Assenagon Asset Management S.A. 13F: Adds $278M to JNJ Stake

Assenagon Asset Management has expanded its investment in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), adding over a million shares to its portfolio according to a Form 13F filing with the SEC on October 15, 2026. This backward-looking report shows holdings as of the close of the reporting quarter and may not reflect the fund's exact current position today.

What Changed in Assenagon Asset Management's Johnson & Johnson Position

The fund increased its stake by 1,051,362 shares, representing a 54.2% jump from the previous quarter. Assenagon ended the period with a total of 2,990,726 shares of the healthcare giant. The reported value of this expanded holding sat at approximately $791.8 million. Keep in mind that 13F filings look backward at portfolio choices made during past months and do not always show where the fund stands right now.

Other Institutional Activity in Johnson & Johnson

Other major investment firms also adjusted their positions in the healthcare stock around the same reporting period. Blackrock Inc. reduced its holdings by 1,280,271 shares, ending with 212,098,264 shares valued at about $54.2 billion. Vanguard Capital Management LLC grew its holdings by 626,400 shares, ending with 157,226,374 shares worth about $40.2 billion. State Street Corporation added 293,661 shares, bringing its stake to 133,776,025 shares valued at about $34.2 billion. Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC grew its holdings by 857,431 shares, ending with 64,370,816 shares worth about $16.5 billion. Geode Capital Management, LLC reduced its holdings by 76,912 shares, ending with 59,086,417 shares valued at about $15.1 billion.

Johnson & Johnson Stock Up 0.5%

Johnson & Johnson shares recently traded around $255.22 as of October 16, 2026. The stock is down about 3.8% since crossing below its 50-day moving average of $265.26, though it remains about 4.7% above its 200-day moving average of $243.87. The company carries a market capitalization of over $610 billion and a trailing P/E ratio of 38.4.

Recent Earnings

For its trailing twelve months, Johnson & Johnson generated $99.3 billion in revenue with a net profit margin of 16.2%. The firm reported trailing earnings of $6.59 per share alongside a year-over-year revenue growth rate of 5.9%. The company's next earnings report is scheduled for January 26, 2027.

Dividend

Johnson & Johnson currently pays an annual dividend yielding 2.12%, backed by a payout ratio of 60.7% of earnings.

Insider Buying and Selling at Johnson & Johnson

Company insiders executed several transactions prior to the filing date. On August 6, 2026, officer Elizabeth Forminard disposed of 15,918 shares valued at roughly $4.1 million. Chief Executive Officer Joaquin Boix Duato sold 123,291 shares on August 13, 2026, for a total value of $32.2 million. Jennifer L Taubert sold 15,000 shares at an average price of $263.36 on August 17, 2026, totaling about $4.0 million. Later, on September 2, 2026, officer Timothy Schmid sold 33,597 shares at an average price of $274.74 for a total of $9.2 million.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Wall Street firms have kept a close eye on the stock with several rating updates. On October 7, 2026, Guggenheim reiterated its buy rating with a $287 price target. On October 14, 2026, Leerink Partners maintained an outperform rating while lowering its target from $276 to $272. On the same day, Wells Fargo maintained an overweight rating and adjusted its target from $282 to $275, and RBC Capital maintained an outperform rating with a target reduced from $290 to $280. On October 15, 2026, Morgan Stanley maintained an overweight rating with a target of $292. Overall, the company carries a consensus buy rating from 22 analysts with a mean price target of $279.41.

About Johnson & Johnson

Headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Johnson & Johnson operates as a worldwide healthcare company focused on research, development, manufacturing, and sales. The enterprise runs through two primary segments: Innovative Medicine and MedTech. Institutional moves like Assenagon's large purchase highlight ongoing portfolio shifts among major asset managers keeping exposure to large-cap healthcare equities.

Bottom Line

Assenagon Asset Management's sizable position increase arrives as Johnson & Johnson trades below its 50-day moving average but ahead of its next earnings release in January 2027. Investors tracking this name will look to future SEC filings to see if the fund maintains its expanded stake through the next reporting cycle.