Eli Lilly (LLY) vs Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Eli Lilly (LLY) has outperformed Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) over the past year, gaining 41.8% versus a loss of 35.3%. Over five years, LLY leads with a +402.8% price change compared with -25.3% for NVO. Eli Lilly is the larger company by market cap ($1.06 trillion vs $168.89 billion), about 6.3 times the size.
On valuation, Novo Nordisk A/S trades at a lower forward P/E (11.5x vs 25.0x for Eli Lilly). Novo Nordisk A/S offers the higher dividend yield (30.58% vs 0.54%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | LLY | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $1,188.29 | $38.26 |
| Market cap | $1.06T | $168.89B |
| 1-day change | +2.66% | +1.95% |
| YTD return | +11.30% | -24.92% |
| 1-year return | +41.78% | -35.28% |
| 5-year return | +402.83% | -25.35% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 39.89 | 9.35 |
| Forward P/E | 24.97 | 11.50 |
| EPS (TTM) | $29.79 | $4.09 |
| Dividend yield | 0.54% | 30.58% |
| Annual dividend | $6.46 | $11.70 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $65.18B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +44.70% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $20.64B | — |
| Gross margin | 83.04% | — |
| Net margin | 31.67% | — |
| 52-week high | $1,292.65 | $64.16 |
| 52-week low | $783.85 | $35.12 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.07% | -40.37% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +11.86% | +20.41% |
| Average volume | 2.48M | 12.47M |
| Shares outstanding | 891.74M | 3.34B |
| Employees | 50,000 | 66,700 |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - General | Drug Manufacturers - General |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Eli Lilly is about 6.3 times larger than Novo Nordisk A/S by market value ($1.06T vs $168.89B).
- LLY has outperformed NVO by 77.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Eli Lilly trades at a higher earnings multiple (39.9x vs 9.4x trailing P/E).
- Novo Nordisk A/S offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (30.58% vs 0.54%).
About Eli Lilly
LLY stock →Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets human pharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, China, Japan, and internationally. The company offers cardiometabolic health products, including 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, Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.
Healthcare · Drug Manufacturers - General · 50,000 employees
About Novo Nordisk A/S
NVO stock →Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products. It operates through two segments, Obesity and Diabetes Care, and Rare Disease.
Healthcare · Drug Manufacturers - General · 66,700 employees
LLY vs NVO FAQ
Which is bigger, Eli Lilly or Novo Nordisk A/S?
Eli Lilly (LLY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.06T compared with $168.89B for Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LLY or NVO?
LLY returned +41.78% over the past 12 months, compared with -35.28% for NVO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LLY or NVO?
NVO has the lower trailing P/E at 9.4, versus 39.9 for LLY. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Eli Lilly or Novo Nordisk A/S?
Novo Nordisk A/S has the higher yield at 30.58%, compared with 0.54% for Eli Lilly.
Are Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk A/S in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Drug Manufacturers - General industry within the Healthcare sector.