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AAPL vs. LLY: Apple vs. Eli Lilly Stock Comparison

How do Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Apple (AAPL) is classified in the Information Technology sector (Technology Hardware & Equipment), whereas Eli Lilly (LLY) belongs to Health Care (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Company profile comparison for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
Profile ItemAAPLLLY
NameApple Inc.Eli Lilly and Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization4,572.79 billion USD1,057.35 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateDecember 12, 1980June 1, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AAPL
LLY
GSPC
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricAAPLLLY
Total Return (1Y)42.97%86.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.11%38.69%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.04%36.38%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AAPL
LLY
GSPC
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricAAPLLLY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.28%35.74%
Beta (5Y)1.080.50
Max Drawdown (5Y)-33.36%-34.48%
Avg. Volume (3M)56.56M3.06M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AAPL and LLY are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricAAPLLLY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.542.30
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.304.03

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Apple (AAPL) at 148.75% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Eli Lilly (LLY) at 102.29% also sits in the top quartile.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

148.75%

AAPL
148.75%
Max
44.01%
Q3
18.40%
Median
10.42%
Q1
1.19%
Min
-24.11%

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

102.29%

LLY
102.29%
Max
102.29%
Q3
2.88%
Median
-33.17%
Q1
-64.41%
Min
-157.61%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 33.53% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Apple (AAPL) at 27.62% also retains a top-quartile share.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.62%

AAPL
27.62%
Max
27.62%
Q3
11.20%
Median
4.01%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.93%

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

33.53%

LLY
33.53%
Max
11.21%
Q3
2.65%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-13.58%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 32.62% and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 54.22% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

32.62%

Max
36.90%
AAPL
32.62%
Q3
17.45%
Median
7.35%
Q1
3.09%
Min
-18.29%

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

54.22%

Max
94.41%
LLY
54.22%
Q3
8.92%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-119.39%
Min
-309.54%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricAAPLLLY
ROE (TTM)148.75%102.29%
ROA (TTM)27.08%20.36%
Net Margin (TTM)27.62%33.53%
Operating Margin (TTM)32.62%54.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.65%83.40%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Apple (AAPL) at 6.43% and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 44.70% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 95.99% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Apple (AAPL) at 22.70% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for LLY.

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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricAAPLLLY
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.43%44.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.81%31.69%
EPS Growth (YoY)22.70%95.99%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.88%51.71%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 1.00 and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.36 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.00

Max
4.95
Q3
3.00
Median
1.95
Q1
1.30
AAPL
1.00
Min
0.37

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.36

Max
26.16
Q3
12.25
Median
5.88
Q1
2.81
LLY
1.36
Min
0.55
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Apple (AAPL) at 0.78 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.62 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.78

Max
2.20
Q3
0.91
AAPL
0.78
Median
0.28
Q1
0.05
Min
0.00

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.62

Max
1.64
LLY
1.62
Q3
0.68
Median
0.16
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricAAPLLLY
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.001.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.781.62
Net Debt / EBITDA0.131.10

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 0.34% pays an industry-typical yield; Eli Lilly (LLY) at 0.54% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.34%

Max
0.83%
AAPL
0.34%
Q3
0.34%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.54%

LLY
0.54%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 12.04% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 21.69% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

12.04%

Max
43.66%
Q3
17.57%
AAPL
12.04%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

21.69%

LLY
21.69%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricAAPLLLY
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.34%0.54%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)12.04%21.69%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 35.85 and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 40.00 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

35.85

Max
104.64
Q3
61.25
Median
36.79
AAPL
35.85
Q1
24.13
Min
10.43

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

40.00

Max
84.14
Q3
43.16
LLY
40.00
Median
28.60
Q1
15.80
Min
2.32
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 13.27 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Apple (AAPL) at 9.80 sits in the pricier quartile — AAPL costs more per dollar of sales.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

9.80

Max
15.76
AAPL
9.80
Q3
7.67
Median
3.31
Q1
1.48
Min
0.00

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.27

Max
70.39
Q3
30.57
LLY
13.27
Median
7.62
Q1
3.50
Min
0.01
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Apple (AAPL) at 42.57 and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 33.96 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

42.57

AAPL
42.57
Max
16.24
Q3
8.74
Median
4.09
Q1
2.09
Min
-1.33

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

33.96

LLY
33.96
Max
17.22
Q3
8.05
Median
3.87
Q1
1.75
Min
-7.69
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricAAPLLLY
P/E Ratio (TTM)35.8540.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.8013.27
P/B Ratio (MRQ)42.5733.96
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.36%1.05%