Band-Aid is owned by Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE), a publicly traded American consumer health company headquartered in Skillman, New Jersey. Kenvue was formed when Johnson & Johnson separated its consumer health division through an IPO in May 2023. Johnson & Johnson completed its divestiture of Kenvue in August 2023, making Kenvue a fully independent company. Kimberly-Clark announced an agreement to acquire Kenvue for approximately $48.7 billion in November 2025. Shareholders of both companies approved the deal on April 29, 2026, and the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending remaining regulatory approvals. As of July 2026, Band-Aid remains owned by Kenvue.

Is Band-Aid publicly traded?

Band-Aid is not publicly traded as a standalone entity. Its parent company, Kenvue Inc., is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KVUE. Investors who purchase KVUE shares own an interest in Band-Aid along with Kenvue's other brands including Tylenol, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Listerine, and Neosporin. Note that Kenvue updated its NYSE ticker from KENV to KVUE in 2024.

When was Band-Aid invented?

Band-Aid was invented in 1921 by Earle Dickson, a cotton buyer employed at Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Dickson created the first adhesive bandage to help his wife treat minor cuts and burns she sustained while cooking. Johnson & Johnson recognized the commercial potential of Dickson's invention and began manufacturing Band-Aid products for sale that same year. The brand name was trademarked by Johnson & Johnson in 1921.

Who invented Band-Aid?

Earle Dickson invented Band-Aid in 1921 while working as a cotton buyer at Johnson & Johnson. He developed the product by attaching gauze pads to adhesive tape and covering them with crinoline so they could be unrolled and cut to size as needed. Johnson & Johnson's management saw commercial potential in the invention and began producing and distributing it. Dickson was eventually promoted to vice president of Johnson & Johnson, partly in recognition of his invention.

Is Band-Aid the same as Johnson & Johnson?

Band-Aid was owned by Johnson & Johnson from its invention in 1921 until 2023. Johnson & Johnson separated its consumer health division, including Band-Aid, into a new independent company called Kenvue Inc. in 2023. As of June 2026, Band-Aid is owned by Kenvue, not Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson retains its pharmaceutical and medical technology businesses but no longer owns consumer health brands including Band-Aid, Tylenol, or Neutrogena.

Has Band-Aid had any recalls?

Yes. In August 2024, Kenvue voluntarily recalled certain Band-Aid Flexible Fabric bandages due to possible contamination with small metal particles from a manufacturing supplier. The FDA classified it as a Class II recall, meaning serious harm was considered remote. Affected lot numbers were identified on the recall notice, and consumers were instructed to stop using the products and contact Kenvue for a refund or replacement. No injuries were publicly reported. Recall records are maintained in the FDA's public enforcement report database.

Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals

Who Owns Band-Aid?

Band-Aid is owned by Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE), a publicly traded American consumer health company headquartered in Skillman, New Jersey. Kenvue was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in May 2023 and holds the Band-Aid brand as part of its Self Care segment. Band-Aid was invented in 1921 by Earle Dickson, a Johnson & Johnson employee. Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced an agreement to acquire Kenvue for approximately $48.7 billion in November 2025; shareholders of both companies voted to approve the deal on April 29, 2026, with closing expected in the second half of 2026.

Parent Company

Kenvue

Founded

1921

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Skillman, New Jersey, United States

mid rangemass marketGlobalall-agesOfficial Website

Who Owns Band-Aid?

Parent Company: Kenvue
Ownership Type: Brand division
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NYSE: KVUE

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Band-Aid	Kenvue	Brand division

Where to Buy

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Band-Aid on Amazon

History of Band-Aid

Founded: 1921
Founders: Earle Dickson

Band-Aid was invented in 1921 by Earle Dickson, a cotton buyer employed at Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Dickson's wife, Josephine, frequently cut and burned herself while cooking. Dickson solved the problem by layering gauze pads on strips of adhesive tape and covering them with crinoline fabric so they could be unrolled and cut to size. When he showed the concept to his supervisor at Johnson & Johnson, the company recognized its commercial potential.

Johnson & Johnson began manufacturing Band-Aid adhesive bandages commercially in 1921. Early production was done by hand and sales were modest. The company distributed Band-Aid products free to Boy Scout troops as a promotional strategy, which helped build early brand recognition. By 1924, machine-manufactured Band-Aid strips were in production, which reduced cost and allowed broader retail distribution.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the brand expanded its product range. Decorated bandages were introduced in 1956, initially for children. The decorated designs, later including licensed characters, became a durable product category that remains active today.

Johnson & Johnson trademarked the name "Band-Aid" in 1921. The brand became so dominant in its category that "Band-Aid" entered popular use as a generic term for adhesive bandages in the United States, though Johnson & Johnson has consistently defended the trademark. The brand became a component of Johnson & Johnson's consumer health division, which operated for decades under the Johnson's, Neutrogena, Tylenol, Listerine, and Band-Aid brand umbrella.

In 2023, Johnson & Johnson completed the separation of its consumer health business into Kenvue Inc., transferring Band-Aid along with the full consumer health brand portfolio. Band-Aid has been sold in more than 100 countries and is available across grocery, pharmacy, mass retail, and e-commerce channels globally.

About Kenvue

Who owns Kenvue?
Kenvue is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker KVUE. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake. Institutional investors hold the majority of shares. Johnson & Johnson fully divested its Kenvue shares in August 2023 through an exchange offer. Upon completion of the Kimberly-Clark acquisition, expected in Q4 2026, Kenvue will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

Is Kenvue being acquired?
Yes. On November 2, 2025, Kimberly-Clark announced a definitive merger agreement to acquire Kenvue for approximately $48.7 billion in cash and stock. Shareholders of both companies approved the transaction on January 29, 2026. The HSR waiting period expired on February 4, 2026. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2026, subject to foreign regulatory approvals.

What is Kenvue's revenue?
Kenvue reported FY2025 net sales of $15.1 billion, down 2.1% from $15.5 billion in FY2024. FY2025 net income was $1.47 billion, with diluted EPS of $0.76 and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.08. In Q1 2026, net sales grew 3.2% and organic sales grew 1.2%. In Q2 2026, the company reported its third consecutive quarter of growth across all segments and regions.

Who is the CEO of Kenvue?
Kirk Perry serves as CEO of Kenvue. He was named interim CEO in early 2025 following the termination of previous CEO Thibaut Mongon, and was named permanent CEO in November 2025. Under Perry's leadership, Kenvue has delivered three consecutive quarters of net and organic sales growth and is executing a 2026 Restructuring Initiative targeting $250 million in pre-tax charges for supply chain optimization.

Is Kenvue still publicly traded?
Yes, Kenvue continues to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker KVUE as of August 2026. Upon completion of the Kimberly-Clark acquisition, expected in Q4 2026, Kenvue shares will be delisted as the company becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Kimberly-Clark.

When was Kenvue founded?
Kenvue was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in May 2023 via an IPO that raised $3.8 billion. J&J completed the full separation in August 2023 through an exchange offer. The company was created to operate independently as a focused consumer health company, allowing J&J to concentrate on its pharmaceutical and medical device businesses.

What brands does Kenvue own?
Kenvue owns Tylenol, Listerine, Band-Aid, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Zyrtec, Johnson's, Motrin, Benadryl, Sudafed, Pepcid, Imodium, Nicorette, Visine, and Calpol. These brands hold number-one or number-two market positions in their respective categories.

Where is Kenvue headquartered?
Kenvue is headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, USA. The company relocated from Skillman, New Jersey, where it was initially based following the spin-off from Johnson & Johnson. Kenvue is incorporated in Delaware and maintains manufacturing facilities, research and development centers, and distribution networks across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

What is the Kimberly-Clark Kenvue merger?
The Kimberly-Clark Kenvue merger is a pending acquisition announced on November 2, 2025, under which Kimberly-Clark will acquire all outstanding Kenvue shares in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $48.7 billion enterprise value. The combined company would generate approximately $32 billion in annual revenue and $7 billion in adjusted EBITDA. Kimberly-Clark identified $1.9 billion in cost synergies and $500 million in revenue synergies. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2026.

Founded: 2023
Headquarters: Summit, New Jersey, USA
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: NYSE: KVUE
Revenue: $15.1B (FY2025)
Employees: ~22,000

Visit Kenvue website

View full company profile for Kenvue

Where Is Band-Aid Made / Based?

Headquarters: Skillman, New Jersey, United States
Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Brazil

Band-Aid Categories & Tags

Wound Care Adhesive Bandage First Aid Healthcare Consumer Health

Band-Aid Sustainability & Ethics

Band-Aid operates within Kenvue's corporate sustainability framework. Kenvue has published Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments including targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the use of recycled packaging materials, and responsible ingredient sourcing.

Kenvue has committed to making all primary packaging recyclable, reusable, or refillable by 2025 where infrastructure allows. Band-Aid's packaging has been updated progressively to increase recycled content and reduce unnecessary plastic.

Band-Aid adhesive bandages are classified by the FDA as Class I medical devices. This classification means they are subject to FDA's general controls, including proper labeling, good manufacturing practice requirements, and adverse event reporting. Kenvue files product registrations and facility registrations with FDA for Band-Aid manufacturing locations.

No independent third-party sustainability certifications specific to Band-Aid products (such as FSC, Rainforest Alliance, or Leaping Bunny) are listed in those organizations' public databases as of July 2026.

Awards & Recognition

Band-Aid's most verifiable recognition is its market position as the dominant brand in U.S. adhesive bandage retail sales, a position it has held since the mid-20th century. The brand has been cited in Kantar's Brand Footprint survey and similar brand tracking studies as one of the most purchased consumer health brands in the United States.

Johnson & Johnson, as Band-Aid's prior parent company, was listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for multiple years prior to the Kenvue separation. Kenvue, as the current parent, began publishing its own ESG disclosures following the 2023 IPO.

No independently verified industry awards specific to Band-Aid products are documented in verifiable award databases as of July 2026.

Band-Aid Recalls & Controversies

2024 and 2025 Product Recalls: In August 2024, Kenvue issued a voluntary recall of certain Band-Aid Flexible Fabric adhesive bandages due to potential contamination with small metal particles. The recall affected specific lot numbers manufactured at a third-party supplier. The FDA classified the recall as a Class II recall, indicating a situation where the probability of serious adverse health effects is remote. Kenvue directed consumers with the affected lot numbers to stop using the products and contact the company for a replacement or refund. No injuries were publicly reported in connection with the recall.

Skin Sensitivity and Allergic Reactions: The FDA's MedWatch database contains adverse event reports from consumers reporting contact dermatitis and allergic reactions attributed to Band-Aid adhesive components. These reports reflect individual sensitivities and are not the result of a product recall or regulatory action. Kenvue and its predecessor Johnson & Johnson have historically offered latex-free Band-Aid products and hypoallergenic variants to address known sensitivity concerns.

Kenvue Separation Litigation: Following the Kenvue IPO in 2023, a number of shareholder lawsuits were filed against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue related to disclosures concerning Johnson & Johnson's talc-related liabilities and the allocation of those liabilities between J&J and Kenvue. These cases involve legal proceedings concerning the structure of the corporate separation and are not product-specific to Band-Aid.

Band-Aid Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Kenvue's dedicated consumer health focus gives Band-Aid a parent company aligned with its market segment
+Brand name recognition is strong enough that "Band-Aid" functions as a genericized term in common use
+Kenvue's distribution infrastructure covers more than 100 countries
+Band-Aid's over-100-year market history has generated deep retail relationships and shelf placement
+FDA Class I medical device classification provides a regulatory quality floor for all Band-Aid products

Considerations

-Kimberly-Clark's acquisition (shareholders approved April 29, 2026) is expected to close in H2 2026, creating near-term ownership transition uncertainty
-Band-Aid's results are not separately disclosed, limiting external assessment of brand-level performance
-Private-label adhesive bandages from major retailers compete directly on price in the mass-market segment
-Johnson & Johnson no longer owns Band-Aid, which removes one element of J&J's consumer brand heritage that some consumers may associate with the product

Frequently Asked Questions About Band-Aid

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Band-Aid

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
Nexcare	3m	USA	1994	Mass market	Global	All-ages
NeosporinSister Brand	Kenvue	United States	1955	Mass market	United states	All-ages