Leerink Partnrs Issues Optimistic Forecast for LLY Earnings

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) – Stock analysts at Leerink Partnrs raised their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for Eli Lilly and Company in a report released on Thursday, March 20th. Leerink Partnrs analyst D. Risinger now forecasts that the company will post earnings per share of $4.40 for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $4.20. The consensus estimate for Eli Lilly and Company’s current full-year earnings is $23.48 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Eli Lilly and Company’s Q2 2025 earnings at $5.67 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $6.25 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $7.15 EPS, FY2028 earnings at $44.99 EPS and FY2029 earnings at $50.07 EPS.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $5.32 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.45 by ($0.13). Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 85.24% and a net margin of 23.51%.

LLY has been the subject of several other reports. Bank of America reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $997.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. StockNews.com raised Eli Lilly and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Leerink Partners set a $950.00 target price on Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Citigroup reduced their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,250.00 to $1,190.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $970.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,009.72.

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:LLY opened at $865.94 on Monday. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $711.40 and a one year high of $972.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The company has a market cap of $821.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 73.95, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.34. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $837.36 and a 200 day simple moving average of $837.97.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Eli Lilly and Company

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LLY. Highline Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 80.0% in the 4th quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 45 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 358.3% in the fourth quarter. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 55 shares of the company’s stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the period. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the fourth quarter valued at $43,000. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the fourth quarter valued at about $48,000. Finally, Compass Financial Services Inc bought a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter worth about $50,000. 82.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $818.24, for a total transaction of $818,240.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,840 shares in the company, valued at $4,778,521.60. This represents a 14.62 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Eli Lilly and Company announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase plan on Monday, December 9th that permits the company to repurchase $15.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to repurchase up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.