Johnson & Johnson’s Q3 Profit Beats View, but Revenue Misses (JNJ)

Health products maker Johnson & Johnson( JNJ ) on Tuesday posted a better-than-expected third quarter profit, but its revenue fell short of analyst expectations.

The New Brunswick, NJ-based company reported third quarter net income of $3.42 billion, or $1.23 per share, compared with $3.35 billion, or $1.20 per share, in the year-ago period.

Revenue fell less than 1% from last year to $14.98 billion, hurt by a multiple product recalls in its consumer products division.

On average, Wall Street analysts expected a smaller profit of $1.15 per share, albeit on higher revenue of $15.24 billion.

Citing favorable foreign currency exchange rates, J&J boosted its 2010 full-year earnings forecast to a range of $4.70 to $4.80 per share, excluding items.

Johnson & Johnson shares fell $1.36, or -2.1%, in premarket trading Tuesday.

The Bottom Line
We have been recommending shares of Johnson & Johnson( JNJ ) since Oct.8. 2009, when the stock was trading at $60.71. The company has a 3.38% dividend yield of $63.86.

Johnson & Johnson( JNJ ) is a "Recommended" dividend stock, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .