Can Earnings Push Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) to New Heights?

Still, J&J faces plenty of competition. In addition to obvious players in the pharma and medical-device space, conglomerate 3M Co (NYSE:MMM) has also sought to use its reputation for innovation to come up with advances in the health-care space. Yet even though 3M generates plenty of revenue from its products, which include everything from pathogen testing and health-information management systems to adhesive surgical tape, J&J has done a good job of holding back the potential rival by serving the widest variety of health-care needs.

When Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) announces its earnings, watch closely for signs of how the company’s consumer segment is doing. With pharma being somewhat more volatile in terms of approvals and rejections that can have a big immediate impact on results, J&J must solidify its hold on its bread-and-butter consumer-products sales. Taking that business for granted would be a big mistake for J&J.

The article Can Earnings Push Johnson & Johnson to New Heights? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Dan Caplinger.

Fool contributor Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow him on Twitter @DanCaplinger. The Motley Fool recommends 3M Co (NYSE:MMM) and Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ).

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