CVS
CVS Health Corporation
Medical - Healthcare Plans
Market Cap$128.46B
5Y Perf.+55.0%
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Side-by-side financial analysisCVS
LLY
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Stock Comparison
CVS vs LLY
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LLY
Eli Lilly and Company
Drug Manufacturers - General
Market Cap$1.07T
5Y Perf.+588.0%
CVS vs LLY — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  CVS |  LLY |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Healthcare Plans | Drug Manufacturers - General |
| Market Cap | $128.46B | $1.07T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $407.90B | $72.25B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.93B | $25.27B |
| Gross Margin | 13.9% | 83.5% |
| Operating Margin | 1.5% | 45.9% |
| Forward P/E | 13.6x | 30.9x |
| Total Debt | $93.59B | $42.50B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $8.51B | $7.16B |
CVS vs LLY — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CVS
LLY
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVS Health Corporat… (CVS) | 100 | 155.0 | +55.0% |
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | 100 | 688.0 | +588.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CVS vs LLY
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CVS leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. Eli Lilly and Company is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇CVS emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
CVS
CVS Health Corporation
The Insurance Pick
CVS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.19, yield 2.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.19, current ratio 0.84x
- Beta 0.19, yield 2.7%, current ratio 0.84x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
LLY
Eli Lilly and Company
The Growth Play
LLY is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 44.7%, EPS growth 96.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 31.7%
- 14.8% 10Y total return vs CVS's 27.9%
- 44.7% revenue growth vs CVS's 7.8%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  LLY | 44.7% revenue growth vs CVS's 7.8% |
| Value |  CVS | Lower P/E (13.6x vs 30.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | LLY | 35.0% margin vs CVS's 0.7% |
| Stability / Safety | CVS | Beta 0.19 vs LLY's 0.53, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CVS | 2.7% yield, vs LLY's 0.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CVS | +52.6% vs LLY's +40.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LLY | 22.7% ROA vs CVS's 1.1%, ROIC 41.8% vs 5.0% |
CVS vs LLY — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CVS vs LLY — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLLYLAGGINGCVS
CVSCVS Health Corporation
2leads
LLYEli Lilly and Company
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CVSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LLY6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CVS5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LLY8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LLY4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CVS2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LLY leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CVS is the larger business by revenue, generating $407.9B annually — 5.6x LLY's $72.2B. LLY is the more profitable business, keeping 35.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CVS's 0.7%. On growth, LLY holds the edge at +55.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $407.9B | $72.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $10.5B | $34.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.9B | $25.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $7.4B | $13.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +13.9% | +83.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.5% | +45.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.7% | +35.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.8% | +18.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.2% | +55.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +63.1% | +169.9% |
LLY leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CVS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 49.2x trailing earnings, LLY trades at a 32% valuation discount to CVS's 72.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CVS's 14.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LLY's 35.3x.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $128.5B | $1.07T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $213.5B | $1.10T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 72.43x | 49.22x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 13.61x | 30.86x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.71x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.24x | 35.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.32x | 16.37x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.70x | 38.23x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.45x | 118.95x |
CVS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LLY leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LLY delivers a 101.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $101 in annual profit, vs $4 for CVS. CVS carries lower financial leverage with a 1.24x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LLY's 1.60x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LLY scores 8/9 vs CVS's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +3.9% | +101.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.1% | +22.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.0% | +41.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.1% | +46.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.24x | 1.60x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $85.1B | $35.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $8.5B | $7.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $93.6B | $42.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.11x | 35.68x |
LLY leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LLY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LLY five years ago would be worth $51,646 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,226 for CVS. Over the past 12 months, CVS leads with a +52.6% total return vs LLY's +40.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LLY at 36.2% vs CVS's 16.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +27.3% | +4.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +52.6% | +40.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.2% | +152.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +32.3% | +416.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +27.9% | +1483.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.0% | +36.2% |
LLY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CVS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CVS is the less volatile stock with a 0.19 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LLY's 0.53 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.19x | 0.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $102.77 | $1182.73 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.50 | $623.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.0% | +95.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 74.7 | 62.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 7.5M | 2.6M |
CVS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CVS and LLY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CVS as "Buy" and LLY as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 12.3% upside for LLY (target: $1269) vs 2.9% for CVS (target: $104). For income investors, CVS offers the higher dividend yield at 2.65% vs LLY's 0.53%.
| Metric | CVSCVS Health Corpor… | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $103.64 | $1268.94 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 41 | 45 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.7% | +0.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 11 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.67 | $6.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.4% |
Evenly matched — CVS and LLY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
LLY leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). CVS leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallEli Lilly and Company (LLY)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CVS vs LLY: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CVS 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 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) offers the better valuation at 49. 2x trailing P/E (30. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CVS Health Corporation (CVS) a "Buy" — based on 41 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 — CVS or LLY?
On trailing P/E, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) is the cheapest at 49.
2x versus CVS Health Corporation at 72. 4x. On forward P/E, CVS Health Corporation is actually cheaper at 13. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CVS or LLY?
Over the past 5 years, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) delivered a total return of +416.
5%, compared to +32. 3% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LLY returned +1483% versus CVS's +27. 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 — CVS or LLY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CVS Health Corporation (CVS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
19β versus Eli Lilly and Company's 0. 53β — meaning LLY is approximately 177% more volatile than CVS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 124% versus 160% for Eli Lilly and Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CVS or LLY?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) is pulling ahead at 44.
7% versus 7. 8% for CVS Health Corporation (CVS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Eli Lilly and Company grew EPS 96. 0% year-over-year, compared to -62. 0% for CVS Health 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 — CVS or LLY?
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) is the more profitable company, earning 31.
7% net margin versus 0. 4% for CVS Health 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 2. 6% for CVS. 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 CVS or LLY more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) trades at 13.
6x forward P/E versus 30. 9x for Eli Lilly and Company — 17. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LLY: 12. 3% to $1268. 94.
08Which pays a better dividend — CVS or LLY?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
CVS Health Corporation (CVS) offers the highest yield at 2. 7%, versus 0. 5% for Eli Lilly and Company (LLY).
09Is CVS 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.
53), 0. 5% yield, +1483% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LLY: +1483%, CVS: +27. 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 CVS 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: CVS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; LLY is a mega-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.
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