BUZZ — Johnson & Johnson eyes biggest drop in over 18 months on weak device sales

(Updates) * Shares of Johnson & Johnson fall 6.9% to an over three-month lowof $245.48 * Stock set for its steepest one-day pct drop since April 2025, if losses hold * JNJ's Q3 MedTech sales rise 2.5% to $8.6 bln, but misses analysts' est of $8.71 bln, according to data compiled * Overall, Q3 adj EPS of $2.59 beats est of $2.54, and sales of $25.4 bln beat est of $25.28 bln, as per LSEG data * "While the results overall are generally inline with expectations, we believe investors will be disappointed in some of the details within the results," says Guggenheim analyst Vamil Divan, noting that the MedTech results were "somewhat disappointing" * Co lifts its 2026 forecast and now expects about $101.2 bln in reported sales and adjusted EPS of $11.10 at the midpoint, vs prior view of about $101.1 bln and $11.04, respectively * Analysts, on avg, expect 2026 sales of about $101.3 bln and adjusted EPS of $11.08, according to data compiled * As of last close, JNJ up 27.4% YTD, outperforming the S&P 500 11.7% rise (Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru) ((Kamal.Choudhury@thomsonreuters.com)