Stock Insights on ASML and Eli Lilly

• Both companies are leaders in their specific markets.

• ASML’s high NA EUV systems could significantly boost its growth.

• Eli Lilly is seeing solid success with its obesity and type 2 diabetes treatments.

Traditionally, Wall Street values patience and wise investment choices more than just trying to time the market. This approach suggests that buying and holding shares in high-quality firms, which have favorable conditions over time, can be a very effective strategy for building wealth in the long run.

If you happen to have $5,000 lying around—money that’s not earmarked for bills or anything—investing in either of these two stocks could yield substantial returns in the future.

ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML) remains a crucial player in the semiconductor industry. Its deep ultraviolet (DUV) and cutting-edge extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems are vital equipment for leading chip manufacturers, facilitating the intricate etching of circuit patterns on silicon wafers through laser technology.

In the third quarter, ASML recorded net sales of 7.5 billion euros and profits of 2.1 billion euros. While net sales were steady compared to the previous year, the long-term projections appear optimistic, fueled by growth in artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) sectors.

The company is gearing up to launch its latest EUV system, known as High-NA, which features a numerical aperture of 0.55. This next-gen tool will allow for even finer etching of circuit patterns, enabling chipmakers to create smaller transistors, thus boosting both performance and energy efficiency.

Major players like Intel and SK Hynix are on board with these upcoming systems. ASML expects new orders for High-NA EUV systems to commence in the latter half of 2026, once current customers complete testing their equipment. They plan to begin shipping these systems by 2028, and each will range from $380 million to $400 million—implying that just a handful of sales could dramatically influence ASML’s revenue.

The rising demand for intricate computing and memory chips, essential for constructing global AI infrastructure, will also benefit ASML. Additionally, chipmakers are increasingly applying EUV lithography in multi-step processes to create advanced semiconductor chips.

Currently, ASML anticipates that EUV sales will pick up again in 2026, despite some headwinds from China, showcasing the resilience of its business model in a complex geopolitical landscape.

Moreover, ASML has taken an 11% stake in Mistral AI, looking to harness generative AI capabilities to enhance operational performance, productivity, and output. This partnership could accelerate ASML’s innovation, while potentially lowering development and marketing expenses.

With its stock trading at 26.7 times forward earnings, this seems reasonable for a company with such strong tech advantages. So, might it be a good time to consider adding this stock to your portfolio? The future looks promising.

Meanwhile, the major pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has developed an impressive lineup of medications for obesity, diabetes, and neuroscience. In the second quarter, Eli Lilly reported sales of $15.6 billion, marking a 38% year-over-year rise, alongside adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $6.31, up 61%. The company’s management forecasts sales between $60 billion and $62 billion for fiscal 2025.

Eli Lilly’s incretin drugs, especially its GLP-1 drug tirzepatide—marketed as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for weight management—are turning into significant growth drivers. As of July 2025, Mounjaro accounted for a substantial portion of all incretin prescriptions for type 2 diabetes in the U.S.

Additionally, Zepbound is leading in the U.S. branded anti-obesity drug market, holding nearly two-thirds of the patient share. This positions Eli Lilly well to expand its grip on the global GLP-1 drug market, expected to grow from $53.4 billion in 2024 to $156.7 billion by 2030.

A potential game-changer for Eli Lilly may be Orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 therapy that has shown promise in weight management and blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes during several Phase 3 trials. The plan is to seek approval from the U.S. FDA for Orforglipron’s use against obesity in late 2025 and for type 2 diabetes in 2026.

If approved, this could ease the burdens of injections, enhancing accessibility to GLP-1 medications. Eli Lilly is also busy developing other investigational therapies targeted at areas such as Alzheimer’s, oncology, and cardiometabolic health.

Currently, Eli Lilly’s stock trades at a forward P/E ratio of 31.2 times, a notable premium. Yet, given its portfolio of high-demand obesity and diabetes drugs, along with a robust late-stage pipeline and impressive growth metrics, this valuation seems to hold water. Thus, this stock looks like a solid buy-and-hold for long-term investors.

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