Canaccord Genuity reiterates Buy rating on Kenvue stock amid UK talc lawsuit

Published 17/10/2025, 12:24
Canaccord Genuity reiterates Buy rating on Kenvue stock amid UK talc lawsuit

Investing.com - Canaccord Genuity has reiterated its Buy rating and $26.00 price target on Kenvue Inc (NYSE:KVUE) despite concerns over talc lawsuit liabilities in the United Kingdom. The target represents significant upside potential from current levels, with InvestingPro data showing the stock currently offers a substantial 5.88% dividend yield.

Kenvue stock fell over 13% following news of a joint legal claim filed in the UK seeking more than £1 billion (approximately $1.3 billion USD) on behalf of what media reports described as 3,000+ claimants. The company has indicated there are actually fewer than 2,000 claimants involved in the case.

The claimants allege that Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue knowingly sold baby powder contaminated with asbestos. The stock decline represented approximately $4.2 billion in lost market capitalization.

As part of its spin-off from Johnson & Johnson, Kenvue assumed responsibility for talc lawsuit liabilities outside the United States and Canada. Johnson & Johnson continues to face unresolved litigation in the US and Canada, including a $10 billion settlement offer to approximately 67,000 plaintiffs that was rejected by a judge earlier this year.

Canaccord Genuity notes that proving such claims is typically more difficult internationally, and any potential financial settlement would likely be much lower per claimant than in the US, based on previous asbestos-related cases in the UK.

In other recent news, Kenvue Inc . has faced several significant developments. Moody’s Ratings has affirmed Kenvue’s A1 long-term issuer rating and Prime-1 commercial paper ratings but changed the outlook from stable to negative, citing ongoing operational challenges that have led the company to lower its full-year guidance. The company is conducting a strategic review to optimize its brand portfolio and improve performance. Concurrently, Barclays has maintained its Equalweight rating for Kenvue, setting a price target of $20 despite concerns about Tylenol. Evercore ISI, however, reduced its price target for Kenvue to $18 from $23, following the FDA’s announcement to review and potentially change the safety label on acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol.

Additionally, President Donald Trump has issued warnings against the use of Tylenol during pregnancy and for young children, suggesting alternative vaccine administration schedules. The European Medicines Agency countered these claims, stating that current evidence does not link paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism. These developments highlight the ongoing scrutiny and challenges surrounding Kenvue’s Tylenol product line.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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