Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) Hits New 12-Month High – What’s Next?

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $1,117.66 and last traded at $1,102.8590, with a volume of 1378439 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $1,064.04.

Key Headlines Impacting Eli Lilly and Company

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

• Positive Sentiment: Late‑stage data: Lilly reported a trial where its weight‑loss drug Zepbound plus Taltz improved psoriatic‑arthritis symptoms and produced additional weight loss versus Taltz alone — a clinical win that could expand commercial use and bolster Zepbound’s franchise. Lilly’s Zepbound plus Taltz boosts arthritis relief, weight loss in late-stage trial
• Positive Sentiment: Distribution/DTC reach: Walmart’s new Better Care Services includes LillyDirect as a partner, increasing direct‑to‑consumer visibility and distribution options for Lilly’s digital/patient offerings. Walmart Launches Digital Destination Focused on Health and Wellness
• Positive Sentiment: M&A / diversification: Lilly agreed to buy Ventyx Biosciences for roughly $1.2B to add oral anti‑inflammatory (NLRP3) candidates — a strategic move to diversify beyond GLP‑1 obesity/diabetes products. Eli Lilly to buy Ventyx Biosciences in $1.2 billion deal
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst/market context: Some firms (e.g., Citigroup, Zacks) still highlight outsized upside for LLY and include it on buy lists, supporting longer‑term bullish views despite short‑term volatility. Eli Lilly Stock (LLY) Has 50% Upside, Says Citigroup
• Negative Sentiment: Legal/regulatory risk: The Indiana attorney general sued Lilly over insulin pricing, a reminder of political and litigation risks around affordability that could pressure sentiment and margins. Indiana attorney general sues Eli Lilly over insulin pricing
• Negative Sentiment: Deal uncertainty: A shareholder investigation into Ventyx’s board over the sale price (and analyst caution about NLRP3 pathway uncertainty) could create noise or drag around the acquisition’s execution and perceived value. SHAREHOLDER NOTICE: Brodsky & Smith Announces an Investigation of Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. (VTYX)
• Negative Sentiment: Profit‑taking / market rotation: LLY recently hit all‑time highs and led healthcare rallies; today’s pullback looks partly like investors trimming positions and rotating within the sector. Eli Lilly stock hits all-time high

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on LLY. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. Scotiabank began coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, November 13th. They issued a “sector outperform” rating and a $1,165.00 price target on the stock. Daiwa Capital Markets set a $1,230.00 price objective on Eli Lilly and Company and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Wolfe Research boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,050.00 to $1,250.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,171.00 to $1,290.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 24th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $1,169.00.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 2.0%

The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $1,033.14 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $858.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.03 trillion, a PE ratio of 53.14, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 0.35.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.42 by $0.60. The firm had revenue of $17.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.09 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 30.99% and a return on equity of 109.52%. The firm’s revenue was up 53.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.18 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be paid a dividend of $1.73 per share. This is a boost 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 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. Eli Lilly and Company’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.35%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Eli Lilly and Company

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 22.0% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 9,597 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,409,000 after purchasing an additional 1,730 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,471 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,136,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. MBB Public Markets I LLC acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter worth approximately $311,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 79.0% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 76,155 shares of the company’s stock worth $62,889,000 after buying an additional 33,615 shares during the period. Finally, WBI Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter valued at $330,000. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other 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.