Johnson and Johnson Raises Dividend 6.5%

In recent days, almost everyone was expecting a dividend hike announcement from Johnson and Johnson (JNJ). Predicting an increase wasn't a tough call. JNJ had raised their dividend for 44 years in a row. What was a tough call was the amount of the hike. On April 23, they announced a 6.5% dividend increase. In these days of dividend cuts, I applaud JNJ's hike, but I thought it was a bit light. The estimates ranged from 6% to 9.5%. The consensus was in the 8% range. With earnings over the last twelve months having risen nearly 9.5%, I was hoping for an increase between 8% and 9.5%, say 8.5%. Thus, the increase of 6.5% was at first a bit disappointing. To find reasons why the hike was less than expected is not a tough task. The current administration seems bent on sticking their noses and fingers deeper and deeper into America's economic system. With the administration's talk of big changes to our current health-care reimbursement programs, JNJ may be signaling a new, less optimistic view of their long-term prospects. That notion is also born out by Wall Street analysts' 3-5 year forward earning estimates for JNJ, which are now at 8%. In these days of weak earnings reports, 8% long-term growth sounds exceptional, but in JNJ's case that is far lower than their last 5-year earnings growth rate of 11.5%. Indeed, current estimates project that 2009's earnings will be about flat with 2008. As I think about it, however, I believe JNJ is just being pragmatic. I think they are building in a cushion that will enable them to hike their dividend again in 2009 when earnings growth may be meager. I just can't be too pessimistic about a company that has done as many things right over the last 20 years as has JNJ. Furthermore, is it not remarkable that JNJ is currently selling at about 11 times trailing 12-month earnings. That is about half their 20-year average of 22x. Combine this low PE with a dividend yield of almost 4% and you have one of those old fashioned "value" stocks. Funny, I always thought JNJ was a growth stock. These metrics, however, would suggest that it is now being priced like a value stock. That seems odd especially when we consider it has a strong consumer brand (33% of sales) that is not encumbered by health-care pricing issues. In these days, it is very easy to beat up on any stock, but I have a very strong feeling that investors are underestimating JNJ's broad product line and worldwide clout. We own the stock. Please do not use this information for investment purposes. Please consult your own investment adviser.