Better Buy: Eli Lilly and Company vs. Pfizer Inc.

Two of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world have been around since the 19th century. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) was founded in 1876, while Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) began operations even earlier in 1849. Overall, Pfizer stock has been the better investment. That's not the case so far in 2017, though.

Both Lilly's and Pfizer's share prices are up year to date, but Lilly's shareholders have been the happier campers. Does Lilly's better recent track record point to the stock being the better pick for investors right now? Or is Pfizer still the better long-term investment choice? Here are the arguments for each big pharma stock.

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Source: Fool.com