BofA Maintains Buy on Eli Lilly (LLY), Expects 2027 Earnings to Fully Realize Value of Obesity Drug Launches

Group 1 - Eli Lilly and Company is identified as one of the best growth stocks to buy in 2026, with a price target adjustment from Bank of America to $1,268 from $1,286 while maintaining a Buy rating [1] - The company's bullish outlook is attributed to successful obesity product launches and the expansion of its pipeline into new therapeutic areas, with projected earnings for 2027 expected to reflect long-term growth potential [1][3] - Updated results from the Phase 3 EMBER-3 study for Inluriyo (imlunestrant) demonstrate its efficacy as a standalone treatment and in combination with Verzenio (abemaciclib) for patients with ER+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer [2][3] Group 2 - In patients with ESR1-mutated disease, imlunestrant monotherapy showed a clinically meaningful 38% reduction in the risk of progression or death, while the combination with abemaciclib yielded even more robust results [3] - Safety profiles for imlunestrant remained consistent with previous reports, with no new safety signals identified during an additional year of follow-up [3] - Eli Lilly has submitted combination data for US regulatory review in ESR1-mutated metastatic breast cancer and is conducting the EMBER-4 trial with approximately 8,000 patients to explore its potential in the adjuvant setting for early breast cancer [4]