Brokerages Set Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) PT at $152.42

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) has been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-six ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and twenty-three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $154.2083.

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $140.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $135.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Gilead Sciences from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. TD Cowen boosted their price target on Gilead Sciences from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on Gilead Sciences from $103.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th.

Gilead Sciences Trading Down 1.1%

GILD opened at $151.12 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. Gilead Sciences has a 52 week low of $93.37 and a 52 week high of $157.29. The stock has a market cap of $187.49 billion, a PE ratio of 22.32, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.36. The business has a 50 day moving average of $132.85 and a 200-day moving average of $123.38.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $7.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.68 billion. Gilead Sciences had a return on equity of 49.46% and a net margin of 28.90%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.90 earnings per share. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.450-8.850 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Gilead Sciences will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This is a positive change from Gilead Sciences’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.68%.

Insider Activity

In other Gilead Sciences news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.44, for a total value of $4,324,320.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 120,288 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,577,278.72. The trade was a 18.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Daniel Patrick O’day sold 115,640 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total transaction of $17,346,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 613,912 shares in the company, valued at approximately $92,086,800. The trade was a 15.85% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 319,891 shares of company stock valued at $45,091,556. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GILD. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,887 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $477,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 7,724 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $948,000 after buying an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC boosted its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC now owns 6,619 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $812,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Personal CFO Solutions LLC increased its stake in Gilead Sciences by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC now owns 4,572 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $561,000 after buying an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,446 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $546,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.67% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Company Profile

Gilead Sciences, Inc, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Foster City, California, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of medicines in areas of high unmet medical need. The company initially built its reputation in antiviral therapies and has since expanded into oncology, cell therapy and inflammatory diseases. Gilead operates a global research and commercial organization, conducting clinical development and selling medicines in markets around the world.

Gilead’s product portfolio is anchored by antiviral therapies for HIV and viral hepatitis.