Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) Reaches New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $1,286.30 and last traded at $1,288.7370, with a volume of 845915 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,225.73.

Eli Lilly and Company News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zepbound growth reinforces obesity-market momentum. Sales of Lilly’s Zepbound reportedly increased 46%, supporting expectations for sustained demand for its weight-loss and diabetes treatments. Lilly is also gaining ground on Novo Nordisk in the increasingly competitive market for oral weight-loss pills. Eli Lilly’s Zepbound Sales Jump 46%
• Positive Sentiment: Retatrutide remains a major future catalyst. Reports on favorable trial developments for Lilly’s next-generation obesity candidate have increased expectations for the company’s longer-term growth and helped position Lilly as a leading challenger to Novo Nordisk in weight-loss medicines. Lilly Lifts Guidance on Retatrutide Trial Wins
• Positive Sentiment: Business development is expanding the pipeline. Lilly entered an ion-channel drug-discovery collaboration with OmniAb and paid AlzeCure $10 million upfront for rights related to CNS drug candidates. Lilly is also reportedly among major pharmaceutical companies evaluating a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical cancer company, highlighting its interest in additional growth platforms. OmniAb Enters Collaboration with Lilly
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent earnings provide a strong foundation. Lilly’s latest quarterly results exceeded consensus estimates, with revenue up 47.7% year over year. Analysts continue to cite GLP-1 demand and the company’s broad pipeline as sources of long-term momentum, while the consensus view remains broadly bullish.
• Negative Sentiment: Competition and valuation could limit further upside. Novo Nordisk’s progress in oral obesity treatments, potential pricing pressure and Lilly’s elevated earnings multiple create execution risks after the stock’s substantial rally.
• Negative Sentiment: An executive sale is a minor headwind. EVP Patrik Jonsson sold 6,500 shares worth approximately $7.6 million, reducing his holdings by 10.72%. Because the trade occurred under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, it is less significant as a discretionary bearish signal. SEC Insider Transaction Filing

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on LLY. Guggenheim boosted their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,235.00 to $1,273.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,500.00 to $1,600.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Wall Street Zen raised Eli Lilly and Company from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday. UBS Group set a $1,376.00 price target on Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Friday, August 7th. Finally, Berenberg Bank boosted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,050.00 to $1,135.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, June 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have issued a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,292.18.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 3.7%

The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $1,173.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1,055.15. The company has a current ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.20 trillion, a P/E ratio of 42.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.51.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $8.38 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.40 by $1.98. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 33.53% and a return on equity of 97.83%. The company had revenue of $22.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $20.82 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $6.31 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company’s revenue was up 47.7% on a year-over-year basis. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 35.500-36.500 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 36.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be given a dividend of $1.73 per share. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. Eli Lilly and Company’s dividend payout ratio is currently 23.22%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Anat Hakim sold 5,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,190.00, for a total value of $5,950,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 11,875 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,131,250. This trade represents a 29.63% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Patrik Jonsson sold 6,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,175.10, for a total transaction of $7,638,150.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 54,147 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,628,139.70. This trade represents a 10.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 13,500 shares of company stock valued at $15,958,170. 0.14% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of LLY. Osbon Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Basso Capital Management L.P. purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Maseco LLP increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 466.7% during the first quarter. Maseco LLP now owns 34 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the period. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 342.9% during the fourth quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 31 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the period. Finally, Aventus Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 270.0% in the first quarter. Aventus Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 37 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares during the period. 82.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

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.