Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) Stake Boosted by V Square Quantitative Management LLC

V Square Quantitative Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) by 4.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,852 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 684 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for about 1.6% of V Square Quantitative Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. V Square Quantitative Management LLC’s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $11,466,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. DT Investment Partners LLC lifted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. DT Investment Partners LLC now owns 762 shares of the company’s stock worth $588,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares during the period. CFC Planning Co LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the fourth quarter valued at about $888,000. First Merchants Corp increased its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. First Merchants Corp now owns 56,199 shares of the company’s stock valued at $43,386,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Littlejohn Financial Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the fourth quarter valued at about $313,000. Finally, Palacios Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the fourth quarter valued at about $500,000. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the company’s stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $844.82 on Friday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $711.40 and a 12 month high of $972.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03. The stock has a market cap of $802.01 billion, a PE ratio of 72.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 0.42. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $794.07 and a 200-day simple moving average of $844.34.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $5.32 EPS 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 86.26%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Monday, December 9th that allows the company to buyback $15.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to reacquire up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.71%. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. Eli Lilly and Company’s payout ratio is 44.41%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on LLY shares. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,029.00 to $1,038.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays decreased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,025.00 to $975.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,000.00 to $970.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Redburn Atlantic raised Eli Lilly and Company to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Eli Lilly and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $997.50.

Eli Lilly and Company Profile

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.