Compare Stocks › FFIV vs LLY

F5, Inc. (FFIV) vs Eli Lilly and Company (LLY): Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

As of 2026-11-01, FFIV is overvalued at $338, with a DCF intrinsic value of $294 and a margin of safety of -15%. LLY is fairly valued at $1418, with an intrinsic value of $1710 and a margin of safety of 17%. Of the two, LLY has the wider margin of safety.

FFIV
F5, Inc.
$338.34
VS
LLY
Eli Lilly and Company
$1417.54

Rewards

FFIV
  • ★F5, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
  • ★Gross margin of 82.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • ★F5, Inc. scores 88/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
LLY
  • ★Eli Lilly and Company has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • ★Gross margin of 83.6% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • ★Eli Lilly and Company scores 73/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.

Risks

FFIV
  • ⚠Insiders have sold $4.0M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
LLY
  • ⚠FCF yield of 0.7% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • ⚠Insiders have sold $10.0M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.

Key Valuation Metrics

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FFIV
LLY
Valuation
$640.43M
Free Cash Flow
$9.34B
3.33%
FCF Yield
0.74%
27.02
Trailing P/E
46.01
16.94
Forward P/E
28.66
Quality & Moat
15.35%
ROIC
40.83%
19.01%
ROE
86.02%
81.98%
Gross Margin
83.63%
1.36
PEG Ratio
1.36
Balance Sheet Safety
Net cash
Net Debt / Equity
1.11
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
-1.49
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.96
0.00%
Dividend Yield
0.49%
FFIV: 5Ties: 3LLY: 4
FFIVLLY

Historical Fundamentals

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FFIV

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

LLY

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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FFIV
$3.71
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$1.65B
Δ Market Cap
+$6.13B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
LLY
$27.49
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$22.34B
Δ Market Cap
+$614.01B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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FFIV
15.0% Overvalued
Price is 15.0% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $338.34
Fair Value: $294.25
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
LLY
17.1% Margin of Safety
Price is 17.1% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $1417.54
Fair Value: $1709.89
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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FFIV

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $338?

+12.2%
Market-Implied FCF Growth Rate

Market below historical growth — potential opportunity.

LLY

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $1418?

+23.5%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +34.7%

The market implies +23.5% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

Standard FCF implies a more demanding +34.7%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

Economic Moat Score

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FFIV
88/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
LLY
73/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat driven primarily by roic consistency. Reinvestment Efficiency is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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FFIV
-2.59
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
LLY
-1.83
Possible Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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FFIV
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 101.7%
No. of Institutional Holders1,265
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
LLY
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 85.5%Retail & Other 14.4%
No. of Institutional Holders5,906
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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FFIV
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
LLY
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
MONTARCE LUCAS E
Chief Financial Officer
$494,627
@ $691.79 · 2025-08-15
ALVAREZ RALPH
Director
$500,473
@ $660.25 · 2025-08-13
VAN NAARDEN JACOB S.
Officer
$647,360
@ $647.36 · 2025-08-13
SULZBERGER GABRIELLE
Director
$75,018
@ $641.18 · 2025-08-12
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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FFIV
4
Sells (3M)
50
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $29.06M
MADDISON JOHN ANTHONY
Officer
$82,873
@ $406.24 · 2026-09-14
MONTOYA MICHAEL F
Chief Technology Officer
$1.82M
@ $410.16 · 2026-09-14
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$500,873
@ $414.63 · 2026-08-05
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.56M
@ $412.44 · 2026-08-05
WERNER EDWARD COOPER
Chief Financial Officer
$243,146
@ $405.92 · 2026-08-03
MADDISON JOHN ANTHONY
Officer
$405,853
@ $405.85 · 2026-08-03
OKEKE ANGELIQUE M
General Counsel
$208,315
@ $404.50 · 2026-08-03
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$284,617
@ $404.86 · 2026-08-03
ANAND KUNAL
Chief Technology Officer
$158,615
@ $404.63 · 2026-08-03
MEHTA NIKHIL RAMESH
Director
$1.56M
@ $388.95 · 2026-07-30
BUSE ELIZABETH
Director
$399,349
@ $399.35 · 2026-06-10
WERNER EDWARD COOPER
Chief Financial Officer
$1.00M
@ $400.00 · 2026-06-02
WERNER EDWARD COOPER
Chief Financial Officer
$525,000
@ $350.00 · 2026-05-08
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$2.17M
@ $350.19 · 2026-05-08
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$439,010
@ $330.58 · 2026-05-05
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.28M
@ $337.39 · 2026-05-05
ANAND KUNAL
Chief Technology Officer
$1.01M
@ $322.33 · 2026-05-04
WERNER EDWARD COOPER
Chief Financial Officer
$193,076
@ $322.33 · 2026-05-04
MADDISON JOHN ANTHONY
Officer
$322,330
@ $322.33 · 2026-05-04
OKEKE ANGELIQUE M
General Counsel
$271,402
@ $322.33 · 2026-05-04
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$232,532
@ $330.30 · 2026-05-04
WERNER EDWARD COOPER
Chief Financial Officer
$300,000
@ $300.00 · 2026-03-25
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.00M
@ $300.00 · 2026-03-25
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$190,610
@ $277.05 · 2026-03-06
WERNER EDWARD COOPER
Chief Financial Officer
$273,453
@ $282.20 · 2026-03-04
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.06M
@ $283.53 · 2026-03-04
DREYER MICHAEL L
Director
$866,137
@ $282.41 · 2026-02-20
HIGGINSON ALAN JOHN
Director
$487,192
@ $275.25 · 2026-02-19
ANAND KUNAL
Chief Technology Officer
$104,927
@ $278.32 · 2026-02-10
MADDISON JOHN ANTHONY
Officer
$280,660
@ $280.66 · 2026-02-10
OKEKE ANGELIQUE M
General Counsel
$107,432
@ $278.32 · 2026-02-10
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$360,981
@ $278.32 · 2026-02-10
SCHRAMM LYRA AMBER
Officer
$55,993
@ $281.37 · 2026-02-03
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$875,431
@ $261.87 · 2026-01-26
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$291,630
@ $262.73 · 2026-01-20
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$294,150
@ $265.00 · 2026-01-12
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$292,807
@ $263.79 · 2026-01-05
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$289,146
@ $262.86 · 2025-12-29
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$286,269
@ $257.90 · 2025-12-22
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$293,884
@ $264.76 · 2025-12-15
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$276,013
@ $248.66 · 2025-12-08
HIGGINSON ALAN JOHN
Director
$310,377
@ $237.11 · 2025-12-03
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$263,059
@ $236.99 · 2025-12-01
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$308,087
@ $236.99 · 2025-12-01
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$260,756
@ $234.92 · 2025-11-24
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$252,458
@ $227.44 · 2025-11-18
SCHRAMM LYRA AMBER
Officer
$262,282
@ $246.97 · 2025-11-04
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$2.36M
@ $249.77 · 2025-11-03
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$2.08M
@ $249.78 · 2025-11-03
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$328,874
@ $252.98 · 2025-11-03
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$416,793
@ $320.61 · 2025-10-01
SCHRAMM LYRA AMBER
Officer
$855,056
@ $316.57 · 2025-09-08
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$402,493
@ $309.61 · 2025-09-02
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$1.71M
@ $322.24 · 2025-08-11
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$417,206
@ $309.73 · 2025-08-04
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$400,582
@ $308.14 · 2025-08-01
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$382,616
@ $294.32 · 2025-07-01
BUSE ELIZABETH
Director
$440,301
@ $293.53 · 2025-06-11
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$369,187
@ $283.99 · 2025-06-02
DREYER MICHAEL L
Director
$514,722
@ $285.96 · 2025-05-27
HIGGINSON ALAN JOHN
Director
$364,666
@ $286.69 · 2025-05-22
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$412,154
@ $269.03 · 2025-05-02
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$362,383
@ $269.03 · 2025-05-02
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$343,902
@ $264.54 · 2025-05-01
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$344,981
@ $265.37 · 2025-04-01
BUDNIK MARIANNE
Director
$488,064
@ $260.72 · 2025-03-14
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$384,098
@ $295.46 · 2025-03-03
ROGERS SCOT FRAZIER
General Counsel
$1.02M
@ $293.18 · 2025-02-26
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.97M
@ $303.06 · 2025-02-12
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$1.19M
@ $290.33 · 2025-02-03
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$385,528
@ $293.40 · 2025-02-03
SCHRAMM LYRA AMBER
Officer
$75,207
@ $297.26 · 2025-01-31
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
LLY
2
Sells (3M)
27
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $2.40B
JONSSON PATRIK
Officer
$7.64M
@ $1175.10 · 2026-08-17
ZAKROWSKI DONALD A
Officer
$2.37M
@ $1185.01 · 2026-08-10
YUFFA ILYA
Officer
$2.88M
@ $1150.77 · 2026-06-10
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$15.75M
@ $995.36 · 2026-05-06
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$322.38M
@ $1103.48 · 2026-01-07
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$1.51M
@ $1085.01 · 2026-01-05
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.90M
@ $1085.04 · 2025-12-29
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$2.85M
@ $1085.17 · 2025-12-24
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$260,409
@ $1085.04 · 2025-12-23
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$161.08M
@ $1095.35 · 2025-11-25
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$17.34M
@ $1109.30 · 2025-11-25
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$152.06M
@ $1068.52 · 2025-11-24
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$111.50M
@ $1058.66 · 2025-11-21
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$39.07M
@ $1051.66 · 2025-11-20
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$176.10M
@ $1051.17 · 2025-11-19
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$62.31M
@ $1034.78 · 2025-11-18
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$10.19M
@ $1030.68 · 2025-11-17
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$183.80M
@ $1030.87 · 2025-11-14
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$48.02M
@ $1030.26 · 2025-11-13
ZAKROWSKI DONALD A
Officer
$1.01M
@ $1010.50 · 2025-11-13
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$308.41M
@ $1011.18 · 2025-11-12
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$279.35M
@ $986.64 · 2025-11-11
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$16.41M
@ $972.52 · 2025-11-10
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$38.47M
@ $951.56 · 2025-11-05
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$167.09M
@ $933.26 · 2025-11-05
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$479,038
@ $910.72 · 2025-11-04
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$266.65M
@ $888.83 · 2025-11-03
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$260.17M
@ $863.35 · 2025-10-31
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.16M
@ $863.24 · 2025-10-10
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$9.04M
@ $852.49 · 2025-10-09
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$86.23M
@ $850.27 · 2025-10-08
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$22.72M
@ $848.01 · 2025-10-07
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$137.04M
@ $850.22 · 2025-10-06
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$161.22M
@ $837.93 · 2025-10-03
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$92.50M
@ $821.55 · 2025-10-02
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$107.36M
@ $794.15 · 2025-10-01
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$177.29M
@ $821.47 · 2025-10-01
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$86.79M
@ $763.39 · 2025-09-30
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$18.06M
@ $763.09 · 2025-09-19
LILLY ENDOWMENT, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$81.53M
@ $764.65 · 2025-09-18
ZAKROWSKI DONALD A
Officer
$734,930
@ $734.93 · 2025-08-28
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

Learn more →
FFIV
FearGreed
😨Fear(28/100)

"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
LLY
FearGreed
😏Greed(73/100)

"Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

Learn more →
FFIV
⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (28)
LLY
⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Greed (73)
View FFIV Full AnalysisView LLY Full Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions: FFIV vs LLY

Is F5, Inc. or Eli Lilly and Company more undervalued in 2026?▼

Based on our discounted cash flow model, LLY trades at a 17.1% margin of safety (intrinsic value $1710 vs. price $1418), compared to FFIV's -15.0% margin of safety (intrinsic $294 vs. $338).

Which stock has a wider economic moat, F5, Inc. or Eli Lilly and Company?▼

FFIV scores 88/100 (Wide moat), while LLY scores 73/100 (Wide moat). The moat score measures competitive advantage durability across ROIC consistency, margin stability, revenue predictability, and reinvestment efficiency.

Which company has better free cash flow, F5, Inc. or Eli Lilly and Company?▼

F5, Inc. (FFIV) generates a 3.3% free cash flow yield, compared to Eli Lilly and Company's 0.7%. A higher FCF yield means the business converts more of its market value into cash that can be returned to shareholders or reinvested.

Which stock has higher return on invested capital, F5, Inc. or Eli Lilly and Company?▼

LLY earns 40.8% ROIC versus FFIV's 15.3%. A higher ROIC means the company generates more profit per dollar of capital employed, a hallmark of durable competitive advantage in Buffett-style analysis.

FFIV vs LLY: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026? | SafetyMargin.io