Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) Shares Up 2.8% on Analyst Upgrade

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)’s stock price shot up 2.8% during mid-day trading on Friday after Guggenheim raised their price target on the stock from $1,161.00 to $1,168.00. Guggenheim currently has a buy rating on the stock. Eli Lilly and Company traded as high as $1,053.00 and last traded at $1,050.3940. 4,230,290 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 26% from the average session volume of 3,365,929 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,022.02.

LLY has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Friday, December 19th. HSBC reissued a “hold” rating and set a $1,070.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Wolfe Research upped their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,050.00 to $1,250.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,150.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,200.00 to $1,285.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus 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: Topline ACHIEVE‑3 results for type 2 diabetes showed meaningful A1C and weight benefits for Lilly’s oral GLP‑1 in a head‑to‑head setting, reinforcing the drug’s commercial and regulatory potential. Lilly reports ACHIEVE-3 trial outcomes for type 2 diabetes
• Positive Sentiment: Detailed Phase 3/Lancet results show orforglipron outperformed oral semaglutide on A1C and weight in ACHIEVE‑3, strengthening Lilly’s case for market share and supporting upcoming regulatory timelines (U.S. obesity decision possible in Q2). Orforglipron Lancet results PR Newswire
• Positive Sentiment: CHMP issued a positive opinion for expanded EU use of Olumiant (baricitinib) in adolescents with severe alopecia areata — a near‑term regulatory win that expands labeled indications and revenue opportunities in Europe. Olumiant CHMP positive opinion PR Newswire
• Positive Sentiment: RBC Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform and $1,250 PT, signaling institutional confidence in Lilly’s obesity leadership; coupled with recent price‑target increases from other shops, this boosts investor conviction. RBC Capital initiates Eli Lilly
• Positive Sentiment: High‑profile media/TV endorsements (e.g., Jim Cramer recommending Lilly over Novo Nordisk) are supportive for retail flows and sentiment toward LLY. Jim Cramer Recommends Eli Lilly
• Neutral Sentiment: Reuters published additional trial safety data giving a more detailed picture of side effects — useful context for regulators and investors but not a clear negative or positive on balance. Reuters: additional data on weight-loss pill
• Neutral Sentiment: Health‑care stocks broadly moved higher today, which can amplify sector leaders’ moves but may reflect macro/flow dynamics rather than company‑specific fundamentals. Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Higher
• Negative Sentiment: Smaller rivals (e.g., Viking Therapeutics) and other entrants remain active in the obesity space — a potential long‑term competitive risk that could pressure pricing and market share over time. Viking Therapeutics profile

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. 10Elms LLP raised its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 33.3% in the third quarter. 10Elms LLP now owns 40 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the period. M.E. Allison & CO. Inc. grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. M.E. Allison & CO. Inc. now owns 1,477 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,587,000 after buying an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Tanager Wealth Management LLP raised its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Tanager Wealth Management LLP now owns 395 shares of the company’s stock valued at $424,000 after buying an additional 10 shares during the period. Morey & Quinn Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Morey & Quinn Wealth Partners LLC now owns 661 shares of the company’s stock worth $710,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealthspan Partners LLC lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Wealthspan Partners LLC now owns 2,110 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,268,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.53% of the company’s stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.58. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,053.15 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $928.02. The stock has a market cap of $990.90 billion, a PE ratio of 45.77, a PEG ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.39.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.85 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $5.32 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 42.6% on a year-over-year basis. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a dividend of $1.73 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Eli Lilly and Company’s dividend payout ratio is presently 30.15%.

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.