For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – March 21, 2022 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: J&J
JNJ
, Pfizer
PFE
, BioNTech
BNTX
and Moderna
MRNA
.
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
What’s in Store for J&J’s Segments & Pipeline in 2022?
J&J
‘s Pharma segment is performing above market despite currency headwinds and the impact of biosimilar and generic competition on sales of some key drugs like Remicade and Zytiga. Pharmaceutical segment sales rose 13.6% in 2021 on an organic basis despite the coronavirus pandemic. The sales increase was led by J&J’s blockbuster drugs, Darzalex and Stelara and contribution from newer drugs, Erleada and Tremfya and its COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, other core products like Simponi/Simponi Aria and Invega Sustenna are also contributing to growth. J&J continues to expect its Pharmaceutical business to deliver market-leading sales growth in 2022 driven by drugs like Darzalex, Tremfya, Stelara, Erleada and the newly launched Rybrevant. J&J has a long-term goal of growing the Pharmaceutical unit into a $60 billion segment by 2025.
Sales of the Consumer unit are improving, withstanding external supply constraints due to raw material availability and labor shortages. These constraints hurt sales of the skin health and beauty franchise in the fourth quarter of 2021. J&J expects the supply constraints to continue in 2022 with the majority of the impact expected in the first half, primarily in skin health and beauty segments.
J&J has started instituting price increases across its Consumer Health portfolio in 2022 due to the impact of inflationary pressure, including higher input costs. J&J expects price increases to enable it to remain competitive in 2022.
As far as its Medical Devices segment is concerned, the Omicron variant softened recovery trends in medical and surgical procedures, especially toward the end of the fourth quarter. The negative impact is expected to continue in the first half of 2022. However, J&J expects the market recovery to accelerate as the year progresses as global health systems treat new patients and work through procedure backlogs. The market recovery coupled with contribution from new product launches is expected to lead to better performance in the second half of 2022. J&J launched 20 major products in 2021.
Importantly, J&J’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine has become a key contributor to the top-line. The vaccine was approved for emergency/conditional use in some countries in 2021 and vaccinations are in full swing. A booster shot of the vaccine was authorized for all adults in October 2021. The COVID-19 vaccine generated sales of around $2.4 billion in 2021.
Among other vaccine makers,
Pfizer
and
BioNTech
‘s booster dose or “third dose” was granted emergency approval by the FDA in December for all adults 18 years of age and older, following the completion of primary vaccination with any FDA-authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. Later the EUA was extended to allow its use in individuals 16 and 17 years of age and thereafter in adolescents 12 to 15 years of age.
Pfizer/BioNTech’s booster shot is the only one authorized for use in children below the age of 18.
A booster dose of
Moderna
‘s mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax has been granted EUA for use in all adults in the United States at least six months after the completion of primary vaccination with any FDA-authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. In Europe, Moderna’s booster dose can be given at least three months after the second dose for people aged 18 years and older. Meanwhile, pivotal studies are ongoing for the Omicron-specific booster candidate on Moderna.
J&J is also making rapid progress with its pipeline and line extensions. It gained FDA approval for its BCMA-directed CAR-T cell therapy, Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) for previously treated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in February. An FDA decision on teclistamab for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma and an EU decision on ciltacabtagene autoleucel is expected this year. Several pivotal data readouts are also expected in 2022.
J&J also plans to take a more aggressive stance for M&A activity as it expects its strong cash position to help it pursue tuck-in M&A to grow its business.
Why Haven’t You Looked at Zacks’ Top Stocks?
Our 5 best-performing strategies have blown away the S&P’s impressive +28.8% gain in 2021. Amazingly, they soared
+40.3%, +48.2%, +67.6%, +94.4%,
and
+95.3%
. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss
.
This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit
https://www.zacks.com/performance
for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $2.4 trillion by 2028 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Recommendations from previous editions of this report have produced gains of +205%, +258% and +477%. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
See these 7 breakthrough stocks now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.
Click to get this free report
