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 VRTX: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Johnson & Johnson with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated 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
- 2026-02-13
JNJ vs VRTX: quick comparison
| Company fact | JNJ | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Johnson & Johnson | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | New Brunswick, New Jersey | — |
| Founded | 1886 | — |
| SEC industry | Pharmaceutical Preparations | Pharmaceutical Preparations |
| Fiscal year-end | January 3 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-11 | 10-K · 2026-02-13 |
JNJ vs VRTX: audited financials
JNJ reported about 7.8× the revenue of VRTX in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, VRTX converted a larger share of revenue into net income (32.9% versus 28.5%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | JNJ | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $94.2B | $12.0B |
| Net income | $26.8B | $4.0B |
| Operating cash flow | $24.5B | $3.6B |
| Diluted EPS | $11.03 | $15.32 |
| Net margin | 28.5% | 32.9% |
JNJ: FY ending 2025-12-28 · VRTX: 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 VRTX 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.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals develops therapies for cystic fibrosis and other serious diseases including gene-based treatments.
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 VRTX 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 VRTX 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 VRTX'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 14 for VRTX. 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
VRTX 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 VRTX
JNJ vs VRTX FAQs
Are JNJ and VRTX direct competitors?
Johnson & Johnson and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated 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 VRTX?
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 VRTX 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated 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 VRTX 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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