Before the opening bell on Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) released its fourth quarter financial results. Here’s what the report means for mutual fund investors.
JNJ’s Q4 Results
Earnings
JNJ reported earnings of $2.52 billion, or 89 cents per share, down from $3.52 billion, or $1.23 per share, a year ago. Excluding special items, earnings were $3.6 billion, or $1.27 per share – above analysts’ expectation of $1.24 per share.
Revenue
Revenue came in at $18.25 billion, down from $18.36 billion last year. Analysts expected to see revenue of $18.59 billion.
Outlook
Looking ahead, JNJ expects to see FY2015 between $6.12 and $6.27 per share. Analysts are expecting earnings of $6.13 per share.
JNJ to be Impacted by the Stronger Dollar
Despite Johnson & Johnson’s Q1 profit beat, the near-term could be a bit volatile with the stronger dollar acting as an overhang for the company’s profit upside. The stock is trading at just 17x 2015 earnings estimates and is fairly priced.
The stock currently has a dividend yield of about 2.7%, which may be attractive to income-focused investors.
Mutual Funds to Watch
Investors interested in JNJ may be interested in the funds listed below. These funds currently have the largest stakes in the company.
| Symbol | Mutual Fund | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| {% mutualfund VTSMX %} | Vanguard Total Stock Market | 1.68% |
| {% mutualfund VFINX %} | Vanguard 500 Index | 1.08% |
| {% mutualfund FCNTX %} | Fidelity® Contrafund® | 0.68% |
The Bottom Line
The funds listed above allow investors to gain exposure to JNJ while remaining diversified. Investors interested in JNJ may also be interested in Pfizer (PFE) and Merck (MRK).