Most Active Stocks After Hours on August 18, 2025: VCIT, TWLO, STR, NVDA, OPEN, BAC, JNJ, NEOG, PANW, VNOM, KVUE, CNH
NASDAQ 100 After Hours Performance: The NASDAQ 100 is down -2.43 to 23,711.33 with a total after-hours volume of 129,178,808 shares traded.
Active Stocks Overview: Notable active stocks include Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) unchanged at $82.96, Twilio Inc. (TWLO) up +0.45 at $105.50, and Sitio Royalties Corp. (STR) down -0.04 at $18.08.
Stock Recommendations: Several stocks such as TWLO, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), and Bank of America Corporation (BAC) are reported to be in the "buy range" according to Zacks recommendations.
Earnings Forecast Updates: Companies like Bank of America and Johnson & Johnson have had multiple upward revisions for their earnings forecasts for the fiscal quarter ending December 2025.
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Analyst Views on JNJ
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- Increased Market Volatility: The S&P 500 has faced significant swings in 2026 due to factors like the Iran conflict and tariff uncertainties, with the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) rising over 50% since the start of the year, indicating heightened market instability.
- Advantages of High-Yield Stocks: High-yield dividend stocks tend to be more stable during turbulent times, as they are mature businesses with stable revenue streams, although they are not completely immune to market fluctuations.
- Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF: The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) tracks stocks with above-average dividend yields, holding 562 stocks primarily from large, established companies, with a low expense ratio of 0.04%, making it attractive for income-seeking investors.
- Minimum Volatility ETF Strategy: The iShares MSCI U.S. Minimum Volatility Factor ETF (USMV) focuses on creating a portfolio of low-volatility stocks, featuring 170 stocks with an expense ratio of 0.15% and a 3-year beta of 0.59, significantly lower than the S&P 500's beta of 1.00, appealing to investors looking to minimize downside risk.
- Market Size Growth: According to analysis, the chronic kidney disease (CKD) market size was approximately $4.8 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow further by 2034, reflecting increased demand for new therapies and an expanding patient base.
- Rising Patient Numbers: In 2024, there were about 82 million prevalent cases of CKD across the 7 major markets (7MM), with projections indicating continued growth from 2025 to 2034, primarily driven by an aging population and the rising prevalence of diabetes and hypertension.
- Launch of New Therapies: The introduction of emerging therapies such as AstraZeneca's Zibotentan/Dapagliflozin and Boehringer Ingelheim's Vicadrostat + Empagliflozin is expected to significantly boost market growth and improve treatment outcomes for patients.
- Advancements in Biomarkers: Progress in biomarkers like KIM-1 and NGAL enables more precise early detection of CKD, thereby enhancing the potential for timely interventions and improving overall patient prognosis.

Financial Performance Impact: J&J CFO states that the ongoing conflict in Iran does not currently affect the company's financial performance.
Conference Insights: The remarks were made during a recent conference, highlighting the company's resilience amidst geopolitical tensions.
- Fast Track Designation: Johnson & Johnson's nipocalimab has received Fast Track designation from the FDA for treating systemic lupus erythematosus, indicating its potential to expedite the drug's market entry for this autoimmune disease.
- Clinical Trial Results: The Phase 2b JASMINE trial demonstrated that nipocalimab significantly reduces lupus disease activity and has the potential for steroid-sparing effects, enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Ongoing Research: A Phase 3 study named GARDENIA is currently underway to evaluate nipocalimab's efficacy in adults with active systemic lupus erythematosus, further validating its clinical application prospects.
- Stock Performance: JNJ shares closed at $248.56 on Monday, up 0.05%, reflecting market optimism regarding the progress of its new drug development.
- FDA Fast Track Designation: Johnson & Johnson's nipocalimab has received Fast Track designation from the FDA, aimed at expediting the development of treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), addressing the urgent needs of 3 to 5 million patients worldwide, highlighting the drug's potential in treating serious conditions.
- Clinical Trial Progress: In a Phase 2 study, nipocalimab demonstrated a reduction in lupus disease activity and the potential for steroid-sparing effects, marking its strategic significance in a landscape with limited treatment options.
- Patient Enrollment Initiated: Johnson & Johnson has commenced patient enrollment for the Phase 3 GARDENIA study involving adults with active SLE, further validating nipocalimab's efficacy and potentially providing new treatment options to improve patient quality of life.
- Broad Market Prospects: SLE is a complex chronic autoimmune disease with risks of irreversible organ damage; the successful development of nipocalimab could bring renewed hope to this field, enhancing the company's competitiveness in the biopharmaceutical market.
- FDA Fast Track Designation: Johnson & Johnson's nipocalimab has received FDA Fast Track designation, aimed at expediting treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease affecting 3 to 5 million people, highlighting the drug's importance in addressing unmet medical needs.
- Clinical Trial Progress: In a Phase 2 study, nipocalimab demonstrated potential in reducing lupus disease activity, and patient enrollment for the Phase 3 GARDENIA study is currently underway to further validate its efficacy and safety.
- Urgent Market Demand: SLE is a serious chronic autoimmune disease with risks of irreversible organ damage, underscoring the critical need for new treatment options, and the development of nipocalimab could significantly enhance patients' quality of life.
- Innovative Treatment Prospects: As the only FcRn blocker shown to reduce SLE disease activity, the successful development of nipocalimab could provide new treatment options for SLE patients, potentially transforming the treatment landscape in this field.







