Medical - Healthcare Plans
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Stock Comparison
CI vs LLY
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Drug Manufacturers - General
CI vs LLY — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Healthcare Plans | Drug Manufacturers - General |
| Market Cap | $74.35B | $932.64B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $277.94B | $72.25B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $6.29B | $25.27B |
| Gross Margin | 9.3% | 83.5% |
| Operating Margin | 3.4% | 45.9% |
| Forward P/E | 9.3x | 28.6x |
| Total Debt | $31.46B | $42.50B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7.68B | $7.16B |
CI vs LLY — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cigna Corporation (CI) | 100 | 142.9 | +42.9% |
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | 100 | 645.4 | +545.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CI vs LLY
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CI is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 6 yrs, beta 0.35, yield 2.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.35, Low D/E 75.1%, current ratio 0.85x
- Beta 0.35, yield 2.1%, current ratio 0.85x
LLY carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 44.7%, EPS growth 96.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 31.7%
- 12.7% 10Y total return vs CI's 135.9%
- 44.7% revenue growth vs CI's 11.3%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 44.7% revenue growth vs CI's 11.3% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (9.3x vs 28.6x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 35.0% margin vs CI's 2.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.35 vs LLY's 0.71, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 2.1% yield, 6-year raise streak, vs LLY's 0.6% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +28.2% vs CI's -13.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 22.7% ROA vs CI's 4.1%, ROIC 41.8% vs 10.4% |
CI vs LLY — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CI vs LLY — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LLY leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CI is the larger business by revenue, generating $277.9B annually — 3.8x LLY's $72.2B. LLY is the more profitable business, keeping 35.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CI's 2.3%. On growth, LLY holds the edge at +55.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $277.9B | $72.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $12.1B | $34.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $6.3B | $25.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $7.7B | $13.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +9.3% | +83.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.4% | +45.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.3% | +35.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.8% | +18.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.6% | +55.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +29.1% | +169.9% |
Valuation Metrics
CI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.7x trailing earnings, CI trades at a 70% valuation discount to LLY's 43.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CI's 8.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LLY's 31.0x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $74.3B | $932.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $98.1B | $968.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.72x | 43.01x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.30x | 28.59x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.49x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.34x | 30.97x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.27x | 14.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.79x | 33.41x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.86x | 103.95x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LLY leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LLY delivers a 101.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $101 in annual profit, vs $15 for CI. CI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.75x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LLY's 1.60x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.1% | +101.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.1% | +22.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.4% | +41.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.2% | +46.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.75x | 1.60x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $23.8B | $35.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.7B | $7.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $31.5B | $42.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.77x | 35.68x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LLY leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LLY five years ago would be worth $52,144 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,971 for CI. Over the past 12 months, LLY leads with a +28.2% total return vs CI's -13.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LLY at 32.4% vs CI's 4.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.6% | -8.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -13.7% | +28.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +12.9% | +131.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.7% | +421.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +135.9% | +1271.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.1% | +32.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CI and LLY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CI is the less volatile stock with a 0.35 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LLY's 0.71 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LLY currently trades 87.1% from its 52-week high vs CI's 83.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.35x | 0.71x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $338.89 | $1133.95 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $239.51 | $623.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.2% | +87.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.9 | 61.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.6M | 2.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CI and LLY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CI as "Buy" and LLY as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 27.5% upside for LLY (target: $1258) vs 16.3% for CI (target: $328). For income investors, CI offers the higher dividend yield at 2.15% vs LLY's 0.61%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $328.00 | $1258.47 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 45 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.1% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 11 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $6.06 | $6.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.9% | +0.4% |
LLY leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). CI leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
CI vs LLY: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CI or LLY a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) is the stronger pick with 44.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 11. 3% for Cigna Corporation (CI). Cigna Corporation (CI) offers the better valuation at 12. 7x trailing P/E (9. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cigna Corporation (CI) a "Buy" — based on 39 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 — CI or LLY?
On trailing P/E, Cigna Corporation (CI) is the cheapest at 12.
7x versus Eli Lilly and Company at 43. 0x. On forward P/E, Cigna Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CI or LLY?
Over the past 5 years, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) delivered a total return of +421.
4%, compared to +19. 7% for Cigna Corporation (CI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LLY returned +1272% versus CI's +135. 9%. 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 — CI or LLY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cigna Corporation (CI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
35β versus Eli Lilly and Company's 0. 71β — meaning LLY is approximately 100% more volatile than CI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cigna Corporation (CI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 75% versus 160% for Eli Lilly and Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CI or LLY?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) is pulling ahead at 44.
7% versus 11. 3% for Cigna Corporation (CI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Eli Lilly and Company grew EPS 96. 0% year-over-year, compared to 82. 9% for Cigna Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, LLY leads at 31. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — CI or LLY?
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) is the more profitable company, earning 31.
7% net margin versus 2. 2% for Cigna Corporation — meaning it keeps 31. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LLY leads at 45. 6% versus 3. 3% for CI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LLY leads at 83. 8%, 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.
07Is CI or LLY more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Cigna Corporation (CI) trades at 9.
3x forward P/E versus 28. 6x for Eli Lilly and Company — 19. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LLY: 27. 5% to $1258. 47.
08Which pays a better dividend — CI or LLY?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Cigna Corporation (CI) offers the highest yield at 2. 1%, versus 0. 6% for Eli Lilly and Company (LLY).
09Is CI 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.
71), 0. 6% yield, +1272% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LLY: +1272%, CI: +135. 9%), 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.
10What are the main differences between CI 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.
In terms of investment character: CI is a mid-cap deep-value stock; LLY is a large-cap high-growth stock. 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.