5 Most Widely Held Stocks by Individuals in 2026

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In this article, we will be taking a look at the 5 Most Widely Held Stocks by Individuals in 2026. If you wish to see the complete list, visit 10 Most Widely Held Stocks by Individuals in 2026.

5 Most Widely Held Stocks by Individuals in 2026

5. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 137

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is also one of the most widely held stock by individuals.

TheFly reported on May 21 that Wolfe Research maintained an Outperform rating on LLY and kept its $1,350 price target unchanged. The firm highlighted late-stage Phase 3 data for retatrutide, showing strong weight reduction outcomes, reaching up to 26.1% at 80 weeks and exceeding 30% in longer follow-up among higher-body-mass participants. The results also showed meaningful improvements across key cardiometabolic health indicators. Wolfe Research said these findings reinforce LLY’s leadership position in GLP-1-based obesity treatments and strengthen its differentiation in the competitive metabolic disease space. The firm further noted that the drug candidate may help set a new standard for future obesity therapies aimed at higher efficacy benchmarks.

Separately, on May 20, Engage Biologics confirmed that Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) had acquired it in a transaction valued at up to $202 million in cash. The deal includes an upfront payment along with additional milestone-based payments tied to future development achievements. Engage Biologics is working on the Tethosome platform, a non-viral DNA delivery technology designed to address challenges in gene delivery such as limited potency, reduced tolerability, and restrictions on repeat dosing.

The acquisition is intended to support the advancement of this platform by integrating it into Lilly’s broader research and development efforts in genetic medicine and advanced therapeutic delivery systems.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a U.S.-based pharmaceutical firm that develops and manufactures prescription medicines in areas like cardiometabolic diseases, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience.

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