Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) Sees Large Decrease in Short Interest

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 18,454,950 shares, a decrease of 15.7% from the February 12th total of 21,892,924 shares. Approximately 1.5% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 6,745,011 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.7 days. Based on an average daily volume of 6,745,011 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.7 days. Approximately 1.5% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

GILD has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $135.00 to $155.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their target price on Gilead Sciences from $159.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Gilead Sciences from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday. Wolfe Research upped their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Bank of America set a $162.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Twenty-four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Gilead Sciences has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $157.62.

Insider Activity

In other Gilead Sciences news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 3,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.23, for a total value of $432,690.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 131,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $19,006,485.17. This trade represents a 2.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 3,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.23, for a total value of $432,690.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 179,191 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $25,844,717.93. This trade represents a 1.65% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 309,280 shares of company stock valued at $44,068,850. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of GILD. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 20.6% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 14,359 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,326,000 after buying an additional 2,450 shares during the period. Bison Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences in the 4th quarter valued at $215,000. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 16.8% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 4,182 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $464,000 after acquiring an additional 602 shares in the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 26.4% during the 2nd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 82,876 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $9,188,000 after purchasing an additional 17,318 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its position in Gilead Sciences by 7.0% during the second quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 305,081 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $33,824,000 after purchasing an additional 20,076 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.67% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Trading Down 1.0%

GILD opened at $142.93 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $141.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $127.41. The company has a market capitalization of $177.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.22, a PEG ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.37. Gilead Sciences has a 52 week low of $93.37 and a 52 week high of $157.29.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last issued its 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. Gilead Sciences had a return on equity of 49.46% and a net margin of 28.90%.The business had revenue of $7.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.68 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.90 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.450-8.850 EPS. Analysts forecast that Gilead Sciences will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. 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 currently 48.45%.

About Gilead Sciences

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.