Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has outperformed Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) over the past year, gaining 35.2% versus a loss of 36.0%. Over five years, JNJ leads with a +59.0% price change compared with -25.4% for NVO. Johnson & Johnson is the larger company by market cap ($621.83 billion vs $170.48 billion), about 3.6 times the size.
On valuation, Novo Nordisk A/S trades at a lower forward P/E (11.7x vs 21.3x for Johnson & Johnson). Novo Nordisk A/S offers the higher dividend yield (30.30% vs 2.03%).
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 | JNJ | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $258.03 | $38.62 |
| Market cap | $621.83B | $170.48B |
| 1-day change | +0.60% | +1.15% |
| YTD return | +23.93% | -24.96% |
| 1-year return | +35.21% | -35.95% |
| 5-year return | +59.01% | -25.39% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 29.90 | 9.44 |
| Forward P/E | 21.32 | 11.67 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.63 | $4.09 |
| Dividend yield | 2.03% | 30.30% |
| Annual dividend | $5.24 | $11.70 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $94.19B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.05% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $26.80B | — |
| Gross margin | 67.88% | — |
| Net margin | 28.46% | — |
| 52-week high | $281.07 | $64.16 |
| 52-week low | $184.66 | $35.12 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.20% | -39.81% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +8.37% | +19.29% |
| Average volume | 7.01M | 12.64M |
| Shares outstanding | 2.41B | 3.34B |
| Employees | 138,200 | 66,700 |
| 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 3.6 times larger than Novo Nordisk A/S by market value ($621.83B vs $170.48B).
- JNJ has outperformed NVO by 71.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Johnson & Johnson trades at a higher earnings multiple (29.9x vs 9.4x trailing P/E).
- Novo Nordisk A/S offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (30.30% vs 2.03%).
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
About Novo Nordisk A/S
NVO stock →Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products. It operates through two segments, Obesity and Diabetes Care, and Rare Disease.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 66,700 employees
JNJ vs NVO FAQ
Which is bigger, Johnson & Johnson or Novo Nordisk A/S?
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is larger, with a market capitalization of $621.83B compared with $170.48B for Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, JNJ or NVO?
JNJ returned +35.21% over the past 12 months, compared with -35.95% for NVO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, JNJ or NVO?
NVO has the lower trailing P/E at 9.4, versus 29.9 for JNJ. 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, Johnson & Johnson or Novo Nordisk A/S?
Novo Nordisk A/S has the higher yield at 30.30%, compared with 2.03% for Johnson & Johnson.
Are Johnson & Johnson and Novo Nordisk A/S in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.