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BRK.B vs. LLY: Berkshire Hathaway vs. Eli Lilly Stock Comparison

How do Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) 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

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) is classified in the Financials sector (Financial Services), 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 Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
Profile ItemBRK.BLLY
NameBerkshire Hathaway Inc. Class BEli Lilly and Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupFinancial ServicesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryFinancial ServicesPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-Sector HoldingsPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization1,125.45 billion USD1,057.35 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMay 9, 1996June 1, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BRK.B
LLY
GSPC
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) 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 Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Eli Lilly (LLY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBRK.BLLY
Total Return (1Y)13.07%86.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)12.90%38.69%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.81%36.38%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BRK.B
LLY
GSPC
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) 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 Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Eli Lilly (LLY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBRK.BLLY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)14.40%35.74%
Beta (5Y)0.610.50
Max Drawdown (5Y)-26.58%-34.48%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.84M3.06M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BRK.B 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 Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBRK.BLLY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.632.30
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.924.03

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 102.29% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 10.50% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LLY.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

10.50%

Max
46.75%
Q3
21.47%
Median
12.65%
BRK.B
10.50%
Q1
4.20%
Min
-18.74%

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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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 33.53% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 19.31% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

19.31%

Max
66.61%
Q3
29.41%
BRK.B
19.31%
Median
16.14%
Q1
4.44%
Min
-28.52%

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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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 54.22% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 14.35%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

14.35%

Max
96.23%
Q3
52.90%
Median
28.21%
BRK.B
14.35%
Q1
12.60%
Min
-46.79%

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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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBRK.BLLY
ROE (TTM)10.50%102.29%
ROA (TTM)5.39%20.36%
Net Margin (TTM)19.31%33.53%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.35%54.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)--83.40%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 44.70% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at -3.23% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) 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 Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at -24.78% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for LLY.

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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBRK.BLLY
Revenue Growth (YoY)-3.23%44.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)20.59%31.69%
EPS Growth (YoY)-24.78%95.99%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--51.71%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Eli Lilly (LLY) shows current ratio of 1.36; Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) doesn’t get one — Financial Services balance sheets aren’t split into current and non-current buckets, so short-term liquidity there is judged through regulatory measures instead.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

--

BRK.B
--
Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--

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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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): BRK.B’s current ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for LLY only.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Eli Lilly (LLY) shows debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62; for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) the ratio is set aside — in Financial Services, balance-sheet leverage is part of the business model itself, so capital-adequacy measures do the job this ratio does elsewhere.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

--

BRK.B
--
Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--

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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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): BRK.B’s debt-to-equity ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for LLY only.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBRK.BLLY
Current Ratio (MRQ)--1.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--1.62
Net Debt / EBITDA--1.10

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) 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 0.54%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

0.00%

Max
11.42%
Q3
4.62%
Median
1.03%
BRK.B
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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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) 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 21.69%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

0.00%

Max
223.44%
Q3
89.89%
Median
25.00%
BRK.B
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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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBRK.BLLY
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.54%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%21.69%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 15.62 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.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

15.62

Max
50.71
Q3
26.21
Median
15.62
BRK.B
15.62
Q1
9.53
Min
1.87

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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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 3.00 and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 13.27 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

3.00

Max
10.14
Q3
4.96
BRK.B
3.00
Median
2.96
Q1
1.51
Min
-1.30

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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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 0.00 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 33.96 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

0.00

Max
7.67
Q3
3.60
Median
1.67
Q1
0.87
BRK.B
0.00
Min
-0.46

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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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricBRK.BLLY
P/E Ratio (TTM)15.6240.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.0013.27
P/B Ratio (MRQ)0.0033.96
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--1.05%