Who Owns Band-Aid?

Johnson & Johnson delivered exceptional 2025 results, with CEO Joaquin Duato describing it as a "catapult year" fueled by the strongest portfolio and pipeline in the company's history. Q4 2025 reported sales grew 9.1% to $24.6 billion, with operational growth of 7.1% and adjusted operational growth of 6.1%. Full-year 2025 sales reached $94.2 billion, up 6.0% year-over-year, demonstrating strong momentum across both business segments.

Financial Performance Overview shows Johnson & Johnson's remarkable growth trajectory. The company achieved extraordinary earnings growth with Q4 2025 EPS of $2.10 reported and $2.46 adjusted, while full-year 2025 EPS reached $11.03 reported and $10.79 adjusted. This performance reflects the effectiveness of Johnson & Johnson's strategic focus on innovation and operational excellence across its diverse healthcare portfolio.

Segment Performance demonstrated balanced growth across Johnson & Johnson's two main business segments. The Innovative Medicine segment achieved Q4 2025 sales of $15.8 billion, up 10.0% year-over-year with operational growth of 7.9%. The MedTech segment reached $8.8 billion in Q4 2025 sales, up 7.5% year-over-year with operational growth of 5.8%. For the full year, Innovative Medicine generated $60.4 billion in sales while MedTech contributed $33.8 billion, showing strong performance across pharmaceutical and medical device businesses.

Geographic Performance revealed robust growth across key markets. U.S. sales reached $14.2 billion in Q4 2025, up 7.5% year-over-year with operational growth of 7.5%. International markets achieved $10.4 billion in Q4 2025 sales, up 11.3% year-over-year with operational growth of 6.6%. For the full year, U.S. sales totaled $53.8 billion while international markets contributed $40.4 billion, demonstrating Johnson & Johnson's global reach and market penetration.

2026 Guidance reflects management confidence in continued growth momentum. Johnson & Johnson issued strong guidance for 2026, projecting estimated reported sales of $100.5 billion (6.7% growth at midpoint) and adjusted EPS of $11.53 (6.9% growth at midpoint). This guidance suggests continued strong performance across both Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments, supported by the company's robust pipeline and market-leading products.

Medical Innovation Achievements in 2025 were particularly noteworthy, highlighting Johnson & Johnson's leadership in developing breakthrough treatments. Significant innovations included the approval of CAPLYTA for major depressive disorder, representing a major advancement in mental health treatment. The company also secured approval for RYBREVANT FASPRO plus LAZCLUZE for non-small cell lung cancer, demonstrating continued leadership in oncology therapeutics.

Landmark Clinical Data further strengthened Johnson & Johnson's market position. The company reported landmark data for TECVAYLI plus DARZALEX FASPRO as a potential standard of care as early as second line for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. This clinical evidence supports Johnson & Johnson's position in treating complex hematological conditions and reinforces the company's reputation for developing innovative cancer therapies.

Strategic Acquisitions enhanced Johnson & Johnson's capabilities and pipeline strength. The acquisition of Halda Therapeutics during 2025 expanded the company's therapeutic capabilities and strengthened its pipeline of future medical breakthroughs across multiple therapeutic areas. This strategic acquisition demonstrates Johnson & Johnson's commitment to investing in innovative technologies and treatments that address unmet medical needs.

Surgical Technology Innovation marked Johnson & Johnson's expansion into advanced medical technology. The submission of the OTTAVA Robotic Surgical System represents the company's entry into the rapidly growing robotic surgery market, positioning Johnson & Johnson to compete with established players in minimally invasive surgical procedures. This innovation reflects the company's strategy of leveraging its medical expertise across multiple healthcare segments.

Operational Excellence contributed significantly to Johnson & Johnson's strong performance. The company achieved operational growth of 5.3% for the full year 2025, with adjusted operational growth of 4.2%, demonstrating effective management of costs and operational efficiency. This operational performance enabled Johnson & Johnson to convert revenue growth into strong earnings improvement and cash generation.

Research and Development Investment continued to drive Johnson & Johnson's innovation pipeline. The company's commitment to R&D investment, spending billions annually on pharmaceutical innovation and medical technology, has created a robust pipeline of future products across multiple therapeutic areas. This investment strategy has positioned Johnson & Johnson for sustained growth and market leadership in healthcare innovation.

Market Leadership Position was reinforced across multiple healthcare segments. Johnson & Johnson maintained dominant positions in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, cardiovascular, surgery, and vision care, with each of these six key therapeutic areas contributing to the company's overall growth and market presence. This diversified leadership reduces dependency on any single therapeutic area and provides multiple growth drivers.

Cash Generation and Financial Strength enabled Johnson & Johnson to pursue strategic initiatives while maintaining shareholder returns. The company generated approximately $19.7 billion in free cash flow for full year 2025, supporting strategic acquisitions, R&D investment, and capital returns to shareholders. This strong cash generation provides financial flexibility for future growth opportunities.

Regulatory Success in 2025 demonstrated Johnson & Johnson's ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and secure approvals for innovative treatments. The company's success in obtaining regulatory approvals for new indications and products reflects the strength of its clinical development programs and regulatory expertise.

Patient Impact remains central to Johnson & Johnson's mission and performance. The company's innovations in 2025, including new treatments for major depressive disorder and various cancers, directly impact patient lives and address critical unmet medical needs. This patient-centric approach drives both commercial success and fulfillment of Johnson & Johnson's broader healthcare mission.

Johnson & Johnson's 2025 performance demonstrates the effectiveness of its strategy focusing on medical innovation, operational excellence, and global market expansion. The combination of strong financial results, breakthrough innovations, and robust pipeline positions the company for continued leadership in the global healthcare industry.