LLY vs. MSFT: Eli Lilly vs. Microsoft Stock Comparison
This page compares Eli Lilly (LLY) with Microsoft (MSFT) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | LLY | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 40.51% | -17.75% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | LLY | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Volatility | 38.09% | 25.44% |
| Beta | 0.51 | 1.13 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 3.19M | 34.88M |
Company Profile
Eli Lilly (LLY) is classified in the Health Care sector (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences), whereas Microsoft (MSFT) belongs to Information Technology (Software & Services) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.
| Profile Item | LLY | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Eli Lilly and Company | Microsoft Corp. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Systems Software |
| Market Capitalization | 1,010.34 billion USD | 2,902.59 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | March 13, 1986 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 40.32 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 23.29 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
40.32
- Max
- 77.14
- Q3
- 43.78
- LLY
- 40.32
- Median
- 24.68
- Q1
- 15.27
- Min
- 1.70
MSFT
Software & Services industry group
23.29
- Max
- 106.12
- Q3
- 56.70
- Median
- 30.10
- MSFT
- 23.29
- Q1
- 15.65
- Min
- 0.39
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
Eli Lilly (LLY) at 13.98 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Microsoft (MSFT) at 9.12 sits in the pricier quartile — MSFT costs more per dollar of sales.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.98
- Max
- 55.38
- Q3
- 24.42
- LLY
- 13.98
- Median
- 6.98
- Q1
- 3.30
- Min
- 0.01
MSFT
Software & Services industry group
9.12
- Max
- 18.75
- MSFT
- 9.12
- Q3
- 8.80
- Median
- 3.97
- Q1
- 2.05
- Min
- 0.02
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Microsoft (MSFT) at 7.01 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 32.45 prices above its benchmark range — LLY looks rich relative to book.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
32.45
- LLY
- 32.45
- Max
- 13.23
- Q3
- 6.38
- Median
- 3.46
- Q1
- 1.64
- Min
- -5.17
MSFT
Software & Services industry group
7.01
- Max
- 16.52
- Q3
- 8.04
- MSFT
- 7.01
- Median
- 3.96
- Q1
- 1.96
- Min
- -6.70
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | LLY | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 40.32 | 23.29 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 13.98 | 9.12 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 32.45 | 7.01 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 0.91% | 1.28% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Eli Lilly (LLY) at 107.46% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Microsoft (MSFT) at 34.01% also sits in the top quartile.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
107.46%
- LLY
- 107.46%
- Max
- 101.32%
- Q3
- 2.92%
- Median
- -31.26%
- Q1
- -62.68%
- Min
- -158.89%
MSFT
Software & Services industry group
34.01%
- Max
- 53.38%
- MSFT
- 34.01%
- Q3
- 16.49%
- Median
- 5.29%
- Q1
- -13.69%
- Min
- -58.43%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Eli Lilly (LLY) at 34.99% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Microsoft (MSFT) at 39.34% also retains a top-quartile share.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
34.99%
- LLY
- 34.99%
- Max
- 12.76%
- Q3
- 4.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -2.26%
- Min
- -11.53%
MSFT
Software & Services industry group
39.34%
- Max
- 44.20%
- MSFT
- 39.34%
- Q3
- 14.93%
- Median
- 3.32%
- Q1
- -6.49%
- Min
- -34.99%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 49.39% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 46.33% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
49.39%
- Max
- 100.30%
- LLY
- 49.39%
- Q3
- 4.40%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -131.52%
- Min
- -333.43%
MSFT
Software & Services industry group
46.33%
- Max
- 60.45%
- MSFT
- 46.33%
- Q3
- 16.49%
- Median
- 4.46%
- Q1
- -12.92%
- Min
- -54.21%
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | LLY | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 107.46% | 34.01% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 20.74% | 14.81% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 34.99% | 39.34% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 49.39% | 46.33% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 82.83% | 68.31% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | LLY | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 44.70% | 14.93% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 31.69% | 12.42% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | LLY | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | 95.99% | 15.59% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | 51.71% | 12.23% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Microsoft (MSFT) at 1.28 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.50 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LLY.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.50
- Max
- 24.81
- Q3
- 11.75
- Median
- 5.57
- Q1
- 2.69
- LLY
- 1.50
- Min
- 0.23
MSFT
Software & Services industry group
1.28
- Max
- 5.55
- Q3
- 2.88
- Median
- 1.73
- MSFT
- 1.28
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.03
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.30 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.39 uses more debt funding than most peers.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.39
- Max
- 1.60
- LLY
- 1.39
- Q3
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
MSFT
Software & Services industry group
0.30
- Max
- 2.31
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.32
- MSFT
- 0.30
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Metric | LLY | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.50 | 1.28 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.39 | 0.30 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.05 | 0.26 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 0.61% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.93% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.61%
- LLY
- 0.61%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MSFT
Software & Services industry group
0.93%
- MSFT
- 0.93%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 22.13% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 20.73% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
LLY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
22.13%
- LLY
- 22.13%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MSFT
Software & Services industry group
20.73%
- MSFT
- 20.73%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | LLY | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.61% | 0.93% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 22.13% | 20.73% |