Eli Lilly has accelerated its AI strategy with three major moves in the past five months. In September, the company launched TuneLab, an AI-driven drug-discovery platform offered at no cost to smaller biotech firms, in exchange for access to their experimental data. In October, it partnered with Nvidia to develop the pharmaceutical industry’s most powerful AI supercomputer. Earlier this month, Lilly and Nvidia broke ground on a joint AI drug-discovery lab in the San Francisco Bay Area, bringing together Lilly’s researchers and Nvidia’s engineers to compress research timelines and reduce R&D spending on future blockbuster molecules.

First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. increased its stake in Eli Lilly by 58.8% in the third quarter, raising its holding to 24,634 shares and becoming a holder of roughly $18.8 million worth of stock. Several other institutions also adjusted positions: Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group acquired an initial stake valued at $27,000 in Q2; Evolution Wealth Management added about $29,000; Steph & Co. boosted its position by 290%; and Bare Financial Services expanded by 263.6%. Overall, 82.5% of Lilly’s shares remain in institutional hands.

On October 30th, Eli Lilly reported quarterly EPS of $7.02, topping consensus estimates of $6.42 by $0.60. Revenue reached $17.6 billion, exceeding forecasts of $16.09 billion and marking 53.9% year-over-year growth. The company delivered a net margin of 30.99% and return on equity of 109.52%. For fiscal 2025, Lilly guided EPS of $23.00 to $23.70. The board also approved a quarterly dividend of $1.73 per share, up from $1.50, reflecting a 29.35% payout ratio and an annualized distribution of $6.92 per share.

Beyond AI, Lilly stands to benefit from its leadership in the fast-growing obesity and weight-loss markets, driven by flagship products that remain under patent for several years. The company’s broad pipeline spans neuroscience, immunology and oncology, with key candidates expected to enter late-stage trials over the next five years. These innovations are designed to mitigate upcoming patent expirations on current growth drivers, positioning Lilly for sustained returns over the next two decades.