William Blair Investment Management LLC Trims Stock Holdings in Eli Lilly and Company $LLY

William Blair Investment Management LLC lowered its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) by 25.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,375 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,192 shares during the period. William Blair Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $11,731,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Steph & Co. boosted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 290.0% during the third quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 39 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc raised its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 263.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 40 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.53% of the company’s stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Down 3.2%

NYSE LLY opened at $1,017.97 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $960.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.36, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.58. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $623.78 and a one year high of $1,133.95. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $1,051.98 and its 200 day moving average price is $934.28.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.48 by $0.06. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 31.66% and a return on equity of 102.94%. The company had revenue of $19.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.85 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $5.32 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 42.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a $1.73 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. Eli Lilly and Company’s payout ratio is currently 30.15%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,286.00 to $1,268.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 15th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $976.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Daiwa Securities Group lifted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,230.00 to $1,250.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,200.00 to $1,280.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, CICC Research increased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,060.00 to $1,107.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have assigned a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,229.59.

Key Eli Lilly and Company News

Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Orforglipron launch on deck — CFO said Lilly is preparing to launch its oral obesity drug in the U.S. as early as Q2 pending FDA approval, which would be a major new revenue stream if cleared. Eli Lilly on track to launch oral obesity drug in second quarter, pending US approval
• Positive Sentiment: Regulatory win in EU — CHMP backed expanded use of Olumiant for adolescents with severe alopecia areata, increasing near‑term sales opportunities in immunology while an EU decision is expected soon. LLY Wins CHMP Nod for Olumiant’s Expanded Use in Alopecia Areata
• Positive Sentiment: Institutional buying noted — filings and commentary suggest smart‑money accumulation during a recent pullback, which can support the stock if momentum re‑accelerates. What Smart Money Loves About Lilly
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry backdrop — Zacks and other analysts flag large‑cap pharma recovery and keep Lilly on watch as part of sector rebound, a contextual tailwind but not an immediate catalyst. Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi and Bayer
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor meetings and presentations — Lilly’s TD Cowen conference presentation (transcript) provides management color on pipeline and commercialization plans; useful for modeling but not a headline surprise. Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) Presents at TD Cowen 46th Annual Health Care Conference Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst consensus remains constructive — coverage shows an average “Moderate Buy,” offering support but also reflecting already elevated expectations. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and momentum cooling — multiple writeups note recent short‑term negative returns and that shares trade at elevated multiples after a multi‑year run, increasing sensitivity to any misses or slower growth. Eli Lilly (LLY) Valuation Check As Momentum Cools After Strong Multi Year Run
• Negative Sentiment: Competition and capacity — Novo Nordisk’s sizable Ireland capacity expansion is a strategic move to defend share in obesity/oral drug markets, posing competitive pressure on Lilly’s launch and pricing dynamics. Why Novo Nordisk’s Ireland expansion is key to fighting off Eli Lilly

About Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A.