VSM Wealth Advisory LLC Invests $1.36 Million in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)

VSM Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 1,757 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,357,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Enhancing Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the fourth quarter worth approximately $6,408,000. Halter Ferguson Financial Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 16.6% during the fourth quarter. Halter Ferguson Financial Inc. now owns 6,801 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,250,000 after purchasing an additional 968 shares in the last quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $54,907,000. Evoke Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.9% during the fourth quarter. Evoke Wealth LLC now owns 7,466 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,764,000 after purchasing an additional 211 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Horizon Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 64.3% during the fourth quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 8,932 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,896,000 after purchasing an additional 3,497 shares in the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on LLY shares. Bank of America reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $997.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Berenberg Bank set a $970.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $970.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Leerink Partners set a $950.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,009.72.

Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company

In related news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $818.24, for a total transaction of $818,240.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,840 shares in the company, valued at $4,778,521.60. The trade was a 14.62 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of LLY opened at $821.67 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $779.08 billion, a PE ratio of 70.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.97. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1-year low of $711.40 and a 1-year high of $972.53. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $833.02 and its 200-day moving average price is $840.71.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $5.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.45 by ($0.13). Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 23.51% and a return on equity of 85.24%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Monday, December 9th that permits the company to repurchase $15.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to buy up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.