Eli Lilly (LLY) Stock Downgraded Despite Leading Market Position
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 17 2025
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Should l Buy LLY?
Source: TipRanks
Eli Lilly's Stock Performance: Eli Lilly's stock has seen over 400% gains in the past five years, significantly outperforming sector peers, despite a recent 16% decline. Analyst Kerry Holford downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold, citing high consensus expectations and a plateau in the obesity market.
Competitive Landscape in Obesity Treatments: While Lilly's Zepbound is preferred by physicians over Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, competition is intensifying as Novo expands its market presence. Analysts anticipate price erosion in obesity drugs starting in 2026, making Lilly's upcoming oral GLP-1 launch crucial for maintaining its market position.
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Analyst Views on LLY
Wall Street analysts forecast LLY stock price to rise
20 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 905.030
Low
950.00
Averages
1192
High
1500
Current: 905.030
Low
950.00
Averages
1192
High
1500
About LLY
Eli Lilly and Company is a medicine company, which discovers, develops, manufactures, and market products in a single business segment called human pharmaceutical products. The Company manufacture and distribute its products through facilities in the United States, including Puerto Rico, and in Europe and Asia. The Company’s products are sold in approximately 90 countries. Its Cardiometabolic Health products Basaglar; Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, and others; Humulin, Humulin 70/30, and others; Jardiance; Mounjaro; Trulicity; Zepbound, and others. Its oncology products include Cyramza, Erbitux, Tyvyt, Verzenio, Retevmo, Jaypirca, and others. Its immunology products include Ebglyss, Olumiant, Omvoh, and Taltz. Its neuroscience products include Emgality and Kisunla. Its LillyDirect, a direct-to-patient digital health care platform, provides delivery of select Lilly medicines dispensed by third-party pharmacies to patients.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Earnings Announcement Date: Eli Lilly is set to release its Q1 2026 financial results on April 30, 2026, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to transparency and investor communication.
- Conference Call Details: On the same day, Lilly will conduct a conference call at 10 a.m. Eastern Time to provide detailed insights into its financial performance, aimed at bolstering market confidence.
- Live Webcast Availability: Investors, media, and the general public can access a live webcast of the conference call through a link on Lilly's website, ensuring broad dissemination of information and transparency.
- Replay Feature: Following the call, a replay will be available on the website, further enhancing accessibility to information and aiding investors in understanding the company's financial status.
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- Cardiovascular Event Risk Reduction: In a study involving over 2,700 adults with type 2 diabetes, patients taking Foundayo experienced a 16% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events compared to those on insulin glargine, indicating Foundayo's significant advantage in cardiovascular safety, which may attract more patients to choose this medication.
- Significant Mortality Risk Reduction: A pre-planned analysis revealed that patients on Foundayo had a 57% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those on insulin glargine, further enhancing Foundayo's appeal as a diabetes treatment and potentially increasing its market acceptance.
- FDA Submission Plans: Based on the trial results, Eli Lilly plans to submit an application for Foundayo's approval to the FDA by the end of Q2, which, if approved, could open new market opportunities for the company in diabetes treatment and strengthen its product portfolio.
- Market Competition Dynamics: Despite the positive clinical results for Foundayo, retail investor sentiment towards Eli Lilly remains bearish, likely due to intense competition in the weight-loss drug market, particularly from Novo Nordisk, which may affect investor confidence in the company's future performance.
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- Madrigal Pharmaceuticals' FDA Approval: In 2024, Madrigal gained FDA approval for Rezdiffra, the first drug for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, with 2025 revenue reaching $958.4 million, a staggering 432% increase, showcasing robust growth in an emerging market.
- Exelixis' Oncology Innovations: Exelixis' Cabometyx remains the leading treatment for liver and kidney cancers, with no generic competition expected until 2030, while the company plans to launch several next-gen cancer therapies in the next five years, further solidifying its market position.
- Significant Market Potential: The combination of innovation and market demand in these three companies suggests that their stocks could yield substantial returns in the future, particularly in the ongoing developments within rare diseases and oncology.
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- Madrigal Pharmaceuticals' Market Potential: Madrigal's Rezdiffra, approved by the FDA in 2024 as the first treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, generated $958.4 million in revenue in 2025, a staggering 432% increase, showcasing its potential in a large patient market.
- Exelixis' Innovative Drugs: Exelixis' Cabometyx, a leading treatment for liver and kidney cancers, is expected to face no generic competition until 2030, while its development of next-gen cancer therapies could further drive growth in the coming years.
- Competitive Advantages: These three companies demonstrate significant market potential and innovation capabilities, with Krystal Biotech and Madrigal expanding their product lines to enhance market share, while Exelixis maintains a strong position in oncology through robust financial performance and R&D efforts.
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- Market Leadership: CVS Health's leadership in various healthcare niches, supported by strong relationships with patients, doctors, and payers, positions it well to navigate regulatory barriers and market challenges effectively.
- Concentration Risks for Novo Nordisk: Novo Nordisk's focus on metabolic diseases has made it a leader in the diabetes drug market, but its declining competitiveness in the weight loss market and recent clinical setbacks could significantly worsen its financial results.
- Investment Outlook Comparison: Although Novo Nordisk's stock has declined significantly over the past two years, its deep pipeline in weight loss could lead to recovery in the coming years, making both companies attractive options for long-term investors.
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