management addresses the ongoing legal challenges. 7
