Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has outperformed Abbott Laboratories (ABT) over the past year, gaining 36.8% versus a loss of 25.3%. Over five years, JNJ leads with a +59.0% price change compared with -16.2% for ABT. Johnson & Johnson is the larger company by market cap ($630.04 billion vs $172.35 billion), about 3.7 times the size.
On valuation, Abbott Laboratories trades at a lower forward P/E (16.4x vs 21.6x for Johnson & Johnson). Abbott Laboratories offers the higher dividend yield (2.49% vs 2.00%). Johnson & Johnson converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 28.5% versus 14.7%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ABT | JNJ |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $99.60 | $261.44 |
| Market cap | $172.35B | $630.04B |
| 1-day change | +1.13% | +1.93% |
| YTD return | -20.50% | +26.33% |
| 1-year return | -25.29% | +36.82% |
| 5-year return | -16.17% | +59.01% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 32.13 | 30.29 |
| Forward P/E | 16.42 | 21.60 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.10 | $8.63 |
| Dividend yield | 2.49% | 2.00% |
| Annual dividend | $2.48 | $5.24 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $44.33B | $94.19B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.67% | +6.05% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $6.52B | $26.80B |
| Gross margin | 56.42% | 67.88% |
| Operating margin | 18.17% | — |
| Net margin | 14.72% | 28.46% |
| 52-week high | $134.50 | $281.07 |
| 52-week low | $81.97 | $184.66 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -25.95% | -6.98% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +21.20% | +6.96% |
| Average volume | 9.64M | 7.02M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.73B | 2.41B |
| Employees | 122,000 | 138,200 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations | Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Johnson & Johnson is about 3.7 times larger than Abbott Laboratories by market value ($630.04B vs $172.35B).
- JNJ has outperformed ABT by 62.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Johnson & Johnson is more profitable, keeping 28.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 14.7 cents for Abbott Laboratories.
About Abbott Laboratories
ABT stock →Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 122,000 employees
About Johnson & Johnson
JNJ stock →Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and sale of a range of products in the healthcare field worldwide. It operates in two segments, Innovative Medicine and MedTech.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 138,200 employees
ABT vs JNJ FAQ
Which is bigger, Abbott Laboratories or Johnson & Johnson?
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is larger, with a market capitalization of $630.04B compared with $172.35B for Abbott Laboratories (ABT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ABT or JNJ?
JNJ returned +36.82% over the past 12 months, compared with -25.29% for ABT (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ABT or JNJ?
JNJ has the lower trailing P/E at 30.3, versus 32.1 for ABT. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Abbott Laboratories or Johnson & Johnson?
Abbott Laboratories has the higher yield at 2.49%, compared with 2.00% for Johnson & Johnson.
Are Abbott Laboratories and Johnson & Johnson in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.