Investing

Boeing and J&J Both Offer New Incentives for Investors After Big Losses

Jon C. Ogg

Published: December 18, 2018 9:20 am

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 1:34 pm

Two members of the thirty Dow Jones industrial average index have been under siege and are now fighting back. Whether the news will last or be forgotten going into 2019 remains to be seen. In true bear markets, the reality is that companies that outperform the market often do so simply by falling less than the rest of the index members.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) both have initiated efforts to help stabilize their shares and to indicate that their overall business climates look solid.

Johnson & Johnson has been embroiled in its case about the exposure of asbestos and talc for some time, but reports last week that the company knew of its problems for decades took away over $30 billion in market cap. Alex Gorsky, the company’s board chair and chief executive, appeared on CNBC’s “Mad Money” on Monday evening to refute the article’s claims.

It’s one thing to speak, and another thing to take action. Johnson & Johnson also has announced a repurchase plan of up to $5 billion of its common stock. It further reaffirmed its full-year 2018 sales and earnings guidance of $81.0 to $81.4 billion and $8.13 to $8.18 in earnings per share.

Johnson & Johnson indicated in its release that there is no time limit on the buyback and that it will not incur debt to fund it. The company’s figure showed that it had approximately 2,683.2 million shares of common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2018. Gorsky said of the recent trading action and repurchase plan:

Based on our continued strong performance and, more importantly, the confidence we have in our business going forward, the Board of Directors and management team believe that the company’s shares are an attractive investment opportunity. Our strong cash flow enables us to simultaneously return value to shareholders through our regular quarterly dividend and share repurchases, while at the same time continuing to deploy capital that will further strengthen our robust enterprise pipeline and drive long-term growth.

In the case of Boeing, the aerospace and defense giant issued a twofer on shareholder returns by hiking its quarterly dividend by 20% to $2.055 per share and by replacing its existing share repurchase program with a new $20 billion authorization.

That buyback plan was said to be up from the $18 billion approved a year earlier. Boeing further noted that the company has repurchased $9 billion worth of its shares during 2018 alone from that $18 billion authorization last year.

The company has signaled that it remains focused and on track with a balanced and value-creating cash deployment strategy. Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing’s Chairman, President and CEO, said of the outlook and climate:

Boeing continues to see significant opportunities in the markets we serve, and we have confidence in the power of our One Boeing strategy to execute and win on all fronts. Boeing’s strong operational performance, financial health and positive future outlook underpin our continued investments in our people and our workplace, in innovative products and services, and in select strategic acquisitions and partnerships that accelerate our growth strategy.

24/7 Wall St.
The Bear Market Is Indeed Here: Time to Switch to Safer Assets

Johnson & Johnson shares closed down another 2.9% at $129.14 on Monday, and they were indicated to open up just 0.7% at $130.25 on Tuesday. The 52-week trading range is $118.62 to $148.99. The company is one of those that have raised their dividends for more consecutive years than most investors have been investing.

Boeing shares closed down 0.8% at $316.13 on Monday, and they were indicated to open up 2.6% at $324.50 on Tuesday. The 52-week range is $293.01 to $394.28.