LLY vs. UNH: Eli Lilly vs. UnitedHealth Stock Comparison

October 14, 2026

How do Eli Lilly (LLY) and UnitedHealth (UNH) 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

Eli Lilly (LLY) and UnitedHealth (UNH) share the Health Care sector but sit in different industry groups — LLY in Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and UNH in Health Care Equipment & Services.

Company profile comparison for Eli Lilly (LLY) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Profile Item	LLY	UNH
Name	Eli Lilly and Company	UnitedHealth Group Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Health Care	Health Care
GICS Industry Group	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences	Health Care Equipment & Services
GICS Industry	Pharmaceuticals	Health Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Pharmaceuticals	Managed Health Care
Market Capitalization	1,054.59 billion USD	339.76 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	June 1, 1972	October 17, 1984
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LLY

UNH

GSPC

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH), 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

Loading price history…

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

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Eli Lilly (LLY) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	LLY	UNH
Total Return (1Y)	44.12%	9.55%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	25.28%	-8.92%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	39.03%	0.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LLY

UNH

GSPC

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH), 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

Loading price history…

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Eli Lilly (LLY) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	LLY	UNH
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	34.45%	34.31%
Beta (5Y)	0.43	0.54
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-34.48%	-61.39%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.43M	5.04M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

LLY and UNH 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 Eli Lilly (LLY) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	LLY	UNH
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.15	0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.92	0.20

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 102.29% sits in the top ROE quartile, while UnitedHealth (UNH) at 14.15% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LLY.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

102.29%

LLY: 102.29%
Max: 102.29%
Q3: 4.90%
Median: -28.58%
Q1: -64.07%
Min: -157.61%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.15%

Max: 47.06%
Q3: 14.51%
UNH: 14.15%
Median: 4.31%
Q1: -15.70%
Min: -54.14%

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Health Care Equipment & Services 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) at 3.14% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

33.53%

LLY: 33.53%
Max: 18.88%
Q3: 4.25%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -5.61%
Min: -20.05%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.14%

Max: 29.35%
Q3: 9.20%
UNH: 3.14%
Median: 1.95%
Q1: -7.20%
Min: -30.69%

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Eli Lilly (LLY) at 54.22% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of UnitedHealth (UNH) at 7.13%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

54.22%

Max: 76.04%
LLY: 54.22%
Q3: 12.70%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -69.09%
Min: -182.62%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

7.13%

Max: 34.98%
Q3: 13.98%
UNH: 7.13%
Median: 6.97%
Q1: -1.53%
Min: -22.53%

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Eli Lilly (LLY) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	LLY	UNH
ROE (TTM)	102.29%	14.15%
ROA (TTM)	20.36%	4.87%
Net Margin (TTM)	33.53%	3.14%
Operating Margin (TTM)	54.22%	7.13%
Gross Margin (TTM)	83.40%	19.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 44.70% and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 11.81% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): 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 UnitedHealth (UNH) at -14.70% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for LLY.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Eli Lilly (LLY) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	LLY	UNH
Revenue Growth (YoY)	44.70%	11.81%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	31.69%	11.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)	95.99%	-14.70%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	51.71%	-14.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.36 and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.78 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.36

Max: 26.10
Q3: 12.14
Median: 5.44
Q1: 2.50
LLY: 1.36
Min: 0.10

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.78

Max: 7.62
Q3: 4.03
Median: 1.94
Q1: 1.33
UNH: 0.78
Min: 0.46

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.69 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 1.62 uses more debt funding than most peers.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.62

Max: 1.69
LLY: 1.62
Q3: 0.69
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.69

Max: 1.96
Q3: 0.98
UNH: 0.69
Median: 0.64
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Eli Lilly (LLY) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	LLY	UNH
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.36	0.78
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.62	0.69
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.10	1.57

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 0.55% and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 2.36% 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

0.55%

LLY: 0.55%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.36%

UNH: 2.36%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 21.69% and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 57.56% 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

21.69%

LLY: 21.69%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

57.56%

UNH: 57.56%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Eli Lilly (LLY) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	LLY	UNH
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.55%	2.36%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	21.69%	57.56%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Eli Lilly (LLY) at 39.70 and UnitedHealth (UNH) at 24.34 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

39.70

Max: 86.43
Q3: 46.76
LLY: 39.70
Median: 29.36
Q1: 15.13
Min: 0.11

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

24.34

Max: 85.04
Q3: 46.27
Median: 26.77
UNH: 24.34
Q1: 20.25
Min: 1.67

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) at 0.75 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 13.24 prices around its industry’s middle — UNH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.24

Max: 56.49
Q3: 25.78
LLY: 13.24
Median: 7.13
Q1: 3.29
Min: 0.01

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.75

Max: 8.67
Q3: 4.21
Median: 2.25
Q1: 1.05
UNH: 0.75
Min: 0.03

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

UnitedHealth (UNH) at 3.48 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Eli Lilly (LLY) at 31.12 prices above its benchmark range — LLY looks rich relative to book.

LLY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.12

LLY: 31.12
Max: 14.72
Q3: 7.03
Median: 3.57
Q1: 1.83
Min: -5.39

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.48

Max: 12.37
Q3: 6.36
UNH: 3.48
Median: 3.16
Q1: 1.54
Min: -1.40

Eli Lilly (LLY) vs. UnitedHealth (UNH): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Eli Lilly (LLY) and UnitedHealth (UNH)
Metric	LLY	UNH
P/E Ratio (TTM)	39.70	24.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)	13.24	0.75
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	31.12	3.48
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.05%	7.14%