ABBV vs JNJ: Which Stock Is the Better Buy in 2026?

📊 Data as of October 9, 2026 · Refreshed weekly

A head-to-head, data-driven comparison of ABBV (AbbVie Inc.) and JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) — covering valuation, growth, dividends, risk, and which one fits your portfolio. All metrics pulled from live market data.

AbbVie Inc. (ABBV)

Healthcare · Drug Manufacturers - General · NYSE

AbbVie Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals in the worldwide. The company offers HUMIRA, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune and intestinal Behçet's diseases; SKYRIZI to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults; RINVOQ, a JAK inhibitor for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients; IMBRUVICA to treat adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and VENCLEXTA, a BCL-2 inhibitor used to treat adults with CLL or SLL; and MAVYRET to treat patients with chro…

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Healthcare · Drug Manufacturers - General · NYSE

Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches and develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide, but strategically separated its Consumer Health business into Kenvue Inc. in 2023 to focus on its higher-growth, innovation-driven segments; the former Consumer Health brands (including TYLENOL, LISTERINE, and BAND-AID) are now owned by Kenvue. The company's core focus is now split between its Innovative Medicine (formerly Pharmaceutical) segment, which offers prescription products for complex diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, various canc…

Quick Verdict

Better for Growth

JNJ

revenue 6.05% and EPS 88.87% YoY outpace the other name

Better for Value

Tie

neither has a standard trailing P/E to compare (common for ETFs/funds)

Better for Income

ABBV

2.87% yield vs the other name's lower payout

Better for Safety

Tie

risk profiles look similar

ABBV and JNJ Compared Metric by Metric

Metric	ABBV	JNJ
Price	$229.98	$217.41
Market Cap	$406.42B	$523.80B
P/E Ratio (lower is cheaper)	N/A	N/A
EPS	$0.00	$0.00
Dividend Yield	2.87%	2.46%
Beta (volatility vs market)	0.35	0.33
ROE (higher is better)	0.00%	0.00%
Debt/Equity (lower is safer)	0.00	0.00
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.57%	6.05%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-1.25%	88.87%
52-Week High	$244.81	$220.11
52-Week Low	$164.39	$141.50
Sector	Healthcare	Healthcare

What Really Separates ABBV From JNJ

Of the metrics we track, these are the widest gaps between ABBV and JNJ:

Revenue growth: ABBV grew sales 8.57% year over year while JNJ managed 6.05%.
Size: JNJ is about 1.3x ABBV by market cap ($523.80B vs $406.42B).
Dividend: ABBV yields 2.87%, versus 2.46% for JNJ.

Stability Compared

ABBV has a beta of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.00. JNJ sits at beta 0.33 and D/E 0.00.

Roughly tied — risk profiles look similar.

Valuation Compared

ABBV trades at a P/E of N/A, while JNJ trades at N/A. ROE for ABBV is 0.00% versus 0.00% for JNJ.

Roughly tied — neither has a standard trailing P/E to compare (common for ETFs/funds).

Growth Compared

ABBV grew revenue 8.57% and EPS -1.25% year-over-year. JNJ grew revenue 6.05% and EPS 88.87%.

JNJ wins — revenue 6.05% and EPS 88.87% YoY outpace the other name.

Dividends Compared

ABBV yields 2.87%; JNJ yields 2.46%.

ABBV wins — 2.87% yield vs the other name's lower payout.

Risk Flags for ABBV and JNJ

Every stock has tail risks that the headline numbers don't capture. Here's what stands out from the available metrics:

ABBV: low beta of 0.35 dampens both upside and downside vs. the broader market.
JNJ: low beta of 0.33 dampens both upside and downside vs. the broader market.

This is a quick heuristic risk scan, not a full risk assessment. Always read the "Risk Factors" section of each company's most recent 10-K filing before investing.

Recent Price Action for ABBV and JNJ

Price action over the last 12 months gives important context. A stock near its 52-week high has momentum on its side but limited room before profit-taking; one near its low may be a value opportunity or a structural problem.

ABBV currently trades at $229.98, near the upper end of its 52-week range — momentum is strong but the easy gains may be behind it (52-week range: $164.39–$244.81).
JNJ currently trades at $217.41, near the upper end of its 52-week range — momentum is strong but the easy gains may be behind it (52-week range: $141.50–$220.11).

Our Take: ABBV vs JNJ

Neither stock dominates: ABBV and JNJ split the four dimensions evenly, so the better choice depends on which one matters most to you. The clearest dividing line between them is revenue growth, so start there when deciding.

Matching ABBV and JNJ to Your Strategy

Long-term holder (10+ years): Lean toward either name works; durability and balance-sheet strength matter more than the next-quarter print.
Income / dividend-focused: ABBV — higher yield, but always check payout sustainability before chasing.
Aggressive growth: JNJ — faster top-line and EPS expansion at the cost of richer multiples.
Value-oriented: either name works — paying less per dollar of earnings, with the trade-off of slower growth.

Compare ABBV vs JNJ live →

ABBV vs JNJ FAQ

ABBV or JNJ: which one should you buy in 2026?

It depends on your investment goal. For growth investors, JNJ has the edge — ABBV grew revenue 8.57% versus 6.05% for JNJ. For value investors, Both ABBV and JNJ are roughly comparable on this dimension looks more attractive on earnings multiples (P/E N/A vs N/A). For income, ABBV pays a higher yield (2.87% vs 2.46%). For safety, Both ABBV and JNJ are roughly comparable on this dimension has the more defensive profile (beta 0.35 vs 0.33).

How do ABBV and JNJ compare on P/E ratio?

Neither ABBV nor JNJ has a standard trailing P/E ratio available -- this is common for ETFs and index funds, which don't report a single company-style earnings multiple the way individual stocks do. Look at expense ratio, tracking performance, and holdings overlap instead when comparing funds like these.

Which pays the bigger dividend, ABBV or JNJ?

ABBV currently yields 2.87% and JNJ yields 2.46%. ABBV pays the higher current yield. Always verify payout ratio and dividend history before treating yield as guaranteed income — a high yield can also be a warning sign of a falling share price.

Is ABBV or JNJ the more volatile stock?

ABBV has a beta of 0.35 and JNJ has a beta of 0.33. A beta above 1.0 means the stock historically moves more than the broader market; below 1.0 means it moves less. ABBV has been the more volatile name based on historical price action.

How large are ABBV and JNJ by market cap?

ABBV has a market capitalization of $406.42B and JNJ is at $523.80B. Market cap is share price multiplied by shares outstanding and reflects the total equity value the market assigns to the company.

Is ABBV or JNJ the better long-term hold?

For a long-term holder (10+ years), the safer-quality name usually wins because compounding requires durability. Both ABBV and JNJ are roughly comparable on this dimension screens better on safety metrics here: lower beta, more conservative debt levels, and stronger return on equity. That said, JNJ is growing faster, so a long-term investor may want both — or split allocation 60/40 toward the safer name.

Is ABBV or JNJ growing faster?

JNJ is the faster grower right now. ABBV grew revenue 8.57% year-over-year and EPS -1.25%; JNJ grew revenue 6.05% and EPS 88.87%. ABBV's slower growth often comes with a lower valuation — it's the classic growth-vs-value trade-off.

Are ABBV and JNJ in the same sector?

ABBV (AbbVie Inc.) operates in the Healthcare sector, specifically the Drug Manufacturers - General industry. JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) is in the Healthcare sector, specifically the Drug Manufacturers - General industry. Because both are in the same sector, this is a true head-to-head comparison.

What's the best way to choose between ABBV and JNJ?

Start with your goal. (1) If you need income, weight the higher-yield name. (2) If you want growth, weight the faster top-line and EPS grower. (3) If you want capital preservation, weight the lower-beta, lower-debt, higher-ROE name. (4) If you're unsure, the most common professional approach is to own both in a sector basket so you don't have to predict the winner — and rebalance annually.