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How to buy Johnson & Johnson stock (JNJ)—5 steps to invest

Fact Checked: Amy Tokic

🗓️

Updated: January 13, 2025

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Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)  has been a leading name in the medical and consumer health product space since its inception over 135 years ago1. Today, it’s one of the biggest companies in the world, with over $1 billion in sales, and its favorable performance has made investors take note. However, for new investors, the process of how to buy Johnson & Johnson stock can seem intimidating. Here, we dive into the five steps for how to buy JNJ stock and explore whether it’s really worth your dollar based on its past performance.

How to buy Johnson & Johnson stock

Before you can invest, you first need to know how to buy Johnson & Johnson stock. You can become a shareholder in just five quick steps.

  1. 1.

    Select a brokerage. New investors can buy Johnson & Johnson stock through a brokerage. 

  2. 2.

    Open an account. Once you have chosen a broker, it’s time to open a new account. You’ll likely need to provide information regarding your personal details, investment goals and risk tolerance. Your account will be opened after your account is approved, taking anywhere from a few minutes to a few days, depending on your broker.  

  3. 3.

    Add funds to your account. Most brokerages will allow you to go online and add funds to your account using a website or mobile app. Be sure to have your payment information ready, and find out which methods of payment are available. Most brokerages will allow you to fund your account several different ways, such as bank transfer, credit or debit card or through an online account such as PayPal. Be sure to check whether there is a minimum opening balance for your new account — some brokers require a minimum deposit while others do not. 

  4. 4.

    Buy Johnson & Johnson stock. After your funds have been loaded into your account, you are ready to buy. First, decide where you want a market order, where you buy at market price, or a limit order, where you set the price you want to pay. Next, search for JNJ and enter the number of shares you want to buy before clicking the Buy button. To help, most brokerages offer instructions or video tutorials so you know how to buy Johnson & Johnson stock on their platforms.

  5. 5.

    Monitor your investment. All purchased stock will be available in your portfolio where you can manage and track your investments. Be sure to follow the market closely so you know when to buy, sell or hold to make the most of your Johnson & Johnson investment. 

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About Johnson & Johnson Inc.

The brainchild of Robert Wood Johnson2, Johnson & Johnson was officially launched in 1886 with the help of Johnson’s two brothers, James Wood and Edward Mead. It has the distinction of being the first company to mass-produce antiseptic surgical supplies, using thin sheets to revolutionize the use of sterilized absorbent cotton for medical care. It would be the first to mass-produce sterile surgical sutures and dressings, as well. 

In 1944, Johnson & Johnson went public on the New York Stock Exchange. Today, it continues to grow with the acquisition of businesses such as Abbott Medical Optics in 2017 and Momenta Pharmaceuticals in 2020. It also expanded to include spinoff company Kenvue Inc. in 2023, which holds its consumer health sector. 

Is Johnson & Johnson a good stock to buy?

Johnson & Johnson spreads its products across three divisions (consumer health, pharmaceuticals and MedTech), with many of its products serving as the first or second-best in their segments and bringing a total of $87.69 billion3 in revenue. All those sales paid off in dividends to investors, totaling $4.91 with a 3.37% yield. By the end of 2024, the company had a market capitalization of over $350 billion. It showed a 52-week high of $168.85 and a 52-week low of $142.754.

Johnson & Johnson Q3 20245 earnings per share (EPS) surpassed estimates by 9.50%, marking over 60 consecutive years of increasing dividends for shareholders. That growth, combined with Johnson & Johnson’s stable portfolio of high-performing products, makes JNJ stock a reasonable prospect for investment.

Pros and cons of buying Johnson & Johnson stock

Pros

Pros

  • Consistent dividends for investors

  • Large and successful portfolio of products

  • Continues to grow with regular acquisitions

Cons

Cons

  • Must follow both Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue for full picture of company performance

  • Underwhelming past performance

  • Big pharma isn’t for everyone

FAQs

  • Is Johnson & Johnson stock a buy, hold or sell right now?

    +

    JNJ stock has been steadily increasing over the last year, making it better to buy and hold than sell Johnson & Johnson stock right now. For personalized advice, consider contacting a financial advisor to help.

  • What is going on with Johnson & Johnson?

    +

    Johnson & Johnson restructured the company6 in 2023, creating Kenvue as a spinoff company for its consumer health division.

  • Is JNJ stock splitting?

    +

    Johnson & Johnson has announced no plans for a stock split in the future. Its last stock split7 occurred in June 2001 and was a 2-for-1 split.

  • Who owns the largest share of Johnson & Johnson?

    +

    The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the largest owner8 of JNJ shares with 9.5% ownership. The second-largest shareholder is BlackRock, Inc., holding 7.7%.

Lena Borrelli Freelance Contributor

Lena Muhtadi Borrelli brings over 20 years of experience in the finance industry. She began her career at Morgan Stanley before transitioning over to media. As a finance writer, she has served as an authority for several respected outlets, including Forbes, TIME, Newsweek, Bankrate, Investopedia, Insurance.com, and InvestorPlace. No matter what she is writing, Lena has a unique ability to simplify complex topics, making finance more approachable and relatable to the average reader. When she is not writing or scanning the news for the latest headlines, she is happiest spending time in the Florida sunshine with her husband and two pups.

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