Saratoga Research & Investment Management Reduces Position in Eli Lilly and Company $LLY

Saratoga Research & Investment Management cut its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) by 21.6% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 48,155 shares of the company’s stock after selling 13,304 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for 2.7% of Saratoga Research & Investment Management’s holdings, making the stock its 14th biggest position. Saratoga Research & Investment Management’s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $51,751,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of LLY. Maryland Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Miller Global Investments LLC purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 342.9% during the 4th quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 31 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Dorato Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the fourth quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 142.9% in the fourth quarter. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 34 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

Shares of LLY opened at $1,005.20 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. The stock has a market cap of $946.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.71, a PEG ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a 50-day moving average of $939.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $997.00. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12-month low of $623.78 and a 12-month high of $1,133.95.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported $8.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.97 by $1.58. The company had revenue of $19.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $17.82 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 34.98% and a return on equity of 105.77%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 55.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.34 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 35.500-37.000 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 35.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be given a $1.73 dividend. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 15th. Eli Lilly and Company’s payout ratio is currently 24.58%.

More Eli Lilly and Company News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group raised its FY2026 EPS estimate for Eli Lilly, lifting its forecast to $36.30 per share from $36.06 and above the broader consensus of $35.80, signaling continued earnings momentum.
• Positive Sentiment: Guggenheim recently boosted Lilly’s price target by $52 after the company’s strong first-quarter results, reinforcing the view that analysts see more upside after another blowout quarter.
• Positive Sentiment: Media coverage continues to highlight Lilly as one of the most watched stocks, with commentary pointing to its dominant position in the weight-loss drug market and ongoing bullish investor interest. Article: Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) Is a Trending Stock: Facts to Know Before Betting on It
• Positive Sentiment: Several reports pointed to Lilly’s expanding pipeline, including new and advancing trials in ALS, GI disease, and immuno-dermatology, which adds optionality beyond its core diabetes and obesity franchises.
• Positive Sentiment: Investor sentiment also got a boost from headlines calling Lilly a potential bull-market leader and suggesting the stock could approach $1,100 if momentum continues. Article: Is Eli Lilly Going To $1,100?
• Neutral Sentiment: Lilly and UNICEF announced a $50 million partnership tied to the company’s 150th anniversary, which may help its ESG profile and public image, but the direct earnings impact appears limited in the near term.
• Neutral Sentiment: Some articles were mainly awareness pieces or broad market commentary rather than company-specific catalysts, so they are unlikely to be major stock drivers on their own.
• Negative Sentiment: Broader market commentary warned that the S&P 500 may be due for a correction, which could create short-term pressure on high-multiple growth stocks like Lilly if risk appetite fades.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Freedom Capital raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $1,300.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, March 13th. CICC Research lifted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,060.00 to $1,107.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Friday, May 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have issued a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,218.33.

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.