Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) stock is up more than 2% today after the company reported third-quarter results, showing strong performance. The company’s growth is driven by competitive underlying growth in Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, as well as continued optimization in our Consumer business.

For the third-quarter Johnson & Johnson reported:

·       Sales of $20.7 billion reflecting growth of 1.9%, operational growth of 3.2%* and adjusted operational growth of 5.2%*

·       EPS of $1.81 increased 25.7%; adjusted EPS of $2.12 increased 3.4%*

·       Company increasing Full Year Sales and EPS guidance due to strong performance

Alex Gorsky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, "As we look ahead, we remain confident in the strength of our broad-based business model, which is fueled by our disciplined portfolio management, focus on transformational innovation and dedicated employees around the world who position us for success today and well into the future."

Consumer worldwide operational sales, excluding the net impact of acquisitions and divestitures, grew 1.3%* driven by NEUTROGENA beauty products and over-the-counter products including TYLENOL analgesics, international upper respiratory products and digestive health products, partially offset by lower sales of baby care products due to prior year U.S. re-launch activities.

Worldwide Medical Devices operational sales, excluding the net impact of acquisitions and divestitures grew 5.3%* driven by the growth of electrophysiology products in the Interventional Solutions business, ACUVUE contact lenses in the Vision business, international energy products in the Advanced Surgery business, wound closure products in the General Surgery business and trauma products in the Orthopaedics business.

*  Operational sales growth excluding the impact of translational currency, adjusted operational sales growth excluding the net impact of acquisitions and divestitures and translational currency, as well as adjusted net earnings, adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted operational diluted earnings per share excluding after-tax intangible amortization expense and special items, are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered replacements for, and should be read together with, the most comparable GAAP financial measures. Except for guidance measures, reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures can be found in the accompanying financial schedules of the earnings release and the Investors section of the company's website at quarterly-results.