LLY vs BMY: which was the better investment?
Eli Lilly and Company against Bristol-Myers Squibb Company on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jun 1, 1972 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did LLY beat BMY?
Yes — measured from Jun 1, 1972 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, LLY came out ahead: $12,784,732 versus $2,087,277 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.1% annual return against 10.4%.
What would $10,000 in LLY be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) on Jun 1, 1972 would be worth about $12,784,732 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 127747.3% (14.1% per year). The same $10,000 in BMY would be worth $2,087,277.
Which was riskier — LLY or BMY?
LLY swung with an annualized volatility of 27.6% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -68.3%; BMY ran at 26.4% volatility with a -70.6% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.44 for LLY vs 0.32 for BMY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jun 1, 1972 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with LLY vs BMY. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.