Elanco CEO Bites Off More Shares of Fast-Rising Stock
Dec 19, 2025 01:30:00 -0500 by Ian Salisbury | #Healthcare #Inside Scoop
Elanco Animal Health makes drugs for pets and farm animals. (Dreamstime)
Key Points
- Elanco Animal Health CEO Jeffrey Simmons purchased 22,000 shares for $478,500 on December 11, increasing his indirect ownership.
- Elanco’s stock has gained nearly 84% this year, driven by successful product launches like Credelio Quattro and Zenrelia.
- Despite a third-quarter loss of $34 million, Elanco anticipates low double-digit earnings per share growth from 2026 to 2029.
Elanco Animal Health stock is having a great year—and Chief Executive Jeffrey Simmons is champing at the bit.
Simmons spent $478,500 to buy 22,000 shares of the stock on Dec. 11 for an average price of $21.75, according to a Form 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The purchase was made by a revocable trust and brings his total indirect ownership to 167,000 shares. He also has direct ownership of 1.8 million shares, according to the filing. That suggests his total stake is worth just over $43.5 million, based on Wednesday’s closing price of $22.08.
Elanco CEO Jeff Simmons. Photo: Pete Kiehart/Bloomberg
Elanco, which makes drugs for pets and farm animals, was spun off from Eli Lilly in 2018. Shares have been on a winning streak recently, returning nearly 84% this year thanks in part to a series of strong product launches, including a chewable parasite-preventative for dogs called Credelio Quattro and an anti-itch medicine, also for dogs, named Zenrelia.
While Elanco reported a $34-million loss for the third quarter, the company said earlier this month that it expects “low double digit” earnings per share growth between 2026 and 2029. Simmons’ stock purchase suggests he believes the shares—which trade at 26 times forward earnings, up from just 13 times at the start of the year—are still a bargain.
Elanco didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Inside Scoop is a regular Barron’s feature covering stock transactions by corporate executives and board members—so-called insiders—as well as large shareholders, politicians, and other prominent figures. Due to their insider status, these investors are required to disclose stock trades with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory groups.
Write to Ian Salisbury at ian.salisbury@barrons.com