Empowered Funds LLC Makes New $165.74 Million Investment in Eli Lilly and Company $LLY

Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm acquired 138,183 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $165,741,000. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for about 0.9% of Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest position.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of LLY. Osbon Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in 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 worth $30,000. Maseco LLP grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 466.7% in the 1st quarter. Maseco LLP now owns 34 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 342.9% in the 4th quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 31 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aventus Investment Advisors Inc. raised its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the company’s stock.

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 business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,175.10, for a total value of $7,638,150.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 54,147 shares in the company, valued at $63,628,139.70. This represents a 10.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 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.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on LLY. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 26th. Guggenheim increased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,235.00 to $1,273.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,251.00 to $1,334.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,250.00 to $1,500.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,300.00 to $1,400.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have issued a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,292.18.

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

LLY opened at $1,159.53 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $1.09 trillion, a P/E ratio of 38.91, a PEG ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.50. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $1,191.34 and a 200 day moving average of $1,067.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.35. Eli Lilly and Company has a fifty-two week low of $712.05 and a fifty-two week high of $1,292.65.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $8.38 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 business had revenue of $22.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.82 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $6.31 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter 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. On average, research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 36.35 EPS for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement

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 paid a dividend of $1.73 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Eli Lilly and Company’s dividend payout ratio is presently 23.22%.

Trending Headlines about Eli Lilly and Company

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

• Positive Sentiment: FDA expands Mounjaro’s opportunity: The FDA approved Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to reduce cardiovascular risk in high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes, potentially broadening the drug’s eligible market and strengthening its value proposition in discussions with insurers. Mounjaro FDA approval
• Positive Sentiment: Durable Zepbound clinical data: One-year Phase 3b results showed that combining Zepbound with Taltz produced sustained or improved outcomes for adults with obesity and psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. The results support additional immunometabolic applications for Zepbound and reinforce Lilly’s leadership in GLP-1 medicines. Zepbound and Taltz Phase 3b data
• Positive Sentiment: Pipeline diversification through Merida: Lilly agreed to acquire Merida Biosciences for up to $2.875 billion in cash. Merida’s antibody-engineering platform and lead Phase 1 candidate, MER511, target Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease, with additional potential in food allergy and other immune-related conditions. The deal could help Lilly use GLP-1-generated cash flow to build growth beyond obesity and diabetes. Merida Biosciences acquisition
• Neutral Sentiment: Acquisition risk remains limited but tangible: Merida’s lead asset is still in Phase 1, so the deal’s value depends on future clinical success and milestone payments. Lilly plans to close the transaction in the fourth quarter of 2026. Merida deal Phase 1 risks
• Neutral Sentiment: Lilly will participate in the Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference on September 14, which could provide updates on its pipeline, GLP-1 demand and acquisition strategy. Morgan Stanley healthcare conference
• Negative Sentiment: 2027 payer concerns remain an overhang: Reports indicate some employers and insurers may reduce GLP-1 coverage, potentially affecting future Zepbound pricing and demand. The new Mounjaro cardiovascular indication may help Lilly defend coverage for certain diabetes patients, but it does not eliminate broader reimbursement risk. GLP-1 insurance coverage concerns

Eli Lilly and 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.