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KO vs. LLY: Coca-Cola vs. Eli Lilly Stock Comparison

How do Coca-Cola (KO) 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

Coca-Cola (KO) is classified in the Consumer Staples sector (Food, Beverage & Tobacco), 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 Coca-Cola (KO) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
Profile ItemKOLLY
NameThe Coca-Cola CompanyEli Lilly and Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupFood, Beverage & TobaccoPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBeveragesPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustrySoft Drinks & Non-alcoholic BeveragesPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization411.56 billion USD1,206.07 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962June 1, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

KO
LLY
GSPC
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Coca-Cola (KO) 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 Coca-Cola (KO) and Eli Lilly (LLY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricKOLLY
Total Return (1Y)39.33%52.36%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)22.59%34.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.43%41.08%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

KO
LLY
GSPC
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Coca-Cola (KO) 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 Coca-Cola (KO) and Eli Lilly (LLY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricKOLLY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.90%35.34%
Beta (5Y)0.270.40
Max Drawdown (5Y)-17.27%-34.48%
Avg. Volume (3M)16.05M2.52M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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KO 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 Coca-Cola (KO) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricKOLLY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.851.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.172.29

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Coca-Cola (KO) at 40.59% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Eli Lilly (LLY) at 86.02% also sits in the top quartile.

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

40.59%

KO
40.59%
Max
32.02%
Q3
16.61%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
Min
-10.50%

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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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Coca-Cola (KO) at 28.65% and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 31.90% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

28.65%

KO
28.65%
Max
24.83%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
Min
-11.49%

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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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Coca-Cola (KO) at 33.36% 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.

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

33.36%

Max
34.91%
KO
33.36%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%

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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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricKOLLY
ROE (TTM)40.59%86.02%
ROA (TTM)9.59%21.06%
Net Margin (TTM)28.65%31.90%
Operating Margin (TTM)33.36%53.66%
Gross Margin (TTM)62.32%83.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.87% 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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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Coca-Cola (KO) at 23.58% and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 95.99% sit in the top peer quartile for EPS growth, so each is compounding per-share earnings faster than typical industry peers.

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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricKOLLY
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.87%44.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.69%31.69%
EPS Growth (YoY)23.58%95.99%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)11.55%51.71%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.38 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.39 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LLY.

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.38

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
KO
1.38
Q1
1.02
Min
0.33

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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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.07 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.23 uses more debt funding than most peers.

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.07

Max
2.19
Q3
1.11
KO
1.07
Median
0.68
Q1
0.33
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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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricKOLLY
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.381.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.071.23
Net Debt / EBITDA1.480.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 2.19% pays an industry-typical yield; Eli Lilly (LLY) at 0.49% 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.

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.19%

Max
9.38%
Q3
3.77%
KO
2.19%
Median
1.76%
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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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 61.95% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 21.71% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

61.95%

Max
199.19%
Q3
81.03%
KO
61.95%
Median
41.52%
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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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricKOLLY
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.19%0.49%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)61.95%21.71%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 28.22 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 43.95 sits in the richer quartile — LLY needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

28.22

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
KO
28.22
Median
18.76
Q1
12.77
Min
4.72

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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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 13.95 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Coca-Cola (KO) at 8.06 clears its benchmark range — KO looks notably rich on sales.

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

8.06

KO
8.06
Max
4.64
Q3
2.27
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00

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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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Coca-Cola (KO) at 11.01 and Eli Lilly (LLY) at 29.96 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

11.01

KO
11.01
Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00

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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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Eli Lilly (LLY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Eli Lilly (LLY)
MetricKOLLY
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.2243.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)8.0613.95
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.0129.96
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.06%0.77%