We recently compiled a list of the 12 Best Forever Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) stands against the other forever stocks to buy now.
Investment opportunities are increasingly cropping up as volatility in the equity markets edge higher in response to changes in the investment environment. Investors have had to tweak their portfolios as global central banks tweak their monetary policies in response to slowing inflationary pressure.
Uncertainty over the upcoming US election is another headwind that is fueling volatility in the markets. Geopolitical tensions, especially in the Middle East, have also weighed significantly, forcing some investors to resort to defensive investment plays.
READ ALSO: 12 Best Long-Term Stocks to Buy According To Warren Buffett and 10 Best Debt-Free Penny Stocks to Buy Now.
Nevertheless, the array of disappointing economic data led by weakness in the labor market has raised serious doubts about whether the US economy is overheating amid the high interest rates. With the economy creating partly 142,000 jobs and the unemployment rate at 4.25% in August, serious doubts were cast about the resilience of the US economy.
Investors need help understanding the state of the US economy, which had decelerated from the rapid expansion it experienced right after the pandemic when companies rushed to reopen and recruit new employees.
Reducing inflation has provided some relief for families struggling with rising costs. However, the job market has also slowed down, with fewer people being hired, wages increasing at a slower pace, and the duration of unemployment increasing as it becomes harder to secure employment.
A survey carried out by CNBC indicates that the probability of the US economy experiencing a soft landing stands at 53% as the US Federal Reserve starts its interest rate cut cycle. According to Michael Englund of Action Economics, the US economy is growing much faster than expected, even as it stares at economic risks on the horizon.
However, there is also a probability that the economy will plunge into recession at 36%, owing to the negative effects of the high interest rates. According to Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG US, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Power’s legacy highly depends on him engineering a soft landing after keeping interest rates high for too long.
Analysts and economists share mixed opinions on whether the economy needs 25 or 50 basis points to start with to cure the effects of the high interest rate environment. The argument for beginning with a smaller cut is based on the assumption that the economy is fundamentally sound, as current and former FED officials argue.
They argue that starting with a 50-basis-point reduction could signal a deeper concern over the economy. It could prompt investors to expect quicker rate reductions, which could spark market booms that complicate efforts to combat inflation.
Source: pexels
On the other hand, a bigger reduction might cause investors to believe wrongly that the Fed intends to lower rates by the same amount at its meetings in November and December. This could create an expectation that the Fed would move swiftly towards a neutral interest rate target, which is meant to neither stimulate nor decelerate economic growth, according to James Bullard, who served as the president of the St. Louis Fed from 2008 to 2023.
Amid the monetary policy uncertainty and economic growth slowdown concerns, the US equity market has remained resilient and supported by solid financial results. The S&P 500 rallying by double percentage points affirms growing investor sentiment.
The artificial intelligence frenzy has been one of the main catalysts driving sentiments in the equity markets. Some stocks with exposure to AI have rallied by more than 50%. On the other hand, the FED cutting interest rates is expected to provide the much-needed fuel to sustain the upward momentum in the equity markets.
The best forever stocks to buy now are companies depicting solid revenue and earnings growth with low debt levels poised to generate long-term shareholder value. Additionally, they boast a competitive edge in their respective industries by investing billions of dollars in research and development. In addition, the companies are increasingly spearheading industrial trends and technological advancements such as artificial intelligence.
Our Methodology
The best forever stocks offer stability and growth, making them ideal for long-term investors. We analyzed the iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF, focusing on high-quality US stocks with strong competitive advantages. We ranked the top 10 based on market cap and hedge fund holdings.
At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
Number of Hedge Funds Holding Stakes as of Q2: 100
Market Cap as of September 18, 2024: $861.24 Billion
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a healthcare powerhouse and one of the best forever stocks to buy now for exposure to the development of game-changing pharmaceuticals. The company is best known for its diabetes and weight loss drugs that sell billions of dollars.
The company’s edge as one of the best healthcare stocks stems from the fact that new drugs are hitting the market, investments in production are yielding returns, and more clinical studies suggest the potential for increased earnings ahead.
Likewise, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)’s drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro have received approval for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, respectively, and are expected to strengthen the current revenue base. Both treatments contain the same active component, known as tirzepatide. In the second quarter, Zepbound generated $1.2 billion in revenue, and Mounjaro nearly $3.1 billion, positioning them as top-selling drugs. Analysts expect the drugs to increase sales by $50 billion by 2029.
The company’s continuous research and development efforts to explore new uses for tripeptide suggest a strong likelihood of securing more approvals from health authorities. This could significantly broaden the market potential and lead to further revenue growth, thus allowing the company to generate more shareholder value.
While trading at a premium with a price-to-earnings multiple of 40, it is highly expected of a company of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) caliber with tremendous opportunities for growth backed by a robust pipeline of drugs. Additionally, the company’s ability to generate free cash flow has rewarded investors with a 0.56% dividend yield.
In Q2 2024, 100 hedge funds held stakes in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), with a total investment of $16 billion. Fisher Asset Management was the largest stakeholder, owning nearly 5 million shares.
Here is what Baron Funds, an investment management company, said about Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) in its second-quarter 2024 investor letter. “Shares of global pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) increased on continued investor enthusiasm around GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and obesity. We remain shareholders. Lilly’s Mounjaro/Zepbound not only offers superb blood sugar control for diabetics but can drive 20%-plus weight loss and likely improve cardiovascular outcomes in both diabetic and non-diabetic obese patients. Lilly is developing next generation drugs, including retatrutide, which drives approximately 25% weight loss, and orforglipron, a daily pill that produces approximately 15% weight loss. In the U.S. alone, there are 32 million Type 2 diabetics and an additional 105 million obese patients who we estimate would qualify for GLP-1 drugs. Although supply and access are limited near term, we think GLP-1 drugs will become standard of care for both diabetes and obesity and will become a $150 billion-plus category. We see Lilly setting a high efficacy bar and capturing significant long-term market share. We think the adoption of GLP-1s will drive Lilly to triple total revenue by 2030.”
Overall LLY ranks 8th on our list of the best undervalued cyclical stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of LLY as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LLY, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
