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BIIB vs. LLY: Biogen vs. Eli Lilly Stock Comparison

How do Biogen (BIIB) 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

Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but BIIB is classified in Biotechnology while LLY is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

Company profile comparison for Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
Profile ItemBIIBLLY
NameBiogen Inc.Eli Lilly and Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization36.71 billion USD1,206.07 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateSeptember 17, 1991June 1, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BIIB
LLY
GSPC
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Biogen (BIIB) 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 Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBIIBLLY
Total Return (1Y)65.44%52.36%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.62%34.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-0.96%41.08%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BIIB
LLY
GSPC
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Biogen (BIIB) 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 Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBIIBLLY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.58%35.34%
Beta (5Y)0.080.40
Max Drawdown (5Y)-64.35%-34.48%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.05M2.52M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BIIB and LLY are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBIIBLLY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.771.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.772.29

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 86.02% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Biogen (BIIB) at 1.87% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LLY.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.87%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
BIIB
1.87%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

86.02%

Max
109.18%
LLY
86.02%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 31.90% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Biogen (BIIB) at 3.38% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.38%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
BIIB
3.38%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.90%

LLY
31.90%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 24.12% and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 53.66% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

24.12%

Max
83.12%
BIIB
24.12%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

53.66%

Max
83.12%
LLY
53.66%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBIIBLLY
ROE (TTM)1.87%86.02%
ROA (TTM)4.94%21.06%
Net Margin (TTM)3.38%31.90%
Operating Margin (TTM)24.12%53.66%
Gross Margin (TTM)75.77%83.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 2.22% 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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Biogen (BIIB) 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 Biogen (BIIB) at -21.38% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for LLY.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBIIBLLY
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.22%44.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.94%31.69%
EPS Growth (YoY)-21.38%95.99%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-25.04%51.71%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.95 and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.39 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.95

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
BIIB
1.95
Min
0.10

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.39

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
LLY
1.39
Min
0.10
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Biogen (BIIB) at 0.41 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.23 uses more debt funding than most peers.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.41

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
BIIB
0.41
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.23

Max
1.42
LLY
1.23
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBIIBLLY
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.951.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.411.23
Net Debt / EBITDA1.970.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Biogen (BIIB) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Eli Lilly (LLY) reports a yield of 0.49%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

BIIB
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.49%

LLY
0.49%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Biogen (BIIB) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Eli Lilly (LLY) reports a payout of 21.71%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

BIIB
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

21.71%

LLY
21.71%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBIIBLLY
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.49%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%21.71%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Eli Lilly (LLY) at 43.95 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Biogen (BIIB) at 107.51 is richer still, above its industry range.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

107.51

BIIB
107.51
Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

43.95

Max
85.34
LLY
43.95
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Biogen (BIIB) at 3.57 and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 13.95 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.57

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
BIIB
3.57
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.95

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
LLY
13.95
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Biogen (BIIB) at 1.94 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 29.96 prices above its benchmark range — LLY looks rich relative to book.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.94

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
BIIB
1.94
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

29.96

LLY
29.96
Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBIIBLLY
P/E Ratio (TTM)107.5143.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.5713.95
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.9429.96
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.20%0.77%