Stock Comparison
JNJ vs KO: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A head-to-head comparison of Johnson & Johnson and The Coca-Cola Company covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Data updated September 4, 2026
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
JNJ has outpaced KO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 58.12% total return against 31.27%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: JNJ has compounded at 11.68% a year, against 10.65% for KO. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Jan 1962 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JNJ | 34.89% | 58.12% | 23.12% | 12.57% | 11.68% | 11.27% | 18.0% | 0.91 | 1.33 | -14.4% |
| KO | 29.12% | 31.27% | 17.83% | 12.47% | 10.65% | 12.14% | 16.5% | 0.72 | 1.10 | -15.5% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Jan 1962” measures every fund from January 2, 1962 — 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 |  JNJ |  KO |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Johnson & Johnson | The Coca-Cola Company |
| Issuer | — | — |
| Last Close | $275.23 as of September 4, 2026 | $88.07 as of September 4, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 1.92% | 2.36% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 100 | 99 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 1.92% | 2.34% |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | Researches, develops, manufactures, and sells healthcare products including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health products worldwide. | Manufactures, distributes, and markets nonalcoholic beverage concentrates, syrups, and finished beverages worldwide. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.235 | 0.342 |
| Last dividend | $1.34 declared, pays 09/08/2026 | $0.53 declared, pays 10/01/2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | 08/25/2026 | 09/15/2026 upcoming |
Bottom lineJNJ and KO are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar pharmaceuticals & medical devices exposure with very similar cost and risk. Neither charges a fund expense ratio, so the decision rests on business fundamentals, payout history, and valuation.
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Quick verdict
JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) and KO (The Coca-Cola Company) are both quarterly-pay dividend-paying stocks, but they take different approaches.
KO offers the higher yield at 2.36% vs 1.92% 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, JNJ would generate roughly $16.00/month, while KO would produce $19.67/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
Strategy & risk
JNJ is a stock built around pharmaceuticals & medical devices exposure, while KO is a stock built around beverages exposure. Beta is 0.235 for JNJ and 0.342 for KO, making JNJ the less volatile of the two by this measure.
Security details
JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) is a stock. KO (The Coca-Cola Company) is a stock.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution rate for JNJ and KO?
JNJ currently distributes 1.92% and KO 2.36%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is JNJ or KO better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. KO 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 JNJ and KO?
JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) is a stock built around pharmaceuticals & medical devices exposure, while KO (The Coca-Cola Company) is a stock built around beverages exposure. They are issued by — and — respectively.
Can I hold both JNJ and KO?
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 JNJ or KO 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, KO 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 JNJ vs KO generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in JNJ would generate roughly $16.00 per month ($192.00 annually). The same in KO would produce about $19.67 per month ($236.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, JNJ or KO?
JNJ has outpaced KO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 58.12% total return against 31.27%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: JNJ has compounded at 11.68% a year, against 10.65% for KO. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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JNJ vs KO — at a glance
Generated September 6, 2026.
Overview
Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola are both mature, dividend-paying stocks with deep roots in the market—both trading since 1962. JNJ operates across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health; KO manufactures and distributes nonalcoholic beverages globally. The key distinction is their defensive posture: JNJ's healthcare focus and low beta of 0.235 make it a lower-volatility play, while KO's consumer staples exposure carries higher cyclical sensitivity at a beta of 0.342. The structural difference runs deeper: pharmaceuticals and medical devices (JNJ's core) are less economically cyclical than beverages; JNJ's beta of 0.235 reflects that resilience, while KO's 0.342 indicates more sensitivity to consumer spending swings. Both pay quarterly dividends, but JNJ's lower yield masks its pricing power in essential healthcare products, whereas KO's higher yield compensates for greater demand elasticity in discretionary beverage consumption.
Who each is best for
- JNJ: Fits investors prioritizing capital stability and long-term healthcare sector exposure with a lower-volatility dividend component; appeals to those seeking a defensive equity holding that moves less than the broader market.
- KO: Fits investors comfortable with moderate cyclical sensitivity in exchange for a higher cash distribution rate; suits those seeking a classic consumer staples dividend with global beverage-market exposure.
Key risks to know
- Healthcare regulation and drug pricing pressure: JNJ faces ongoing patent expirations, generic competition, and regulatory pressure on drug pricing that can compress margins and slow revenue growth.
- Beverage consumption and health trends: KO's core business is sensitive to shifting consumer preferences away from sugared soft drinks and toward healthier alternatives, which may pressure volume and pricing power.
- Beta and market cyclicality: KO's higher beta of 0.342 versus JNJ's 0.235 means Coca-Cola shares are likely to experience larger moves during economic downturns or equity-market corrections, amplifying volatility relative to the broader market.
- Relative dividend sustainability: KO's higher 2.36% yield must be evaluated against beverage-industry competition and changing consumption habits; JNJ's lower 1.92% yield sits on a more diversified revenue base spanning pharmaceuticals, devices, and consumer products.
Bottom line
If you value lower volatility and defensive positioning within equities, JNJ's 0.235 beta and healthcare-industry moat stand out; if you prioritize a higher cash yield and are comfortable with greater cyclical sensitivity, KO's 2.36% distribution rate offers the tradeoff. Both have paid dividends consistently for decades, but past performance doesn't predict future results—sector headwinds, regulatory changes, and consumer trends will shape their returns going forward.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
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