LLY vs JNJ: which was the better investment?
Eli Lilly and Company against Johnson & Johnson on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jun 1, 1972 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Daily total-return data — dividends reinvested. Monthly additions buy on the first trading day.
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Frequently asked questions
Did LLY beat JNJ?
Yes — measured from Jun 1, 1972 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, LLY came out ahead: $12,764,284 versus $3,402,876 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.1% annual return against 11.4%.
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 $12,764,284 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 127542.8% (14.1% per year). The same $10,000 in JNJ would be worth $3,402,876.
Which was riskier — LLY or JNJ?
LLY swung with an annualized volatility of 27.6% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -68.3%; JNJ ran at 22.3% volatility with a -50.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.44 for LLY vs 0.42 for JNJ.
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 JNJ. 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.