Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) stock was the picture of health on Friday. Shares of the massive American pharmaceutical company rose by more than 2% on the day, thanks largely to news from a rival. Eli Lilly's small pop was due to the latest developments in the lab reported by Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO),

Eli Lilly ( LLY -6.59%) is the most valuable healthcare stock in the world, with a market capitalization of around $720 billion. For a while, it looked like it might be on track to be the first healthcare company to top a $1 trillion valuation, perhaps as early as this year.

Since the start of 2020, Eli Lilly’s (NYSE: LLY) stock price chart has been straight up and to the right, up 472.57% and currently trading at $756.99. The company has been around since 1876 and the stock didn’t go public until 1952 but in the last 4 years,

All told, Lilly stock still gained 33% in 2024, outperforming the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite. Unfortunately, Lilly investors haven't had much to celebrate so far in 2025. On Jan. 14, shares of Lilly dropped by as much as 8% and ended the day down around 6%. Year-to-date, share prices are down about 1.4%.

Eli Lilly's diverse portfolio shows broad growth, with significant contributions from oncology and other therapeutic areas. See why LLY stock is a Buy.

GLP-1 treatments such as semaglutide (under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) by Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE: NVO) were likely the hottest medical sector story in 2024. With its offering of tirzepatide (branded as Mounjaro and Zepbound),