A Valuation of Johnson & Johnson

The stock is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the Defensive Investor

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Jan 17, 2017
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Benjamin Graham taught that an intelligent investor must do a thorough fundamental analysis of investment opportunities to determine the intrinsic value and inherent risk.

This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another company or by reviewing the 10 Stocks for Using a Benjamin Graham Value Investing Strategy. By using the ModernGraham method, one can review a company's historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries. What follows is a stock analysis showing a specific look at how Johnson & Johnson (JNJ, Financial) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.

Company profile

According to Google Finance, Johnson & Johnson is a holding company engaged in the research, development, manufacture and sale of a range of products in the health care field. The company's segments include Consumer, Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices. The company has research facilities in the U.S., Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and the U.K.

Downloadable PDF version of this valuation:Â ModernGraham Valuation of JNJ - January 2017

Stage 1: Is this company suitable for the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor?

What kind of Intelligent Investor are you?

Defensive Investor: must pass six out of the following seven tests. Â Â
 1. Adequate Size of the Enterprise Market Cap > $2 billion $311,718,494,701 Pass
 2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition Current Ratio > 2 2.73 Pass
 3. Earnings Stability Positive EPS for 10 years prior  Pass
 4. Dividend Record Dividend Payments for 10 years prior  Pass
 5. Earnings Growth Increase of 33% in EPS in past 10 years using three-year averages at beginning and end 36.67% Pass
 6. Moderate PEmg Ratio PEmg < 20 20.79 Fail
 7. Moderate Price to Assets P/B Ratio < 2.5 OR P/B*PEmg < 50 4.39 Fail
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Enterprising Investor: must pass four out of the following five tests, or be suitable for the Defensive Investor. Â Â
 1. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition Current Ratio > 1.5 2.73 Pass
 2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition Debt to NCA < 1.1 0.59 Pass
 3. Earnings Stability Positive EPS for five years prior  Pass
 4. Dividend Record Currently Pays Dividend  Pass
 5. Earnings Growth EPSmg greater than five years ago  Pass

Stage 2: Determination of Intrinsic Value

02May2017140459.png

EPSmg $5.51
MG Growth Estimate 5.35%
MG Value $105.81
Opinion Fairly Valued
MG Grade B+
MG Value based on 3% Growth $79.94
MG Value based on 0% Growth $46.86
Market Implied Growth Rate 6.14%
Current Price $114.60
% of Intrinsic Value 108.30%

Johnson & Johnson is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the high PEmg and price-book (P/B) ratios. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be fairly valued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $4.06 in 2012 to an estimated $5.51 for 2016. This level of demonstrated earnings growth supports the market's implied estimate of 6.14% annual earnings growth over the next seven to 10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Graham's value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value within a margin of safety relative to the price.

At the time of valuation, further research into Johnson & Johnson revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $60.27. The company pays a dividend of $3.1 per share for a yield of 2.7%, putting it among the best dividend-paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 20.79, below the  industry average of 28.95, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry. Finally the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $-1.54.

Johnson & Johnson performs fairly well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring a B+.

Stage 3: Information for further research

02May2017140459.png

Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) -$1.54
Graham Number $60.27
PEmg 20.79
Current Ratio 2.73
P/B Ratio 4.39
Current Dividend $3.10
Dividend Yield 2.71%
Number of Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth 20

Useful links

ModernGraham tagged articles Morningstar
Google Finance MSN Money
Yahoo Finance Seeking Alpha
GuruFocus SEC Filings

Most recent balance sheet figures

Balance Sheet Information Sept. 1, 2016
Total Current Assets $63,319,000,000
Total Current Liabilities $23,230,000,000
Long-Term Debt $23,546,000,000
Total Assets $140,369,000,000
Intangible Assets $50,813,000,000
Total Liabilities $67,600,000,000
Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average) 2,785,400,000

Earnings per share history

EPS History Â
Next Fiscal Year Estimate $6.04
Dec. 2015 $5.48
Dec. 2014 $5.70
Dec. 2013 $4.81
Dec. 2012 $3.86
Dec. 2011 $3.49
Dec. 2010 $4.78
Dec. 2009 $4.40
Dec. 2008 $4.57
Dec. 2007 $3.63
Dec. 2006 $3.73
Dec. 2005 $3.35
Dec. 2004 $2.74
Dec. 2003 $2.29
Dec. 2002 $2.16
Dec. 2001 $1.84
Dec. 2000 $1.61
Dec. 1999 $1.39
Dec. 1998 $1.06
Dec. 1997 $1.21
Dec. 1996 $1.09

Earnings per share – ModernGraham history

EPSmg History Â
Next Fiscal Year Estimate $5.51
Dec. 2015 $5.06
Dec. 2014 $4.74
Dec. 2013 $4.26
Dec. 2012 $4.06
Dec. 2011 $4.17
Dec. 2010 $4.41
Dec. 2009 $4.13
Dec. 2008 $3.87
Dec. 2007 $3.39
Dec. 2006 $3.13
Dec. 2005 $2.72
Dec. 2004 $2.31
Dec. 2003 $2.01
Dec. 2002 $1.79
Dec. 2001 $1.54
Dec. 2000 $1.35

Recommended reading

Other ModernGraham posts about the company

Johnson & Johnson Valuation – January 2016 Update $JNJ
Johnson & Johnson Analysis – September 2015 Update $JNJ
Johnson & Johnson Analysis – June 2015 Quarterly Update $JNJ
28 Companies in the Spotlight This Week – Feb. 28, 2015
Johnson and Johnson Company Quarterly Valuation – February 2015 $JNJ

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Disclosure:Â The author did not hold a position in any company mentioned in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours. See my current holdings here. This article is not investment advice; any reader should speak to a registered investment adviser prior to making any investment decisions. ModernGraham is not affiliated with the company in any manner. Please be sure to review our detailed disclaimer. This article first appeared on ModernGraham.

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