Ascent Group LLC increased its position in Eli Lilly by 3.3% during the third quarter, acquiring an additional 575 shares to bring its total to 17,821 shares. According to the latest 13F filing, this stake was valued at approximately $13.6 million as of the end of the period, reflecting the fund’s continued confidence in Lilly’s long-term growth trajectory.

Several major investors made noteworthy adjustments to their Eli Lilly holdings. Vanguard Group added 1.5% to its stake, now owning 80.4 million shares valued at $62.7 billion. Laurel Wealth Advisors dramatically expanded its position by 78,621.2% to 11.55 million shares, while Norges Bank initiated a new stake worth about $8.83 billion. Jennison Associates and AllianceBernstein also raised their holdings by 4.3% and 7.9%, respectively. In total, institutional and hedge fund ownership stands at 82.53%.

In its third-quarter report, Lilly delivered earnings per share of $7.02, surpassing consensus estimates by $0.60. Revenue rose 53.9% year-over-year to $17.60 billion, topping analyst forecasts by $1.51 billion. The company achieved a net margin of 30.99% and a return on equity of 109.52%. Management reaffirmed full-year 2025 EPS guidance in the $23.00–$23.70 range, while street analysts project 23.48 EPS for the fiscal year.

The board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.73 per share, up from $1.50, payable on March 10 to shareholders of record February 13. This increase annualizes to $6.92 per share, representing a 0.6% yield and a payout ratio of 29.35%. The move underscores Lilly’s robust free cash flow generation and commitment to returning capital to shareholders.