Rathbones Group PLC Raises Stake in Eli Lilly and Company $LLY

Key Points

• Rathbones Group PLC increased its holding in Eli Lilly by 23.6% in Q3 to 339,938 shares (about $259.4M), making LLY the firm's 23rd largest position and ~1.1% of its portfolio.
• Eli Lilly beat Q results (EPS $7.54 vs. $7.48; revenue $19.29B, +42.6% YoY), set FY‑2026 EPS guidance of 33.5–35.0, and raised its quarterly dividend to $1.73 ($6.92 annualized, 0.7% yield).
• Analysts remain broadly positive (consensus "Moderate Buy," avg price target ~$1,229.59) and company moves—like the Lilly Employer Connect platform and pipeline progress—support growth, though near‑term concerns about pricing, competition and volatility persist.

Rathbones Group PLC lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY - Free Report) by 23.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 339,938 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 64,939 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for approximately 1.1% of Rathbones Group PLC's portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Rathbones Group PLC's holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $259,373,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LLY. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter worth $29,000. Steph & Co. raised its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 290.0% in the 3rd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 39 shares of the company's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc lifted its stake in 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 buying an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.53% of the company's stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 0.7%

LLY opened at $990.58 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1-year low of $623.78 and a 1-year high of $1,133.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $934.47 billion, a PE ratio of 43.16, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.40. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $1,045.63 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $940.90.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 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 business had revenue of $19.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $17.85 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $5.32 EPS. The firm'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 anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a $1.73 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Company's previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Eli Lilly and Company's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LLY has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Zacks Research cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Guggenheim increased their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,161.00 to $1,168.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Berenberg Bank boosted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $950.00 to $1,050.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $1,285.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Friday. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $1,250.00 target price for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have given a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,229.59.

More Eli Lilly and Company News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Lilly launched "Lilly Employer Connect," a direct-to-employer platform designed to broaden employer coverage of its obesity medicines (Zepbound/tirzepatide), which could increase uptake and stabilize pricing dynamics by offering predictable pricing for employers. Lilly Employer Connect platform launches
• Positive Sentiment: GoodRx expanded employer-sponsored access to Zepbound KwikPen, offering a set price across doses — a commercial channel that can boost volume and lower friction for adoption among employees. GoodRx to Expand Employer-Sponsored Access to Zepbound® KwikPen®
• Positive Sentiment: Pipeline and clinical updates: completion/updates on the TRANSCEND‑T2D‑1 trial for retatrutide and progress in abemaciclib combos deepen Lilly’s obesity and oncology optionality — news that supports longer‑term growth expectations. TRANSCEND-T2D-1 Trial Completion
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: UBS and other analysts emphasize Lilly’s leadership in next‑generation obesity therapies and maintained/installed Buy views, which underpins demand for the stock. Analyst Buy Rating on Lilly
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry context: competitor data (Roche/Zealand) showed mixed results — some rivals lag GLP‑1 leaders — which can modestly benefit market share expectations for Lilly but is not a direct near‑term driver. Roche's Obesity Drug Shows Promise But Trails GLP-1 Giants
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader coverage and media analysis ask whether LLY’s high absolute share price leaves room to run — useful for positioning but not an immediate catalyst absent valuation or guidance changes. Is It Too Late To Consider Eli Lilly (LLY)?
• Negative Sentiment: Sell‑side/independent skepticism and downgrade: a Seeking Alpha piece flagged a rating downgrade and cautioned that the "one‑way ride" may end, adding downside pressure from sentiment shifts. Eli Lilly: The One-Way Ride Can't Last Forever (Rating Downgrade)
• Negative Sentiment: Near‑term investor worries about pricing, competition and recent share weakness since earnings have led to short‑term selling/volatility despite strong top‑line results and guidance. Lilly (LLY) Down 3.7% Since Last Earnings Report

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.

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