Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC Lowers Stake in Eli Lilly and Company $LLY

Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) by 99.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,013 shares of the company’s stock after selling 11,537,323 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company comprises about 1.6% of Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest holding. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $11,455,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of LLY. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. Steph & Co. raised 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 period. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 263.6% in the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 40 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.53% of the company’s stock.

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

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 2.8%

Shares of LLY opened at $1,050.39 on Friday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52-week low of $623.78 and a 52-week high of $1,133.95. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,053.15 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $930.04. The company has a market capitalization of $990.90 billion, a PE ratio of 45.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.39.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) last announced 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 firm 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 firm posted $5.32 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Company’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. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.73 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend 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 30.15%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently weighed in on LLY. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of 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. Barclays began coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, February 19th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $1,350.00 target price for the company. Freedom Capital raised Eli Lilly and Company from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Zacks Research downgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Leerink Partners lifted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,234.00 to $1,296.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have assigned a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,229.59.

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.