Johnson & Johnson Profit Rises on Strong Prescription Sales Johnson & Johnson reported on Tuesday that its earnings more than doubled in the second quarter of this year, buoyed by strong sales of prescription drugs and an influx of cash from the sale of its stake in the Irish drug manufacturer Elan. The health care giant reported earnings for the second quarter of $3.8 billion, or $1.33 a share, compared to $1.41 billion, or 50 cents a share, during the same period last year. Excluding one-time costs, the company's earnings were $1.48 a share, which exceeded Wall Street estimates of $1.39. Johnson & Johnson's stock closed even on Tuesday, at $90.40. Company executives said revenue benefited from strong sales of drugs like Remicade and Simponi, which treat autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis; the prostate cancer drug Zytiga; and Xarelto, an anticoagulant. Worldwide sales of pharmaceutical products increased by nearly 12 percent, to $7 billion, compared with the same quarter last year. Sales of over-the-counter products, like Tylenol, Motrin and Listerine, were also strong, executives said. Total sales - including products like medical devices and baby oil - were $17.9 billion for the second quarter, an increase of 8.5 percent over the same period last year. Much of Johnson & Johnson's success can be attributed to the breadth of its business, said Derrick Sung, an analyst for Bernstein Research. "The quarter provided yet another reminder of the benefits of a diversified model and evidence that fundamental improvement across the three divisions continues to play out," he wrote in a note to investors.