S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats List: Sorted By Hedge Fund Sentiment

4. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 98

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is a New Jersey-based multinational pharmaceutical company. The company is strengthening its dedication to innovation and expansion through strategic acquisitions. It has unveiled plans to acquire Intra-Cellular Therapies for over $14 billion, reinforcing its commitment to central nervous system disorder treatments. The acquisition will be funded through a combination of cash reserves and debt, with the transaction expected to close later this year. This marks the largest biotech acquisition in more than a year, indicating a resurgence in healthcare mergers and acquisitions following a slower 2024 when major pharmaceutical companies focused on integrating their post-pandemic purchases.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) reported revenue of $22.5 billion, reflecting a 5.2% increase from the previous year. As a leading healthcare company, it continues to develop treatments for conditions with significant unmet medical needs, such as multiple myeloma, lung cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and heart failure. The MedTech segment experienced a 6.2% rise in global operational sales, with acquisitions and divestitures contributing 1.5% to this growth. The Cardiovascular division saw strong demand for electrophysiology products and Abiomed, while the General Surgery segment benefited from higher sales of wound closure products.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.24 per share for a dividend yield of 3.06%, as of February 23. It is one of the best dividend aristocrat stocks on our list as the company has been raising its payouts for 62 consecutive years.