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 PFE: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Johnson & Johnson with Pfizer Inc. 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
- 0
- Updated
- 2026-02-26
JNJ vs PFE: quick comparison
| Company fact | JNJ | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Johnson & Johnson | Pfizer Inc. |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Headquarters | New Brunswick, New Jersey | New York, New York |
| Founded | 1886 | 1849 |
| SEC industry | Pharmaceutical Preparations | Pharmaceutical Preparations |
| Fiscal year-end | January 3 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-11 | 10-K · 2026-02-26 |
JNJ vs PFE: audited financials
JNJ reported about 1.5× the revenue of PFE in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, JNJ converted a larger share of revenue into net income (28.5% versus 12.4%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | JNJ | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $94.2B | $62.6B |
| Net income | $26.8B | $7.8B |
| Operating cash flow | $24.5B | $11.7B |
| Diluted EPS | $11.03 | $1.36 |
| Net margin | 28.5% | 12.4% |
JNJ: FY ending 2025-12-28 · PFE: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
JNJ and PFE share the SEC industry classification “Pharmaceutical Preparations,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
Pfizer Inc. (PFE)
Pfizer is a global pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio spanning vaccines, oncology, and internal medicine. After its pandemic-era surge, it has leaned on acquisitions to rebuild its long-term pipeline.
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 PFE is classified as Pharmaceutical Preparations. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.
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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich 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 PFE 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
Pharmaceutical Preparations (SEC industry)
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 PFE's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 67matched transaction rows for JNJand 32 for PFE. 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
PFE 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 PFE
JNJ vs PFE FAQs
Are JNJ and PFE direct competitors?
Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer Inc. 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 PFE?
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 PFE comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
JNJ vs PFE shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.
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