Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) vs Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LLY | 32.0% revenue growth vs GILD's 6.0% |
| Value | GILD | Lower P/E (17.1x vs 30.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | LLY | 31.0% net margin vs GILD's 28.9% |
| Stability / Safety | GILD | Beta 0.38 vs LLY's 0.65, lower leverage |
| Dividends | GILD | 2.1% yield, 10-year raise streak, vs LLY's 0.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | GILD | +33.1% vs LLY's +15.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LLY | 16.0% ROA vs GILD's 14.4%, ROIC 33.7% vs 3.2% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing medicines for serious diseases like HIV, viral hepatitis, and cancer. It generates revenue primarily from antiviral drugs — especially HIV treatments like Biktarvy which drive the majority of sales — along with oncology therapies and COVID-19 treatment Veklury. The company's moat lies in its deep expertise in antiviral drug development, a robust HIV franchise with high patient retention, and a pipeline of cell therapy and oncology assets.
Eli Lilly is a global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and markets innovative medicines for serious diseases like diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. It generates revenue primarily from drug sales — with diabetes treatments like Trulicity and Mounjaro contributing over 50% of revenue — and from oncology and immunology products. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep research and development capabilities, particularly in diabetes and obesity treatments where it has established a strong patent-protected portfolio.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
LLY leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). GILD leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
LLY is the larger business by revenue, generating $59.4B annually — 2.0x GILD's $29.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 31.0% (LLY) to 28.9% (GILD). On growth, LLY holds the edge at +53.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GILDGilead Sciences, … | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $29.4B | $59.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $12.4B | $28.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $8.5B | $18.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $9.7B | $9.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +80.8% | +83.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +37.4% | +45.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +28.9% | +31.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +32.8% | +15.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.7% | +53.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +22.5% | +4.8% |
Valuation Metrics
At 89.9x trailing earnings, LLY trades at a 77% valuation discount to GILD's 392.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, GILD's 45.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LLY's 50.5x.
| Metric | GILDGilead Sciences, … | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $185.6B | $941.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $202.3B | $972.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 391.97x | 89.85x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.13x | 30.86x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 14.62x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 45.68x | 50.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.45x | 20.91x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 9.71x | 66.65x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 18.01x | 2273.08x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LLY delivers a 77.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $77 in annual profit, vs $38 for GILD. GILD carries lower financial leverage with a 1.39x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LLY's 2.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GILD scores 7/9 vs LLY's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | GILDGilead Sciences, … | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +37.6% | +77.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +14.4% | +16.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.2% | +33.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.4% | +40.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.39x | 2.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $16.7B | $30.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $10.0B | $3.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $26.7B | $33.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.56x | 26.09x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in LLY five years ago would be worth $52,120 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $26,249 for GILD. Over the past 12 months, GILD leads with a +33.1% total return vs LLY's +15.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LLY at 50.9% vs GILD's 25.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GILDGilead Sciences, … | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +22.5% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +33.1% | +15.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +96.4% | +243.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +162.5% | +421.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +101.0% | +1411.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +25.2% | +50.9% |
Risk & Volatility
GILD is the less volatile stock with a 0.38 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LLY's 0.65 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | GILDGilead Sciences, … | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.38x | 0.65x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $157.29 | $1133.95 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $93.37 | $623.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.7% | +92.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.8 | 46.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 6.2M | 2.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GILD as "Buy" and LLY as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 15.4% upside for LLY (target: $1214) vs 5.7% for GILD (target: $157). For income investors, GILD offers the higher dividend yield at 2.10% vs LLY's 0.49%.
| Metric | GILDGilead Sciences, … | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $157.38 | $1214.28 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 58 | 44 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.1% | +0.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 10 | 10 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.12 | $5.18 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +0.3% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 100 | 189.51 | +89.5% |
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | 100 | 786.01 | +686.0% |
Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) returned +421% over 5 years vs Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD)'s +162%. A $10,000 investment in LLY 5 years ago would be worth $52,120 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | $32.6B | $28.8B | -11.9% |
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | $20.0B | $45.0B | +125.7% |
Gilead Sciences, Inc.'s revenue grew from $32.6B (2015) to $28.8B (2024) — a -1.4% CAGR. Eli Lilly and Company's revenue grew from $20.0B (2015) to $45.0B (2024) — a 9.5% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 55.5% | 1.7% | -97.0% |
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | 12.1% | 23.5% | +94.8% |
Gilead Sciences, Inc.'s net margin went from 55% (2015) to 2% (2024). Eli Lilly and Company's net margin went from 12% (2015) to 24% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 20.4 | 243.1 | +1091.7% |
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | 37 | 65.9 | +78.1% |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. has traded in a 15x–243x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~392x. Eli Lilly and Company has traded in a 15x–101x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~90x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 11.91 | 0.38 | -96.8% |
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | 2.18 | 11.71 | +437.2% |
Gilead Sciences, Inc.'s EPS grew from $11.91 (2015) to $0.38 (2024) — a -32% CAGR. Eli Lilly and Company's EPS grew from $2.18 (2015) to $11.71 (2024) — a 21% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Gilead Sciences, Inc. generated $10B FCF in 2024 (-5% vs 2021). Eli Lilly and Company generated $414M FCF in 2024 (-92% vs 2021).
GILD vs LLY: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GILD or LLY a better buy right now?
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) offers the better valuation at 89.9x trailing P/E (30.9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) a "Buy" — based on 58 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — GILD or LLY?
On trailing P/E, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) is the cheapest at 89.9x versus Gilead Sciences, Inc. at 392.0x. On forward P/E, Gilead Sciences, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17.1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GILD or LLY?
Over the past 5 years, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) delivered a total return of +421.2%, compared to +162.5% for Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD). A $10,000 investment in LLY five years ago would be worth approximately $52K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LLY returned +1412% versus GILD's +101.0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GILD or LLY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.38β versus Eli Lilly and Company's 0.65β — meaning LLY is approximately 71% more volatile than GILD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 139% versus 2% for Eli Lilly and Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — GILD or LLY?
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) is the more profitable company, earning 23.5% net margin versus 1.7% for Gilead Sciences, Inc. — meaning it keeps 23.5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LLY leads at 38.9% versus 5.8% for GILD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LLY leads at 81.3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is GILD or LLY more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) trades at 17.1x forward P/E versus 30.9x for Eli Lilly and Company — 13.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LLY: 15.4% to $1214.28.
07Which pays a better dividend — GILD or LLY?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) offers the highest yield at 2.1%, versus 0.5% for Eli Lilly and Company (LLY).
08Is GILD or LLY better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.65), +1412% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LLY: +1412%, GILD: +101.0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between GILD and LLY?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. GILD pays a dividend while LLY does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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