Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) vs Pfizer (PFE)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has outperformed Pfizer (PFE) over the past year, gaining 36.8% versus a gain of 6.6%. Over five years, JNJ leads with a +60.2% price change compared with -32.5% for PFE. Johnson & Johnson is the larger company by market cap ($618.09 billion vs $158.56 billion), about 3.9 times the size.
On valuation, Pfizer trades at a lower forward P/E (9.6x vs 21.2x for Johnson & Johnson). Pfizer offers the higher dividend yield (6.18% vs 2.04%). Johnson & Johnson converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 28.5% versus 12.4%.
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 | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $256.48 | $27.82 |
| Market cap | $618.09B | $158.56B |
| 1-day change | -0.76% | -0.64% |
| YTD return | +24.89% | +12.45% |
| 1-year return | +36.83% | +6.59% |
| 5-year return | +60.23% | -32.51% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 29.72 | 36.61 |
| Forward P/E | 21.19 | 9.60 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.63 | $0.76 |
| Dividend yield | 2.04% | 6.18% |
| Annual dividend | $5.24 | $1.72 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $94.19B | $62.58B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.05% | -1.65% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $26.80B | $7.77B |
| Gross margin | 67.88% | 74.33% |
| Net margin | 28.46% | 12.42% |
| 52-week high | $281.07 | $29.21 |
| 52-week low | $184.66 | $23.62 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.75% | -4.76% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +9.03% | +3.92% |
| Average volume | 7.02M | 35.94M |
| Shares outstanding | 2.41B | 5.70B |
| Employees | 138,200 | 75,000 |
| 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 3.9 times larger than Pfizer by market value ($618.09B vs $158.56B).
- JNJ has outperformed PFE by 30.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Pfizer offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (6.18% vs 2.04%).
- Johnson & Johnson is more profitable, keeping 28.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 12.4 cents for Pfizer.
- Johnson & Johnson grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+6.05% vs -1.65%).
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 Pfizer
PFE stock →Pfizer Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States and internationally.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 75,000 employees
JNJ vs PFE FAQ
Which is bigger, Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer?
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is larger, with a market capitalization of $618.09B compared with $158.56B for Pfizer (PFE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, JNJ or PFE?
JNJ returned +36.83% over the past 12 months, compared with +6.59% for PFE (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, JNJ or PFE?
JNJ has the lower trailing P/E at 29.7, versus 36.6 for PFE. 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 Pfizer?
Pfizer has the higher yield at 6.18%, compared with 2.04% for Johnson & Johnson.
Are Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.