Wall Street Zen Downgrades Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) to Buy

Analysts cut rating from "strong-buy" to "buy" on pharmaceutical giant

Mar. 21, 2026 at 6:29am

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Wall Street Zen, an investment research firm, has downgraded its rating on Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) from "strong-buy" to "buy" in a new report. The move comes as Lilly faces a mix of positive and negative news, including positive clinical trial results for new drugs, high-profile endorsements, and some analyst downgrades.

Why it matters

Eli Lilly is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, so changes in its stock rating can impact investor sentiment and the broader healthcare sector. The downgrade from Wall Street Zen, while still maintaining a "buy" recommendation, suggests some caution around Lilly's near-term prospects despite the company's diversified pipeline and recent successes.

The details

In its report, Wall Street Zen cited a number of factors behind the rating change, including positive data from Lilly's TRANSCEND-T2D-1 and ADorable-1 clinical trials, a high-profile endorsement from CNBC's Jim Cramer, but also recent analyst downgrades and potential competitive and safety concerns around some of Lilly's new drug candidates. The firm noted that Lilly's pipeline breadth, including non-GLP-1 programs, could diversify long-term growth but have limited immediate revenue impact.

  • Wall Street Zen issued its report on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Wall Street Zen

An investment research firm that covers the pharmaceutical industry, including Eli Lilly and Company.

Eli Lilly and Company

A global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Eli Lilly researches, develops, manufactures, and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide.

David A.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Eli Lilly and Company.

Jim Cramer

A financial analyst and the host of CNBC's "Mad Money" program.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This rating change from Wall Street Zen highlights the mixed outlook for Eli Lilly, with the company facing both positive and negative factors that could impact its near-term performance. Investors will be closely watching Lilly's ability to navigate competitive and regulatory challenges while continuing to advance its diversified pipeline of new drug candidates.