Stock Comparison
ABBV vs JNJ: One Pharma Book, or Diversified Healthcare?
A head-to-head of AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson covering dividends, business mix, and payout record.
Data updated August 21, 2026
Best for
- ABBVInvestors who want higher current income (2.60% vs 1.90% for JNJ).
- JNJInvestors who want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
ABBV has lagged JNJ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 30.61% total return against 54.00%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — ABBV has compounded at 19.55% a year, ahead of JNJ at 11.41%. JNJ has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 17.9% against 24.8% for ABBV. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Dec 2012 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABBV | 18.28% | 30.61% | 25.08% | 21.78% | 19.55% | 20.61% | 24.8% | 0.72 | 1.00 | -20.7% |
| JNJ | 31.02% | 54.00% | 20.56% | 11.50% | 11.41% | 13.31% | 17.9% | 0.80 | 1.16 | -14.4% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 21, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Dec 2012” measures every fund from December 10, 2012 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  ABBV |  JNJ |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | AbbVie Inc. | Johnson & Johnson |
| Issuer | — | — |
| Last Close | $264.96 as of August 21, 2026 | $270.24 as of August 21, 2026 |
| Distribution yield | 2.60% | 1.90% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 99 | 100 |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | Discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals in immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care markets worldwide. | Researches, develops, manufactures, and sells healthcare products including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health products worldwide. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.28 | 0.231 |
| Last dividend | $1.7300 | $1.3400 |
| Ex-dividend date | 07/15/2026 | 08/25/2026 |
Bottom lineChoose ABBV if you want higher current income (2.60% vs 1.90% for JNJ). Choose JNJ if you want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
ABBV vs JNJ: pharma book or diversified healthcare?
AbbVie is concentrated in pharmaceuticals. Johnson & Johnson spreads across drugs, devices, and consumer. Mix is the decision.
| ABBV | JNJ | |
|---|---|---|
| Mix | Pharmaceuticals | Drugs, devices, and consumer |
| Payout | Quarterly dividend | Quarterly dividend |
| Distribution yield | 2.60% | 1.90% |
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Quick verdict
ABBV (AbbVie Inc.) and JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) are both quarterly-pay dividend-paying stocks, but they take different approaches.
ABBV offers the higher yield at 2.60% vs 1.90% for JNJ. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
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Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, ABBV would generate roughly $21.67/month, while JNJ would produce $15.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
Strategy & risk
ABBV is a stock built around biopharmaceuticals exposure, while JNJ is a stock built around pharmaceuticals & medical devices exposure. Beta is 0.28 for ABBV and 0.231 for JNJ — effectively similar market sensitivity.
Security details
ABBV (AbbVie Inc.) is a stock. JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) is a stock.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ABBV and JNJ?
ABBV (AbbVie Inc.) is a large-cap pharmaceutical company. JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) mixes drugs, medical devices, and consumer health. Both pay quarterly. Distributions are 2.60% and 1.90% as of August 2026. Mix and concentration, not a small yield gap, are the decision.
What is the current distribution yield for ABBV and JNJ?
ABBV currently distributes 2.60% and JNJ 1.90%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is ABBV or JNJ better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. ABBV currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between ABBV and JNJ?
ABBV (AbbVie Inc.) is a stock built around biopharmaceuticals exposure, while JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) is a stock built around pharmaceuticals & medical devices exposure. They are issued by — and — respectively.
Can I hold both ABBV and JNJ?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is ABBV or JNJ safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: JNJ scores 100, ABBV scores 99. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
How much income does $10,000 in ABBV vs JNJ generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in ABBV would generate roughly $21.67 per month ($260.00 annually). The same in JNJ would produce about $15.83 per month ($190.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, ABBV or JNJ?
ABBV has lagged JNJ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 30.61% total return against 54.00%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — ABBV has compounded at 19.55% a year, ahead of JNJ at 11.41%. JNJ has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 17.9% against 24.8% for ABBV. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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