How to play Eli Lilly stock as it hits a much-anticipated milestone?
Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has officially joined the trillion-dollar market cap club, cementing its place among the world’s most valuable companies.
The pharmaceutical behemoth’s surge has been fueled by investor enthusiasm for its obesity and diabetes treatments, particularly its GLP-1 franchise.
Shares have climbed steadily this year, with momentum accelerating as expectations for new oral therapies grow. LLY stock has gained over 70% in less than four months, pushing past the symbolic trillion-dollar threshold.
The rally reflects both strong fundamentals and investor conviction that Eli Lilly’s pipeline could reshape the weight-loss drug market for years to come.
Jim Cramer recommends sticking with Eli Lilly stock
Despite a meteoric rise in Eli Lilly shares this year, famed investor Jim Cramer sees them pushing further up in 2026.
In a recent segment of CNBC, the former hedge fund manager dubbed the company’s oral obesity pill and its recent deal with the Trump administration as a game-changer.
“People are beginning to realise maybe this thing is worth far more,” he argued – noting that the convenience of a pill could rival monthly injections.
Cramer praised Lilly’s chief executive, David Ricks, for steering the company into new therapeutic areas like ALS while maintaining leadership in obesity treatments.
All in all, the Mad Money host expects the NYSE-listed firm’s innovation pipeline and exceptional execution to drive its stock higher next year.
How TrumpRx could prove a tailwind for LLY shares
The TrumpRx initiative, as part of Eli Lilly’s recent deal with the Trump administration, focuses on lowering prescription drug costs and expanding access.
By easing affordability barriers, the program is expected to accelerate uptake of Lilly’s obesity and diabetes treatments, particularly its GLP‑1 therapies.
Wider coverage means millions more patients could gain access to these medicines, boosting adherence and broadening the consumer base.
For investors, the policy shift strengthens the case for the company’s long‑term growth, as lower prices paired with government-backed coverage create a pathway for mass adoption.
This alignment positions LLY shares to benefit from both policy momentum and surging demand.
How high could Eli Lilly fly in 2026
Citi’s senior analyst Geoff Meacham has doubled down on his optimism, raising his price objective for Eli Lilly stock to $1,500 – implying a more than 45% upside from here.
In his research note, Meacham noted that expectations for orforglipron, Lilly’s oral GLP-1 drug, “have steadily risen given a competitive product profile, high consumer interest, and broadening access.”
Citi now forecasts 2026 sales of $1.8 billion, with potential peak sales exceeding $40 billion. The firm expects Medicare coverage this spring and anticipates commercial insurers will follow suit, accelerating adoption.
“Whether it be increasing value proposition or the optics of being aligned with the government channel, significantly better access is on the horizon,” Meacham wrote.
This further underscores the transformative potential of the firm’s obesity and diabetes pipeline, which could drive the pharma stock significantly higher from here over time.
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