Indianapolis/New York: Eli Lilly and Company (LLY.N) achieved a historic milestone on Friday, becoming the world’s first pharmaceutical company to surpass a market capitalization of $1 trillion. Shares closed at a record high, pushing the century-old drugmaker into an elite group previously reserved for technology behemoths such as Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia.
The breakthrough caps a remarkable 2025 for Lilly, with its stock surging more than 35% year-to-date. Investors have rewarded the company for its dominant position in the fast-expanding market for GLP-1 receptor agonists — medications originally developed for diabetes that have revolutionized obesity treatment.
Demand for Lilly’s tirzepatide-based products, sold as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for chronic weight management, continues to outstrip supply despite aggressive manufacturing expansion. Analysts project combined annual sales of the two brands could exceed $30 billion by 2028, with some forecasts reaching $50 billion as indications broaden to include sleep apnea, heart failure, and fatty liver disease.
The valuation triumph highlights a broader shift on Wall Street, where healthcare stocks — long viewed as defensive plays — are now trading at premium multiples typically seen in high-growth tech. Lilly now ranks among the ten most valuable companies globally, surpassing established giants like Tesla and Walmart.
CEO David Ricks called the milestone “a testament to our innovation engine and the life-changing impact of our medicines,” while pledging continued investment in next-generation obesity and cardiometabolic therapies.