Eli Lilly and Company $LLY Stock: Retirement Systems of Alabama Raises Holdings

Key Points

• Retirement Systems of Alabama increased its Eli Lilly stake by 25.8% in the third quarter, adding 50,578 shares to hold 246,991 shares valued at about $285.8 million. Institutional investors collectively own 82.53% of the stock.
• Lilly said its obesity pill Foundayo reduced obstructive sleep apnea severity by up to 44% in a Phase 3 trial and plans to seek FDA approval for that use by the end of 2026, potentially expanding the drug’s market opportunity.
• The company beat quarterly estimates, reporting $7.48 in EPS and $24.4 billion in revenue, up 38.6% year over year. Analysts’ consensus rating is “Moderate Buy,” with an average price target of $1,416.64.

Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY - Free Report) by 25.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 246,991 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 50,578 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for 0.8% of Retirement Systems of Alabama's portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. Retirement Systems of Alabama's holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $285,788,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in LLY. Integrity Financial Corp WA grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.3% during the second quarter. Integrity Financial Corp WA now owns 639 shares of the company's stock valued at $767,000 after purchasing an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. LCM Capital Management Inc increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. LCM Capital Management Inc now owns 253 shares of the company's stock valued at $293,000 after buying an additional 8 shares during the period. Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC ADV lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC ADV now owns 203 shares of the company's stock worth $235,000 after buying an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 5.6% in the 3rd quarter. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 151 shares of the company's stock worth $175,000 after buying an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eads & Heald Wealth Management lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Eads & Heald Wealth Management now owns 1,469 shares of the company's stock worth $1,700,000 after buying an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Patrik Jonsson sold 6,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on 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 directly owned 54,147 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,628,139.70. This represents a 10.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Anat Hakim sold 5,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,402.52, for a total transaction of $7,012,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 4,137 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,802,225.24. This represents a 54.72% 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. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: In a Phase 3 trial, Foundayo (orforglipron) significantly reduced obstructive sleep apnea severity in adults with obesity or overweight. Lilly reported up to an average 44% reduction in breathing interruptions and said it plans to seek U.S. FDA approval for the indication by year-end 2026. An additional use could expand the pill’s commercial opportunity and help it compete with Novo Nordisk’s obesity treatments. Article: Eli Lilly's Foundayo obesity pill eases sleep apnea in late-stage trial
• Positive Sentiment: Jefferies raised its LLY price target to $1,700 from $1,610 and reiterated a Buy rating, signaling continued analyst confidence in the company’s growth outlook. Article: Jefferies raises Eli Lilly price target
• Positive Sentiment: Lilly is expanding digital access to Zepbound and Foundayo through telehealth partnerships with Hims & Hers and LifeMD, potentially broadening the reach of its branded obesity medicines. Article: Eli Lilly opens digital access to obesity drugs
• Negative Sentiment: The FDA issued new warnings about a potential serious eye risk associated with GLP-1 drugs, including Zepbound. The safety alert may raise concerns for patients and prescribers, although the reports provided no Lilly-specific change to the drug’s safety profile. Article: FDA orders new eye-risk warnings for Ozempic and Zepbound

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on LLY. Truist Financial reissued a "buy" rating and set a $1,612.00 target price (up from $1,376.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Friday, October 30th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,425.00 to $1,625.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, October 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,500.00 to $1,600.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, October 30th. Guggenheim increased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,273.00 to $1,284.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, September 18th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Eli Lilly and Company from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, October 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have issued a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,416.64.

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 4.4%

NYSE:LLY opened at $1,413.22 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.33 trillion, a P/E ratio of 45.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.40. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $1,220.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $1,102.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.39. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $850.51 and a 52 week high of $1,453.00.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $7.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $5.71 by $1.77. The firm had revenue of $24.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $22.58 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 31.90% and a return on equity of 86.76%. The company's revenue was up 38.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $7.02 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 35.70 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 13th will be paid a dividend of $1.73 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 13th. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Eli Lilly and Company's dividend payout ratio is 22.46%.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets medicines for people and animals. Its work spans areas including diabetes and obesity, cancer, immunology, neuroscience and pain management.

The company's medicines include treatments for diabetes and obesity, such as Mounjaro and Zepbound, as well as products for cancer and other conditions. Lilly also conducts research into new medicines and invests in the development of treatments across its therapeutic areas.

Founded in Indianapolis in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, the company is headquartered in the city and serves patients in markets around the world.

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