Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) Receives Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Key Points

• Shares carry a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from 30 analysts (23 buy, 2 strong buy, 4 hold, 1 sell) with an average 12‑month target of about $1,221.
• Eli Lilly beat Q4 estimates with $7.54 EPS and $19.29B revenue (up 42.6% YoY) and set FY2026 guidance of 33.50–35.00 EPS, driven by strong GLP‑1 sales that are boosting top‑line and margins.
• However, valuation and risk considerations persist: market cap ~ $849B, P/E ~39.2, and analysts note concentration risk and potential regulatory/reputation pressure around GLP‑1 therapies.

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY - Get Free Report) have earned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the thirty research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, twenty-three have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $1,221.4444.

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wolfe Research upped their price objective on shares of 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. Argus boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $930.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. National Bank Financial set a $1,286.00 target price on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday, December 1st. Freedom Capital raised Eli Lilly and Company from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, CICC Research lifted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,060.00 to $1,107.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th.

More Eli Lilly and Company News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings and revenue momentum — Coverage highlights Eli Lilly’s strong Q4 results and robust GLP‑1 sales that are driving top‑line and margin strength, supporting the company's growth story. Firing on All Cylinders: Eli Lilly NYSE: LLY Q4 Earnings Lead the Way
• Positive Sentiment: Bullish long‑term thesis on GLP‑1 leadership — Retail/bullish analysis argues that Lilly’s leadership in obesity/GLP‑1 drugs makes it a durable growth compounder, reinforcing investor enthusiasm. Could Buying Eli Lilly Today Set You Up for Life?
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst model tweak — Erste Group slightly raised FY‑2026 EPS expectations for LLY (minor lift to forecasts), which supports consensus that Lilly’s earnings power is rising. MarketBeat: Eli Lilly analyst note
• Neutral Sentiment: Media/celebrity endorsement and market performance — Jim Cramer and other outlets are naming Lilly among top healthcare picks, and recent trading showed short‑term outperformance, which can attract flows but also create volatility. Is Eli Lilly (LLY) The Best Healthcare Stock to Buy According to Jim Cramer?
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry comparisons and valuation debate — Analyst pieces compare LLY with peers (Novo Nordisk, ABBV), highlighting strong growth but also elevated multiples — important context for investors weighing upside vs. valuation risk. LLY or ABBV: Which Drugmaker is Likely to Offer Better Upside in 2026?
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor letters and fund commentary reiterate GLP‑1 as the growth engine, but also note concentration risk (revenue tied to a few franchises). Eli Lilly (LLY) Gained From Growth in its GLP-1 Franchises Drugs
• Negative Sentiment: Policy/reputation risk around GLP‑1s — Coverage raising the “societal obligation” and broader public debate about GLP‑1s can translate into regulatory scrutiny or reimbursement pressure, a potential near‑term headwind for sentiment. Eli Lilly and the ‘societal obligation’ of GLP-1s

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

LLY opened at $898.68 on Friday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1 year low of $623.78 and a 1 year high of $1,133.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 1.19. The company has a market capitalization of $849.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.40. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $1,010.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $960.96.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.85 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $5.32 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter 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, analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Eli Lilly and Company

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the fourth quarter worth about $12,976,634,000. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 20.9% in the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 25,088,371 shares of the company's stock valued at $19,141,787,000 after acquiring an additional 4,332,008 shares during the last quarter. J. Stern & Co. LLP boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 46,191.3% in the fourth quarter. J. Stern & Co. LLP now owns 4,047,245 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,047,245,000 after acquiring an additional 4,038,502 shares during the last quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 876.1% during the 4th quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. now owns 2,375,050 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,552,419,000 after acquiring an additional 2,131,734 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 10.6% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 14,910,505 shares of the company's stock valued at $16,024,022,000 after acquiring an additional 1,432,069 shares during the period. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.