Eli Lilly vs Johnson & Johnson: Stock Comparison
Data as of November 7, 2026. Refreshed weekly from SEC filings and market data.
Johnson & Johnson is cheaper on earnings, at 40.8 times against 46.6; Eli Lilly keeps the higher net margin (31.9% against 16.2%); Eli Lilly grew revenue faster over the last year (45.5% against 7.8%); Johnson & Johnson pays the higher dividend yield (1.9% against 0.5%). Eli Lilly clears 3 of this site's 8 value filters and Johnson & Johnson 3. Figures are as of November 7, 2026; each is on the page below with its source.
How do Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Eli Lilly (LLY) | Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | Clearer lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share price | $1,354.00 | $276.22 | |
| Market value | $1.28 trillion | $656 billion | |
| P/E ratio (trailing) | 46.6 | 40.8 | JNJ |
| PEG ratio | 1.45 | 4.58 | LLY |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 0.9% | 3.4% | JNJ |
| Net profit margin | 31.9% | 16.2% | LLY |
| Revenue growth, last year | 45.5% | 7.8% | LLY |
| Return on equity | 83.7% | 25.7% | LLY |
| Debt to equity | 1.23 | 0.58 | JNJ |
| Dividend yield | 0.5% | 1.9% | JNJ |
| Margin of safety (DCF) | -543.2% | -72.8% | JNJ |
| Value filters passed (of 8) | 3 | 3 | About the same |
| Distance from 52-week high | -4.5% | -0.8% |
How have Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson shares done against each other?
Eli Lilly 520Johnson & Johnson 170
Each share price set to 100 on Nov 2021, to Nov 2026. Price only: dividends are not included.
From Nov 2021 to Nov 2026, Eli Lilly shares are up 420% and Johnson & Johnson shares up 70%, so Eli Lilly has pulled ahead of Johnson & Johnson by 350 points of the starting price. The deepest fall from a prior high in that window was 34% for Eli Lilly and 20% for Johnson & Johnson.
| Period | Eli Lilly (LLY) | Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) |
|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | +44.4% | +47.7% |
| Last 3 years | +127.5% | +82.1% |
| Last 5 years | +410.9% | +69.0% |
Which has grown faster, Eli Lilly or Johnson & Johnson?
Over 5 years, Eli Lilly grew revenue 21.6% a year and earnings per share 27.6% a year; Johnson & Johnson grew revenue 2.7% and earnings per share 14.9%. Its net margin averaged 22.4% at Eli Lilly and 26.9% at Johnson & Johnson.
| Measure | Eli Lilly (LLY) | Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest fiscal year ended | Dec 2025 | Dec 2025 |
| Revenue, first year to latest | $24.5 billion to $65.2 billion | $82.6 billion to $94.2 billion |
| Revenue growth per year | 21.6% | 2.7% |
| Earnings per share, first year to latest | $6.79 to $22.95 | $5.51 to $11.03 |
| Earnings per share growth per year | 27.6% | 14.9% |
| Net margin, latest year | 31.7% | 28.5% |
| Net margin, average of the years | 22.4% | 26.9% |
| Free cash flow margin, latest year | n/a | 20.9% |
From each company's 10-K filings (SEC EDGAR), over its latest 5 years.
What growth does each share price assume?
| Measure | Eli Lilly (LLY) | Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow growth the price implies | n/a | 22.0% a year |
| Free cash flow per share | $12.33 | $9.36 |
| Margin of safety on this site's DCF | -543.2% | -72.8% |
Eli Lilly's price is above what this site's DCF gives even at 40% a year of free cash flow growth, so the price assumes more than any growth rate tested.
At $276.22, Johnson & Johnson's price implies free cash flow growth of 22.0% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is more growth than the 8% baseline.
The same model and baseline as every stock page. A price that asks for less growth is not a better company, only a lower bar to clear.
Where is each stronger?
Where Eli Lilly leads
- Lower PEG: 1.45 against 4.58
- Higher net margin: 31.9% against 16.2%
- Faster revenue growth last year: 45.5% against 7.8%
- Higher return on equity: 83.7% against 25.7%
- Faster revenue growth over its filed record: 21.6% against 2.7%
- Faster earnings-per-share growth over its filed record: 27.6% against 14.9%
- A higher net margin in its latest filed year: 31.7% against 28.5%
Where Johnson & Johnson leads
- Lower P/E: 40.8 against 46.6
- Higher free-cash-flow yield: 3.4% against 0.9%
- Less debt for its equity: 0.58 against 1.23
- Higher dividend yield: 1.9% against 0.5%
- Higher margin of safety on this site's DCF: -72.8% against -543.2%
- A higher average net margin: 26.9% against 22.4%
About the same on: value filters passed (of 8). A lead needs a clear gap (10% apart on a ratio, 1 point on a percentage), so a rounding difference never names a winner. A lead on one measure is not a verdict on the company.
How do the businesses differ?
Eli Lilly. Eli Lilly develops and sells prescription drugs. It is now best known for its diabetes and weight-loss medicines, Mounjaro and Zepbound, and also sells cancer, immunology and Alzheimer's treatments.
Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson makes prescription drugs and medical devices. After separating its consumer-health business as Kenvue in 2023, it focuses on medicines (cancer, immunology, neuroscience) and medical technology (surgery, orthopedics, cardiovascular).
Both are in the Pharmaceuticals industry on this site. Eli Lilly is a drug company whose recent growth has come from diabetes and weight-loss medicines. Johnson & Johnson is broader, with pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
What stands out about Eli Lilly
- Misses 3 of the 8 value filters. It fails Trailing P/E < 25 (46.55), Price/Book < 8 (31.88) and Price/Sales < 7 (14.85); the other 3 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- The margin of safety is falling. It went from -374% on Oct 7 to -543% on Nov 7 across 8 weekly readings.
- Strongest against peers: net margin. At 31.9% (peer median 16.2%) it ranks 1st of 15 among pharma & biotech stocks this site tracks.
What stands out about Johnson & Johnson
- Misses 3 of the 8 value filters. It fails Trailing P/E < 25 (40.79), PEG Ratio < 1.5 (4.58) and EPS Growth YoY > -5% (-96.0%); the other 3 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- The margin of safety is falling. It went from -61% on Oct 7 to -73% on Nov 7 across 8 weekly readings.
- Close to its 52-week high. At $276.22, JNJ is within 0.8% of its high of $278.43, 48.5% above its low of $186.00.
Frequently asked questions about Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson
Which is cheaper, Eli Lilly or Johnson & Johnson?
On trailing earnings, Johnson & Johnson is cheaper: Eli Lilly trades at 46.6 times and Johnson & Johnson at 40.8 times. On free cash flow, the yields are 0.9% and 3.4%. Cheaper is not the same as better value: read the growth each price assumes below.
Which pays the higher dividend, Eli Lilly or Johnson & Johnson?
Johnson & Johnson pays the higher yield: Eli Lilly 0.5% and Johnson & Johnson 1.9% over the last year.
Which has grown faster, Eli Lilly or Johnson & Johnson?
Over their latest filed five years, Eli Lilly grew revenue 21.6% a year and Johnson & Johnson 2.7%; earnings per share grew 27.6% and 14.9% a year.
Which has more debt, Eli Lilly or Johnson & Johnson?
Eli Lilly has more debt for its equity: debt to equity is 1.23 for Eli Lilly and 0.58 for Johnson & Johnson. A very high figure can also come from buybacks that shrank equity.
Which is more profitable, Eli Lilly or Johnson & Johnson?
Eli Lilly keeps more of each sales dollar as profit: 31.9% for Eli Lilly and 16.2% for Johnson & Johnson, with a return on equity of 83.7% and 25.7%.
Which passes more of the 8 value filters?
Both clear 3 of the 8. The filters are this site's own value rules, shown with each stock's page.
Where do these numbers come from?
Prices, ratios and yield are from this site's weekly data as of November 7, 2026; growth and margins by year are from each company's 10-K filings (sources on Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson). The DCF is the same model on every stock page. See Editorial Standards. Educational, not investment advice.