Better Long-Term Buy: Eli Lilly or Viking Therapeutics?

By David Jagielski, CPA – Apr 17, 2026 at 4:44PM ESTKey PointsEli Lilly has been a growth beast, coming off an impressive year in which its revenue rose by 45%.Viking Therapeutics has an exciting GLP-1 drug in development that, if approved, could send its shares skyrocketing.Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has said in the past that "the stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient." While it's easy to get caught up in chasing today's hottest trends and growth stocks, the biggest gains often come from being patient and willing to hold on for the long haul. It may not be exciting, and it can be frustrating many times, but if you find a high-quality stock, you can set yourself on a path to generate terrific gains. The most exciting opportunity in healthcare these days is in the GLP-1 market, where many companies are developing weight-loss drugs that could generate billions in revenue. Below, I'll look at two promising stocks in this space: Eli Lilly (LLY +2.55%), which is a behemoth with a strong track record, and Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 1.04%), which is much smaller in valuation but may have tremendous upside. Image source: Getty Images. The case for Eli Lilly Eli Lilly is a relatively safe stock to own. Unlike Viking, it already generates billions in revenue and has multiple approved GLP-1 products, including Mounjaro and Zepbound. Regulators also recently approved its weight loss pill, Foundayo, which is likely to be yet another incredible moneymaker for its business. The healthcare company is raking in revenue, and its profits have been soaring in the process. In 2025, its sales rose by 45%, totaling more than $65 billion. Its net income was just under $21 billion, for an impressive profit margin of around 32%. ExpandNYSE: LLYEli LillyToday's Change(2.55%) $23.04Current Price$927.03Key Data PointsMarket Cap$854BDay's Range$917.80 - $929.9952wk Range$623.78 - $1133.95Volume3.2MAvg Vol3.1MGross Margin83.04%Dividend Yield0.69% The business is also far bigger than just its GLP-1 drugs. In 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved its Alzheimer's drug, Kisunla, which also may bring in billions for the company. Plus, the company has partnered with tech giant Nvidia to create an artificial intelligence factory to bring new drugs to market more quickly. Eli Lilly is a growth beast that shows no signs of slowing down. It's effectively the default option for any serious growth investors looking at the healthcare sector. The case for Viking Therapeutics Viking is a fairly small company, with a market cap of just $4 billion -- that's a tiny fraction of Eli Lilly's $830 billion valuation.

While Eli Lilly is doing well, it should be doing well given that kind of market cap. Viking is riskier, but it could become much more valuable if its GLP-1 drug, VK2735, receives approval. Healthcare giant Pfizer recently agreed to pay up to $10 billion for Metsera, which doesn't have an approved GLP-1 drug just yet. If VK2735 gets across the finish line, large healthcare companies could be lining up to buy Viking's business. ExpandNASDAQ: VKTXViking TherapeuticsToday's Change(-1.04%) $-0.37Current Price$35.14Key Data PointsMarket Cap$4.1BDay's Range$34.99 - $36.3252wk Range$22.96 - $43.15Volume83KAvg Vol2.6M VK2735 has been doing well in clinical trials, with patients losing around 15% of their weight after just 13 weeks on the injectable treatment. The oral version of the drug has also been impressive, with patients losing up to 12% of their weight in a recent trial. The injectable version of VK2735 is already in phase 3 trials, while the oral drug is expected to begin phase 3 trials later this year. While Viking's business doesn't generate any revenue today, its prospects for growth and profitability would change drastically if VK2735 receives approval. Which stock is the better buy for the long haul? I like both of these stocks and believe they can be good buys, but choosing the best one for your portfolio will ultimately depend on your risk tolerance. If you are risk-averse and want a solid, safe stock to own, then the choice is easy: Eli Lilly. But if you're OK with taking a moderate amount of risk, then Viking Therapeutics may be the better option right now. Eli Lilly's stock is safer, but at more than 40 times earnings, it is expensive, and its upside may be limited if you're buying it at these levels. You may secure some modest returns, but the bigger payoff may come from Viking Therapeutics -- if VK2735 obtains approval. That is, of course, by no means a certainty. But given how well the drug has been performing in clinical trials, I think there's a good chance it gets across the finish line. When that happens, not only could the stock soar, but other healthcare companies may start a bidding war for the business.Read NextApr 17, 2026 •By Prosper Junior BakinyIs This the Biggest Game-Changer in Lilly's 150-Year History?Apr 17, 2026 •By Matt Frankel, CFPS&P 500 Explained: How the Index Works and How to Invest in ItApr 16, 2026 •By Eric VolkmanIs This $6.3 Billion Deal a Game Changer for Eli Lilly?Apr 16, 2026 •By Adria CiminoPrediction: This 1 Thing Could Cement Eli Lilly's Leadership in the Billion-Dollar Weight Loss Drug MarketApr 15, 2026 •By Prosper Junior BakinyThe $1 Trillion Race: Why Eli Lilly Is Leaving Novo Nordisk in the DustApr 13, 2026 •By David Jagielski, CPAAfter Obtaining Approval for Its Weight Loss Pill, Is It Off to the Races for Eli Lilly Stock?About the AuthorDavid Jagielski, CPA, has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering healthcare, consumer staples, consumer discretionary, and technology stocks since 2017. David has more than 10 years of experience in finance roles across businesses of different sizes and sectors. He holds a Certified Public Accountant designation in Canada.TMFdjagielskiStocks MentionedEli LillyNYSE: LLY$927.03(+2.55%)+$23.04PfizerNYSE: PFE$27.59(+1.34%)+$0.37NvidiaNASDAQ: NVDA$201.67(+1.67%)+$3.32Viking TherapeuticsNASDAQ: VKTX$35.14(-1.04%)-$0.37*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.