Johnson & Johnson: How a 138-Year-Old Company Still Shapes the Future of Health

Posted on HilarioCo.com | Dividends & Data Centers Series

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Welcome to Dividends & Data Centers—a series where I explore how long-standing dividend-paying companies might be quietly powering the future of technology, health, and infrastructure.

This series isn’t about stock tips.

It’s about structured thinking.

It’s for those who prefer calm clarity over hot takes—and for me, too, as I grow as an investor, business owner, and advisor.

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What Johnson & Johnson Actually Does (In Plain English)

Most people think of Johnson & Johnson as baby shampoo and Band-Aids. That’s understandable. But that version of the company spun off in 2023 as Kenvue.

What remains is something much more powerful.

Today’s J&J is a global force in pharmaceuticals and medical technology. It develops treatments for cancer and immune disorders, makes surgical robotics, and manufactures essential devices used by hospitals and operating rooms worldwide.

This isn’t about consumer products anymore. It’s about infrastructure—for global health.

They make money by developing medicines and tools that save lives. They’re embedded in the healthcare systems of over 60 countries. And they’ve been quietly building that presence for decades.

Why Johnson & Johnson Still Earns Its Seat

When I evaluate a company, I ask two things:

• Does it still matter in the world we’re heading toward?
• And if the world changes directions, will it still hold up?

With J&J, the answer is yes on both counts.

How It Shapes the Future

J&J is doubling down on the future of medicine: precision treatments, robotics, and real-world evidence.

Their pharma division is advancing:

• Cancer therapies like CAR-T
• Immunology breakthroughs for Crohn’s, arthritis, and chronic inflammation
• Neuroscience treatments for depression and brain disorders

Their medtech unit is also quietly evolving—developing robotic-assisted surgery platforms and connected tools that give doctors better insight and control in the OR.

They’re not just adjusting to the AI era. They’re adapting how modern medicine is delivered and developed.

It’s not loud. It’s not flashy. But it’s shaping outcomes in real lives.

Why It Still Works Without the AI Angle

Strip away the innovation narrative, and here’s what’s left:

• A company with $90B+ in annual revenue
• A pharmaceutical business that drives over half its profits
• A dividend that’s been raised for 60+ consecutive years
• One of only two companies in the world with a AAA credit rating

In other words: it doesn’t need headlines to hold value.

It’s been earning trust—clinically and financially—for over a century.

What Would Have to Go Wrong

Here’s how I think about risk—not in terms of short-term stock moves, but in terms of what would actually disqualify J&J from a long-term portfolio:

• Its drug pipeline would have to fail to innovate, falling behind in cancer, immunology, or neuroscience
• Massive, unresolved legal liabilities would need to shake investor trust or destabilize cash flow
• Competitors would need to leap ahead in medical devices with better tech at better prices
• Or J&J would need to erode its balance sheet—borrowing to fund dividends instead of growing from real cash flow

None of that is happening now. But I track those possibilities with every quarterly review.

Because a company only earns its place if it continues to prove it belongs.

Why I Wrote This

Johnson & Johnson isn’t just a “safe stock.”

It’s a foundational company in the most essential category: human health.

I write about it because it reminds me that resilience doesn’t mean stagnation.

And that modern relevance isn’t always loud—it’s often clinical, precise, and quietly expanding.

J&J doesn’t chase attention.

It earns trust.

And for now, it still earns its seat.

Sources:

• Johnson & Johnson 2023 Annual Report
• Morningstar Stock Report – JNJ
• JNJ Announces Kenvue Spinoff Completion (August 2023)
• Dividend.com – JNJ Dividend History

Disclaimer:

This post is for information only. It is not investment advice. I’m not telling you to buy or sell anything. I’m simply sharing how I think about the companies I follow closely. Investing has risks—do your homework.