Iran Conflict Raises Recession Risks Amid Inflation
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 04 2026
0mins
Should l Buy JNJ?
Source: Fool
- Recession Risk: The ongoing conflict in Iran is causing inflationary pressures from soaring energy and food prices, complicating global economic challenges and increasing investor interest in healthcare stocks as a defensive measure.
- Defensive Healthcare Stocks: Large-cap pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and integrated healthcare company CVS Health are viewed as defensive stocks, with JNJ's beta at 0.33 and CVS at 0.46, indicating their relative stability during economic downturns.
- Opportunities in Small-Cap Stocks: Investors may consider small- and mid-cap healthcare companies whose growth relies on binary events like clinical trial results, as successful firms can offset losses from others, despite the inherent risks.
- Investment Strategy Choices: Risk-averse investors may prefer low-beta defensive stocks, while risk-seeking investors might opt for high-risk, high-reward healthcare stocks to navigate potential recessionary pressures.
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Analyst Views on JNJ
Wall Street analysts forecast JNJ stock price to fall
20 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 234.180
Low
190.00
Averages
218.50
High
240.00
Current: 234.180
Low
190.00
Averages
218.50
High
240.00
About JNJ
Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries are engaged in the research and development, manufacture, and sale of a range of products in the healthcare field. The Company’s segments include Innovative Medicine and MedTech. The Innovative Medicine segment is focused on various therapeutic areas, including immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, pulmonary hypertension, cardiovascular and metabolism. Its products include REMICADE (infliximab), SIMPONI (golimumab), SIMPONI ARIA (golimumab), STELARA (ustekinumab), TREMFYA (guselkumab), EDURANT (rilpivirine), and INVEGA SUSTENNA/XEPLION (paliperidone palmitate). The MedTech segment includes a portfolio of products used in cardiovascular, orthopedics, surgery, and vision categories. The Cardiovascular portfolio includes electrophysiology products to treat heart rhythm disorders and circulatory restoration products (Shockwave) for the treatment of calcified coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Johnson & Johnson Q1 2026 Earnings Beat Expectations but Stock Declines
- Earnings Beat Expectations: Johnson & Johnson's Q1 2026 earnings report exceeded expectations with approximately $4 billion in revenue from its blood cancer treatment Darzalex, yet investor response was muted, leading to a slight decline in stock price post-release.
- Drug Sales Dynamics: Tremfya, used for treating inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis, generated $1.6 billion in sales; however, the expiration of Stelara's patent resulted in a significant drop in sales from $1.6 billion in Q1 2025 to $656 million in Q1 2026, highlighting increased competitive pressures.
- Stock Price Analysis: Despite a robust 52% increase in stock price over the past year, recent muted market reactions following the earnings report have led to a pullback, indicating a lack of significant news to drive stock price movements in the short term, warranting caution from investors.
- Long-Term Investment Outlook: Johnson & Johnson has consistently increased its dividend for 64 consecutive years, showcasing stability, and with a promising drug pipeline, despite a higher forward price-to-earnings ratio, it remains attractive by blending stability with upside potential.
See More
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- Market Warning: CNBC's Jim Cramer cautions that investors chasing 'parabolic' moves often face significant losses, advocating instead for overlooked stocks as better investment opportunities.
- Healthcare Stock Investment: Despite the healthcare sector being the worst performer in the S&P 500, Cramer purchased shares of Johnson & Johnson through his Charitable Trust, emphasizing that buying quality companies during price declines is a rare opportunity.
- Fundamental Analysis: Cramer believes that recent weakness in J&J's stock is largely driven by 'noise' related to talc lawsuits, overshadowing significant developments like new drug approvals and strategic business changes, highlighting short-sighted market sentiment.
- Portfolio Strategy: Cramer stresses the importance of maintaining a balance between hot and cold stocks in an investment portfolio to mitigate the risk of market leaders quickly losing favor, advising against an over-concentration in technology stocks to avoid losses.
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- Oversold Signal: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) shares entered oversold territory on Monday with an RSI of 29.5, indicating that the recent heavy selling pressure may be exhausting, prompting investors to seek buying opportunities.
- Price Fluctuation: JNJ's stock price dipped to a low of $229.62, with the last trade at $230.69, showing significant volatility compared to its 52-week low of $146.115 and high of $251.71, reflecting varying market expectations for its future performance.
- Market Comparison: In contrast to the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) with an RSI of 69.1, JNJ's low RSI may attract investors looking for rebound opportunities, highlighting a divergence in market sentiment.
- Investor Strategy: Given the oversold signal, investors may reassess JNJ's value and consider accumulating shares during price corrections, aiming to profit from potential market rebounds in the future.
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- Optimistic Clinical Outlook: Kelonia's lead program, KLN-1010, is a Phase 1 investigational therapy for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma that utilizes an in vivo gene delivery system to generate CAR-T cells directly in patients, potentially offering new hope by simplifying existing treatment complexities.
- Competitive Market Pressure: This acquisition positions Lilly in a market with established competitors, as Johnson & Johnson's CAR-T treatment Carvykti generated $1.89 billion in sales last year, while Gilead recently paid $7.8 billion for Arcellx and its rival drug, highlighting the intense competition in the sector.
- Strategic Significance: Lilly's executive Jacob Van Naarden noted that early clinical data is highly encouraging, representing not only a potential advancement for multiple myeloma patients but also validating Kelonia's platform concept, showcasing Lilly's ongoing investment and innovation capabilities in biopharmaceuticals.
See More
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- Company Update: Bank of America analysts raised Corning's price target from $155 to $186, highlighting that its scale-out potential for increasing compute capacity is not reflected in current valuations, which is expected to drive demand for fiber-optic networking, although this may pressure margins in the near term.
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- Investment Strategy: Jim Cramer noted in the livestream that while recent cautious calls on Corning may lead to a potential stock decline, opportunistic investors in the market may seize the chance to buy, reflecting confidence in future earnings.
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- Innovative Treatment Technology: Kelonia is developing in vivo CAR-T technology that reprograms patients' T-cells to attack cancer, offering a more convenient alternative to traditional ex vivo methods, potentially transforming treatment for blood cancers and solid tumors.
- Market Competitive Advantage: Lilly plans to leverage Kelonia's technology to expand into hematology, with Van Naarden emphasizing the appeal of a one-time infusion, which could attract more physicians and break the current limitations of treatments confined to academic medical centers.
- Strategic Transformation Direction: Alongside the Kelonia acquisition, Lilly is diversifying its business through multiple acquisitions, such as Centessa Pharmaceuticals and Orna Therapeutics, gradually shifting from being primarily known for GLP-1 drugs for weight loss to a comprehensive biopharmaceutical company covering more therapeutic areas.
See More
Johnson & Johnson Q1 2026 Earnings Beat Expectations but Stock Declines
- Earnings Beat Expectations: Johnson & Johnson's Q1 2026 earnings report exceeded expectations with approximately $4 billion in revenue from its blood cancer treatment Darzalex, yet investor response was muted, leading to a slight decline in stock price post-release.
- Drug Sales Dynamics: Tremfya, used for treating inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis, generated $1.6 billion in sales; however, the expiration of Stelara's patent resulted in a significant drop in sales from $1.6 billion in Q1 2025 to $656 million in Q1 2026, highlighting increased competitive pressures.
- Stock Price Analysis: Despite a robust 52% increase in stock price over the past year, recent muted market reactions following the earnings report have led to a pullback, indicating a lack of significant news to drive stock price movements in the short term, warranting caution from investors.
- Long-Term Investment Outlook: Johnson & Johnson has consistently increased its dividend for 64 consecutive years, showcasing stability, and with a promising drug pipeline, despite a higher forward price-to-earnings ratio, it remains attractive by blending stability with upside potential.
See More
Investors Should Beware of Chasing Hot Stocks
- Market Warning: CNBC's Jim Cramer cautions that investors chasing 'parabolic' moves often face significant losses, advocating instead for overlooked stocks as better investment opportunities.
- Healthcare Stock Investment: Despite the healthcare sector being the worst performer in the S&P 500, Cramer purchased shares of Johnson & Johnson through his Charitable Trust, emphasizing that buying quality companies during price declines is a rare opportunity.
- Fundamental Analysis: Cramer believes that recent weakness in J&J's stock is largely driven by 'noise' related to talc lawsuits, overshadowing significant developments like new drug approvals and strategic business changes, highlighting short-sighted market sentiment.
- Portfolio Strategy: Cramer stresses the importance of maintaining a balance between hot and cold stocks in an investment portfolio to mitigate the risk of market leaders quickly losing favor, advising against an over-concentration in technology stocks to avoid losses.
See More
Johnson & Johnson Shares Enter Oversold Territory
- Oversold Signal: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) shares entered oversold territory on Monday with an RSI of 29.5, indicating that the recent heavy selling pressure may be exhausting, prompting investors to seek buying opportunities.
- Price Fluctuation: JNJ's stock price dipped to a low of $229.62, with the last trade at $230.69, showing significant volatility compared to its 52-week low of $146.115 and high of $251.71, reflecting varying market expectations for its future performance.
- Market Comparison: In contrast to the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) with an RSI of 69.1, JNJ's low RSI may attract investors looking for rebound opportunities, highlighting a divergence in market sentiment.
- Investor Strategy: Given the oversold signal, investors may reassess JNJ's value and consider accumulating shares during price corrections, aiming to profit from potential market rebounds in the future.
See More
Eli Lilly to Acquire Kelonia Therapeutics for Up to $7 Billion
- Acquisition Agreement Details: Eli Lilly has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Kelonia Therapeutics for up to $7 billion, with $3.25 billion payable upfront and the remainder contingent on clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones, indicating Lilly's strategic intent to expand in oncology.
- Optimistic Clinical Outlook: Kelonia's lead program, KLN-1010, is a Phase 1 investigational therapy for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma that utilizes an in vivo gene delivery system to generate CAR-T cells directly in patients, potentially offering new hope by simplifying existing treatment complexities.
- Competitive Market Pressure: This acquisition positions Lilly in a market with established competitors, as Johnson & Johnson's CAR-T treatment Carvykti generated $1.89 billion in sales last year, while Gilead recently paid $7.8 billion for Arcellx and its rival drug, highlighting the intense competition in the sector.
- Strategic Significance: Lilly's executive Jacob Van Naarden noted that early clinical data is highly encouraging, representing not only a potential advancement for multiple myeloma patients but also validating Kelonia's platform concept, showcasing Lilly's ongoing investment and innovation capabilities in biopharmaceuticals.
See More
S&P 500 Flat Amid Rising Oil Prices and Earnings Outlook
- Market Dynamics: The S&P 500 remained flat on Monday despite escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, while West Texas Intermediate crude surged 5% to over $88 per barrel, indicating market sensitivity to oil price fluctuations.
- Company Update: Bank of America analysts raised Corning's price target from $155 to $186, highlighting that its scale-out potential for increasing compute capacity is not reflected in current valuations, which is expected to drive demand for fiber-optic networking, although this may pressure margins in the near term.
- Apple Outlook: Morgan Stanley named Apple a 'tactical long', forecasting that memory-related gross margin pressures will be offset by positive June-quarter guidance, with upcoming catalysts including the WWDC and the foldable iPhone launch.
- Investment Strategy: Jim Cramer noted in the livestream that while recent cautious calls on Corning may lead to a potential stock decline, opportunistic investors in the market may seize the chance to buy, reflecting confidence in future earnings.
See More
Eli Lilly to Acquire Kelonia Therapeutics for Up to $7 Billion
- Acquisition Scale: Eli Lilly announced its acquisition of biotech firm Kelonia Therapeutics for up to $7 billion, with $3.25 billion paid upfront and remaining payments contingent on clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones, expected to close in the second half of 2026.
- Innovative Treatment Technology: Kelonia is developing in vivo CAR-T technology that reprograms patients' T-cells to attack cancer, offering a more convenient alternative to traditional ex vivo methods, potentially transforming treatment for blood cancers and solid tumors.
- Market Competitive Advantage: Lilly plans to leverage Kelonia's technology to expand into hematology, with Van Naarden emphasizing the appeal of a one-time infusion, which could attract more physicians and break the current limitations of treatments confined to academic medical centers.
- Strategic Transformation Direction: Alongside the Kelonia acquisition, Lilly is diversifying its business through multiple acquisitions, such as Centessa Pharmaceuticals and Orna Therapeutics, gradually shifting from being primarily known for GLP-1 drugs for weight loss to a comprehensive biopharmaceutical company covering more therapeutic areas.
See More
