{
  "id": 16112065,
  "title": "Amgen vs. Eli Lilly: Does the GLP-1 Mania Make LLY Stock a Better Buy in 2026?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/amgen-vs-eli-lilly-does-the-glp-1-mania-make-lly-stock-a-better-buy",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-22T21:55:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Motley Fool",
    "slug": "motley-fool",
    "url": "https://www.fool.com/coverage/better-buy/2026/10/22/amgen-vs-eli-lilly-does-the-glp-1-mania-make-lly-stock-a-better-buy-in-2026/?source=iedfolrf0000001"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Amgen and Eli Lilly are two prominent players in the pharmaceutical industry, each with distinct strengths and challenges that could influence their appeal to investors looking to buy stocks in 2026. Amgen, a mature biotechnology leader, focuses on cost-efficient manufacturing and specialty drugs for serious illnesses, including oncology, inflammation, and rare diseases. The company's revenue for FY 2025 reached $36.7 billion, with a net margin of 21% reflecting its ability to generate profit efficiently. However, Amgen's financial health is tempered by a high debt-to-equity ratio of 6.3x and a current ratio of 1.1x, indicating significant reliance on debt and potential liquidity concerns. Its free cash flow of $8.1 billion provides some flexibility but may not be sufficient to drive substantial growth initiatives in the near term.\n\nIn contrast, Eli Lilly & Co. has emerged as a growth powerhouse, leveraging breakthrough obesity and diabetes treatments to drive its expansion. The company's FY 2025 revenue surged to $65.2 billion, with an impressive net margin of 32%, reflecting high demand for its innovative therapies. Eli Lilly's financial profile boasts a lower debt-to-equity ratio of 1.6x and a stronger current ratio of 1.6x, suggesting a more stable capital structure. Moreover, the company's free cash flow of nearly $9.0 billion indicates robust financial resources for reinvestment in R&D and potential acquisitions. Analysts project significant growth for Eli Lilly, with revenue expected to reach $88.7 billion in 2026, accompanied by net income of around $31 billion, driven by the anticipated success of its GLP-1 drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro, as well as the launch of its anticipated weight-loss drug, Retatrutide. Despite its higher valuation, Eli Lilly's growth trajectory and innovative pipeline make it an attractive option for long-term investors seeking exposure to future advancements in healthcare.",
  "summary": "Amgen trades at half the valuation multiple of Eli Lilly while generating stronger free cash flow, but explosive growth in obesity drugs tells a different story.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nasdaq Markets",
        "title": "Amgen vs. Eli Lilly: Does the GLP-1 Mania Make LLY Stock a Better Buy in 2026?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/amgen-vs-eli-lilly-does-the-glp-1-mania-make-lly-stock-a-better-buy-16120131",
        "published": "2026-10-22T22:15:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}