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.
Updated October 16, 2026
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
JNJ has lagged KO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 36.03% total return against 42.62%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: KO has compounded at 11.87% a year, against 11.05% for JNJ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | 1Y cumulative | 3Y annualized | 5Y annualized | 10Y annualized | Since Jan 1962 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JNJ | 25.49% | 36.03% | 20.89% | 12.74% | 11.05% | 11.12% | 18.4% | 0.81 | 1.16 | -14.4% |
| KO | 36.92% | 42.62% | 24.19% | 14.81% | 11.87% | 12.23% | 16.3% | 1.08 | 1.69 | -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 October 16, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Jan 1962” measures every fund from January 2, 1962 — the start of shared available history — 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 | $255.56 as of October 16, 2026 | $93.90 as of October 16, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 2.10% | 2.26% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | 2.07% | 2.24% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 98 | 97 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 2.06% | 2.19% |
| 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 | 0.206 | 0.318 |
| Last dividend | $1.34 declared, pays 12/08/2026 | $0.53 |
| Ex-dividend date | 11/24/2026 upcoming | 09/15/2026 |
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 2.26% vs 2.10% 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 $52.50 cash per distribution, while KO would produce $56.50 cash per distribution, 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 0.206 for JNJ and 0.318 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 2.10% and KO 2.26%, based on fund data updated October 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 98, KO scores 97. 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 $52.50 cash per distribution ($210.00 annually). The same in KO would produce about $56.50 cash per distribution ($226.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, JNJ or KO?
JNJ has lagged KO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 36.03% total return against 42.62%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: KO has compounded at 11.87% a year, against 11.05% for JNJ. 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 October 17, 2026.
Overview
Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola are both large-cap dividend-paying stocks with origins dating back to the early 1960s. JNJ operates in pharmaceuticals and medical devices, while KO manufactures and distributes nonalcoholic beverages globally. Both are mature, cash-generative businesses with long histories of returning capital to shareholders through quarterly dividends.
How they differ
JNJ trades at a significantly higher price per share ($255.56 vs. $93.90) and operates in healthcare, where drug development cycles and regulatory approval processes shape earnings and growth trajectories. KO's beverage-focused model depends on pricing power and volume growth in a more cyclically sensitive consumer discretionary sector. JNJ's distribution yield is 2.10% compared to KO's 2.26%, a gap of 0.16% percentage points. JNJ exhibits a lower beta of 0.206, suggesting smaller price swings relative to the broader market, while KO's 0.318 indicates moderately higher volatility. Both pay dividends quarterly.
Who each is best for
JNJ: Fits investors seeking a defensive, lower-volatility dividend stock with exposure to secular tailwinds in aging populations and healthcare spending; suits those prioritizing capital stability alongside modest income.
KO: Fits investors looking for a higher yield with exposure to global consumer staples and pricing power; suits those comfortable with slightly elevated market sensitivity in exchange for a marginally faster distribution rate.
Key risks to know
- Pharmaceutical regulatory and patent risk (JNJ): Drug approvals, patent expirations, and pricing regulation directly affect earnings and cash flow; loss of exclusivity on major drugs can create earnings cliffs.
- Consumer demand and currency exposure (KO): Beverage volumes are sensitive to consumer spending and health trends; significant international revenue exposes KO to foreign exchange fluctuations and regional economic weakness.
- Valuation and dividend sustainability: Both stocks trade at valuations that assume stable or moderately growing earnings; if either faces earnings headwinds, dividend coverage may tighten, creating pressure on the payout.
- Sector-specific structural headwinds: JNJ faces pricing pressure from governments and pharmacy benefit managers; KO faces secular decline in sugared-beverage consumption in developed markets, requiring ongoing portfolio innovation.
Bottom line
If you want lower volatility and a defensive healthcare exposure, JNJ's 0.206 beta and 2.10% yield appeal to income investors seeking stability. If you prioritize a slightly higher yield and broader consumer staples exposure, KO's 2.26% distribution rate and 0.318 beta suit investors comfortable with moderately higher market sensitivity. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.