Will Eli Lilly Split Its Stock? Here's What History Says Will Happen If It Does.

Eli Lilly, currently priced at around $1,160 per share, is one of the most expensive stocks on the S&P 500. Despite the high price, it may be prudent for the company to consider splitting its shares, a move it has not undertaken in nearly three decades. While Eli Lilly has divided its stock four times since 1986, the most recent split occurred in October 1997.

The pharmaceutical giant has seen rapid growth in recent years, primarily due to the success of its GLP-1 weight loss drug Zepbound. In light of this, assessing recent stock splits of comparable companies may provide insight into potential post-split price action for Eli Lilly shares. Notable examples include Broadcom and Nvidia, which experienced significant gains following their 10-for-1 stock splits in 2024, and Booking Holdings, which saw an 11% increase in share price within five months of its 25-for-1 split in 2026.

However, it is essential to note that stock splits do not alter a company's fundamentals, and any gains following a split may be a result of strong performance rather than a lower stock price. Given Eli Lilly's recent surge of over 58% in the past year, the company's future performance will likely be determined by its ability to maintain or exceed growth expectations.

Recent developments, such as the expansion of its GLP-1 drug portfolio with Foundayo and the upcoming launch of retatrutide, as well as the acquisition of Merida Biosciences, suggest that Eli Lilly is well-positioned to continue its upward trajectory. Nevertheless, investors should carefully evaluate whether these factors will translate into continued stock price appreciation before making any investment decisions.