Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) 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 VCYT's 16.0% |
| Value |  VCYT | Lower P/E (22.0x vs 29.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | LLY | 31.0% net margin vs VCYT's 12.8% |
| Stability / Safety | LLY | Beta 0.65 vs VCYT's 1.12 |
| Dividends | LLY | 0.5% yield; 10-year raise streak; VCYT pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | VCYT | +10.0% vs LLY's +8.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LLY | 16.0% ROA vs VCYT's 4.7%, ROIC 33.7% vs 4.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
LLYDividend streak 10 yrs, beta 0.65, yield 0.5%
Growth exposure
VCYTRev growth 16.0%, EPS growth 164.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 20.4%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
LLY13.2% 10Y total return vs VCYT's 443.8%
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
VCYTLower volatility, beta 1.12, Low D/E 3.0%, current ratio 8.15x
Defensive / Recession hedge
LLYBeta 0.65, yield 0.5%, current ratio 1.15x
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Veracyte is a molecular diagnostics company that develops genomic tests to improve cancer and other disease diagnosis and treatment decisions. It generates revenue primarily from diagnostic test sales — including its Afirma thyroid, Decipher prostate, and Percepta lung cancer tests — with additional income from technology licensing partnerships. The company's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary genomic classifiers and biobank of clinical samples that enable development of clinically validated tests with strong physician adoption.
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 3VCYT 1LLY4/6 metricsVCYT6/6 metricsLLY5/6 metricsLLY2/2 metricsLLY leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Total Returns). VCYT leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
LLY is the larger business by revenue, generating $59.4B annually — 114.9x VCYT's $517M. LLY is the more profitable business, keeping 31.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VCYT's 12.8%. On growth, LLY holds the edge at +53.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $517M | $59.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $74M | $28.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $66M | $18.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $126M | $9.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.1% | +83.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.2% | +45.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | +31.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +24.4% | +15.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.5% | +53.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.3% | +4.8% |
Valuation Metrics
At 44.2x trailing earnings, VCYT trades at a 48% valuation discount to LLY's 85.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, VCYT's 44.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LLY's 48.2x.
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.9B | $898.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.6B | $928.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 44.23x | 85.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.03x | 29.43x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 13.94x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 44.23x | 48.19x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.57x | 19.94x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.23x | 63.57x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 22.73x | 2168.03x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LLY delivers a 77.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $77 in annual profit, vs $5 for VCYT. VCYT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LLY's 2.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VCYT scores 8/9 vs LLY's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.1% | +77.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.7% | +16.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.4% | +33.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.5% | +40.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 2.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$323M | $30.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $363M | $3.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $40M | $33.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 26.09x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in LLY five years ago would be worth $49,693 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,634 for VCYT. Over the past 12 months, VCYT leads with a +10.0% total return vs LLY's +8.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LLY at 47.3% vs VCYT's 15.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -14.4% | -6.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +10.0% | +8.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +52.8% | +219.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -23.7% | +396.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +443.8% | +1316.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.2% | +47.3% |
Risk & Volatility
LLY is the less volatile stock with a 0.65 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than VCYT's 1.12 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LLY currently trades 88.5% from its 52-week high vs VCYT's 71.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.12x | 0.65x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $50.71 | $1133.95 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.61 | $623.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.5% | +88.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 39.9 | 44.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 807K | 3.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates VCYT as "Buy" and LLY as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.3% upside for VCYT (target: $47) vs 21.0% for LLY (target: $1214). LLY is the only dividend payer here at 0.52% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | LLYEli Lilly and Com… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $47.25 | $1214.28 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 44 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 10 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $5.18 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.3% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Mar 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | 100 | 145.44 | +45.4% |
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | 100 | 726.34 | +626.3% |
Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) returned +397% over 5 years vs Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT)'s -24%. A $10,000 investment in LLY 5 years ago would be worth $49,693 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | $65M | $517M | +694.6% |
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | $21.2B | $45.0B | +112.2% |
Veracyte, Inc.'s revenue grew from $65M (2016) to $517M (2025) — a 25.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | -48.2% | 12.8% | +126.6% |
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | 12.9% | 23.5% | +82.3% |
Veracyte, Inc.'s net margin went from -48% (2016) to 13% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 7 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | 37 | 65.9 | +78.1% |
Eli Lilly and Company has traded in a 15x–101x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~86x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | -1.09 | 0.82 | +175.2% |
| Eli Lilly and Compa… (LLY) | 2.49 | 11.71 | +370.3% |
Veracyte, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.09 (2016) to $0.82 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Veracyte, Inc. generated $127M FCF in 2025 (+442% vs 2021). Eli Lilly and Company generated $414M FCF in 2024 (-92% vs 2021).
VCYT vs LLY: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VCYT or LLY a better buy right now?
Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) offers the better valuation at 44.2x trailing P/E (22.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 — VCYT or LLY?
On trailing P/E, Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) is the cheapest at 44.2x versus Eli Lilly and Company at 85.7x. On forward P/E, Veracyte, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22.0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — VCYT or LLY?
Over the past 5 years, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) delivered a total return of +396.9%, compared to -23.7% for Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT). A $10,000 investment in LLY five years ago would be worth approximately $50K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LLY returned +1316% versus VCYT's +443.8%. 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 — VCYT or LLY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.65β versus Veracyte, Inc.'s 1.12β — meaning VCYT is approximately 72% more volatile than LLY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 2% for Eli Lilly and Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — VCYT or LLY?
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) is the more profitable company, earning 23.5% net margin versus 12.8% for Veracyte, 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 11.2% for VCYT. 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 VCYT or LLY more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) trades at 22.0x forward P/E versus 29.4x for Eli Lilly and Company — 7.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VCYT: 30.3% to $47.25.
07Which pays a better dividend — VCYT or LLY?
In this comparison, LLY (0.5% yield) pays a dividend. VCYT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is VCYT 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), 0.5% yield, +1316% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LLY: +1316%, VCYT: +443.8%), 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 VCYT 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. LLY pays a dividend while VCYT 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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