What is Eli Lilly and Company's average annual return?

Since 1973, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) has returned about 12.7% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 15.4%.

What were Eli Lilly and Company's best and worst years?

Over 1973–2026, the best year was 1997 (+93.5%) and the worst was 1992 (-27.2%).

How often is Eli Lilly and Company up in a year?

37 of the 53 full years since 1973 were positive — about 70% of the time.

LLY

Eli Lilly and CompanyStock · Healthcare

$1,213.91+$22.17 (+1.86%)as of market close, Jul 2, 2026

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LLY returns by year

Eli Lilly and Company has returned +12.7% annually (CAGR) since 1973. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) below, through July 2, 2026 — the most recent year is year-to-date.

Annualized (CAGR)

+12.7%

1973–2026

Average year

+15.4%

53 full years

Best year

+93.5%

1997

Worst year

-27.2%

1992

Positive years

37/53

70% up

Eli Lilly and Company returns by year (1973–2026)#

Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return).

Eli Lilly and Company annual returns by year
Year	Start price	End price	Dividend	Total return
2026YTD	$1,075	$1,214	+0.4%	+13.3%
2025	$772.00	$1,075	+1.0%	+40.2%
2024	$582.92	$772.00	+0.9%	+33.3%
2023	$365.84	$582.92	+1.6%	+60.9%
2022	$276.22	$365.84	+1.8%	+34.2%
2021	$168.84	$276.22	+2.5%	+66.1%
2020	$131.43	$168.84	+2.6%	+31.0%
2019	$115.72	$131.43	+2.5%	+16.1%
2018	$84.46	$115.72	+3.4%	+40.4%
2017	$73.55	$84.46	+3.0%	+17.8%
2016	$84.26	$73.55	+2.3%	-10.4%
2015	$68.99	$84.26	+3.2%	+25.4%
2014	$51.00	$68.99	+4.4%	+39.7%
2013	$49.32	$51.00	+3.8%	+7.3%
2012	$41.56	$49.32	+4.1%	+22.7%
2011	$35.04	$41.56	+6.5%	+25.1%
2010	$35.71	$35.04	+5.5%	+3.6%
2009	$40.27	$35.71	+5.0%	-6.3%
2008	$53.39	$40.27	+2.5%	-22.1%
2007	$52.10	$53.39	+3.2%	+5.6%
2006	$56.59	$52.10	+2.7%	-5.2%
2005	$56.75	$56.59	+2.8%	+2.5%
2004	$70.33	$56.75	+1.8%	-17.5%
2003	$63.50	$70.33	+2.4%	+13.1%
2002	$78.54	$63.50	+1.6%	-17.6%
2001	$93.06	$78.54	+1.2%	-14.4%
2000	$66.50	$93.06	+1.9%	+41.9%
1999	$88.88	$66.50	+0.9%	-24.2%
1998	$69.63	$88.88	+1.5%	+29.1%
1997	$36.50	$69.63	+2.7%	+93.5%
1996	$28.13	$36.50	+2.9%	+32.6%
1995	$16.41	$28.13	+4.2%	+75.6%
1994	$14.84	$16.41	+0.0%	+10.5%
1993	$15.19	$14.84	+0.0%	-2.3%
1992	$20.88	$15.19	+0.0%	-27.2%
1991	$18.31	$20.88	+0.0%	+14.0%
1990	$17.13	$18.31	+0.0%	+6.9%
1989	$10.69	$17.13	+0.0%	+60.2%
1988	$9.75	$10.69	+0.0%	+9.6%
1987	$9.28	$9.75	+0.0%	+5.0%
1986	$6.97	$9.28	+0.0%	+33.2%
1985	$4.13	$6.97	+0.0%	+68.9%
1984	$3.62	$4.13	+0.0%	+14.0%
1983	$3.59	$3.62	+0.0%	+0.6%
1982	$3.50	$3.59	+0.0%	+2.7%
1981	$3.98	$3.50	+0.0%	-12.0%
1980	$3.73	$3.98	+0.0%	+6.7%
1979	$2.98	$3.73	+0.0%	+24.9%
1978	$2.37	$2.98	+0.0%	+26.1%
1977	$2.98	$2.37	+0.0%	-20.5%
1976	$3.23	$2.98	+0.0%	-7.7%
1975	$4.25	$3.23	+0.0%	-24.1%
1974	$4.63	$4.25	+0.0%	-8.1%
1973	$4.98	$4.63	+0.0%	-7.1%

Total return by period

-50%+0%+50%

'73'78'83'88'93'98'03'08'13'18'23

Methodology#

Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from LLY's split- and dividend-adjusted closes. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. See also the periodic table of returns. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.

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FAQ

What is Eli Lilly and Company's average annual return?: Since 1973, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) has returned about 12.7% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 15.4%.
What were Eli Lilly and Company's best and worst years?: Over 1973–2026, the best year was 1997 (+93.5%) and the worst was 1992 (-27.2%).
How often is Eli Lilly and Company up in a year?: 37 of the 53 full years since 1973 were positive — about 70% of the time.