Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Johnson & Johnson develops prescription pharmaceuticals and medical devices following the spin-off of its consumer-health business. Its diversified drug and device pipeline supports a long record of dividend increases.
Health Care stock comparison
JNJ vs LLY: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Johnson & Johnson with Eli Lilly and Company using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Health
- Industry
- Same SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-02-12
JNJ vs LLY: quick comparison
| Company fact | JNJ | LLY |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Johnson & Johnson | Eli Lilly and Company |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Headquarters | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Founded | 1886 | 1876 |
| SEC industry | Pharmaceutical Preparations | Pharmaceutical Preparations |
| Fiscal year-end | January 3 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-11 | 10-K · 2026-02-12 |
How the businesses differ
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY)
Eli Lilly is a pharmaceutical company whose GLP-1 diabetes and obesity treatments have become blockbuster franchises. It also develops therapies in oncology, immunology, and neuroscience.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. JNJ is classified by the SEC as Pharmaceutical Preparations, while LLY is classified as Pharmaceutical Preparations. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.
Which thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study JNJ when…
- Drug approvals and clinical-trial readouts
- Medicare and drug-pricing policy
- Demographics and an aging population
- GLP-1 and obesity-drug demand
Study LLY when…
- Drug approvals and clinical-trial readouts
- Medicare and drug-pricing policy
- Demographics and an aging population
- GLP-1 and obesity-drug demand
Shared research themes
US markets
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.JNJ's fiscal year ends January 3, while LLY's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House Clerk snapshot contains 0matched transaction rows for JNJand 0 for LLY. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
JNJ primary filings
LLY primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
More comparisons involving JNJ or LLY
JNJ vs LLY FAQs
Are JNJ and LLY direct competitors?
Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly and Company share the SEC industry classification “Pharmaceutical Preparations.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.
Which is better, JNJ or LLY?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this JNJ vs LLY comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices, then use the primary filings here to test the business thesis.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-08-10. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-08-10. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
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