Lilly vs AbbVie stock: the numbers side by side (October 2026)
How do Lilly and AbbVie compare?
| Lilly LLY | AbbVie ABBV | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 44.7%2025 | 8.6%2025 |
| Operating margin | 40.4%2025 | 24.6%2025 |
| Free cash flow | 8,972.0US$ millions · 2025 | 17,816US$ millions · 2025 |
| Free cash flow yield | 0.7%Today (Oct 29, 2026) | 3.5%Today (Oct 30, 2026) |
| Dividend yield | 0.5%Today (Oct 29, 2026) | 2.5%Today (Oct 30, 2026) |
| P/E, last 12 months | 41.8xToday (Oct 29, 2026) | 50.1xToday (Oct 30, 2026) |
| P/E, next 12 months | 27.2xToday (Oct 29, 2026) | 17.9xToday (Oct 30, 2026) |
| Weighted price forecast, about 1 year | 1413.04 (+10 %)October 2027 | 285.67 (+1 %)October 2027 |
| Weighted price forecast, about 3 years | 1580.89 (+25 %)October 2029 | 311.73 (+15 %)October 2029 |
Who leads on what?
| Leads | The lead is | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | Lilly | The higher figure |
| Operating margin | Lilly | The higher figure |
| Free cash flow | AbbVie | The higher figure |
| Free cash flow yield | AbbVie | The higher figure |
| Dividend yield | AbbVie | The higher figure |
| P/E, last 12 months | Lilly | The lower figure |
| P/E, next 12 months | AbbVie | The lower figure |
| Weighted price forecast, about 1 year | Lilly | The higher weighted return |
| Weighted price forecast, about 3 years | Lilly | The higher weighted return |
What does each company do?
Lilly sells prescription medicines—drugs requiring authorization from a healthcare professional—through wholesalers, pharmacies, hospitals and other healthcare organizations.
Lilly (LLY), from our memo of October 29, 2026 · Lilly stock forecast
AbbVie sells prescription medicines in immunology, neuroscience and oncology, along with medical-aesthetics products such as Botox Cosmetic and Juvéderm.
AbbVie (ABBV), from our memo of October 30, 2026 · AbbVie stock forecast
How big are Lilly and AbbVie?
Lilly had a market value of US$1,213,202.2 million on October 29, 2026, and AbbVie a market value of US$514,178.12 million on October 30, 2026.
How fast are Lilly and AbbVie growing, and what did their latest results show?
Revenue at Lilly grew 44.7% in 2025, and revenue at AbbVie grew 8.6% in 2025.
Revenue growth was 55.5% in March 2026 and 47.7% in June 2026, so the latest result looks like continuation rather than a sudden turn. The growth rate is slowing, and September cash flow was not disclosed in the results release.
Lilly (LLY), from our memo of October 29, 2026 · Lilly earnings
The latest quarter confirms continued sales progress, but its earnings growth is amplified by a weak comparison.
AbbVie (ABBV), from our memo of October 30, 2026 · AbbVie earnings
How much cash do Lilly and AbbVie generate, and where does it go?
At Lilly, free cash flow came to US$8,972.0 million in 2025; at AbbVie, it came to US$17,816 million in 2025. The dividend yield stood at 0.5% on October 29, 2026 for Lilly and 2.5% on October 30, 2026 for AbbVie.
Capital spending rose sharply as Lilly built manufacturing capacity. At the same time, dividends and buybacks exceeded free cash flow in both 2023 and 2025. The choice supported shareholders while investment demands were rising, but buybacks create value only if the shares were purchased at sensible prices and future cash earnings per remaining share grow.
Lilly (LLY), from our memo of October 29, 2026 · Lilly dividend
AbbVie generates strong operating cash, but free cash flow is not all surplus cash for shareholders.
AbbVie (ABBV), from our memo of October 30, 2026 · AbbVie stock forecast
What does an investor pay for Lilly and AbbVie today?
Lilly traded at 41.8x the last 12 months’ earnings and 27.2x the next 12 months’ on October 29, 2026; AbbVie traded at 50.1x the last 12 months’ earnings and 17.9x the next 12 months’ on October 30, 2026. At Lilly, the free cash flow yield was 0.7% on October 29, 2026; at AbbVie, it was 3.5% on October 30, 2026.
At $1,288.78 a share, Lilly’s shares have a market value of $1,213.2 billion. Enterprise value, which adds lenders’ claims and subtracts cash, is $1,259.1 billion. It approximates the cost of buying the operating business, so the difference suggests that financing claims exceed cash in the calculation. Buying an existing share usually sends money to another investor, not to Lilly.
Lilly (LLY), from our memo of October 29, 2026 · Lilly stock forecast