Westpac Banking Corp Has $11.32 Million Stock Position in Gilead Sciences, Inc. $GILD

Westpac Banking Corp raised its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) by 6.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 92,247 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,787 shares during the quarter. Gilead Sciences accounts for 0.7% of Westpac Banking Corp’s portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Westpac Banking Corp’s holdings in Gilead Sciences were worth $11,322,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Key Gilead Sciences News

Here are the key news stories impacting Gilead Sciences this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Gilead reported strong Phase 3 IDEAL trial results for Livdelzi (seladelpar) in primary biliary cholangitis, showing statistically significant normalization of a key liver marker versus placebo after 52 weeks. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Additional coverage highlighted more favorable Livdelzi data, including long-term efficacy and safety findings and sustained liver-marker improvements, reinforcing the drug’s growth potential. Article Title Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Gilead from hold to moderate buy, signaling improved analyst confidence in the stock’s outlook.
• Positive Sentiment: Cencora agreed to support U.S. distribution of Kite’s FDA-approved CAR-T therapies, Yescarta and Tecartus, which supports commercialization of an important Gilead business unit. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Gilead and Kite are also set to showcase additional oncology data at ASCO and EHA, which keeps the company in focus but does not yet provide a clear near-term earnings impact. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Daniel Patrick O’Day sold 15,000 shares under a pre-arranged trading plan. While routine, insider selling can still weigh on investor sentiment. Article Title

Gilead Sciences Stock Performance

GILD stock opened at $127.57 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.97 and a quick ratio of 1.77. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $135.10 and a 200 day moving average price of $134.26. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $104.46 and a fifty-two week high of $157.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $158.39 billion, a PE ratio of 17.38 and a beta of 0.31.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.12. Gilead Sciences had a net margin of 30.99% and a return on equity of 48.19%. The firm had revenue of $6.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.91 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.81 EPS. Gilead Sciences’s revenue was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at -1.050–0.650 EPS. Analysts forecast that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post -0.79 EPS for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 15th. Gilead Sciences’s payout ratio is currently 44.69%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

GILD has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. TD Cowen increased 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. Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their price target on Gilead Sciences from $155.00 to $115.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Bank of America set a $162.00 price target on Gilead Sciences and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Maxim Group upgraded Gilead Sciences from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $165.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 20th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and set a $170.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Twenty-six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $156.93.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Gilead Sciences news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.29, for a total transaction of $3,676,120.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 125,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,513,524.91. The trade was a 18.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Daniel Patrick O’day sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.46, for a total value of $1,971,900.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 617,567 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $81,185,357.82. This represents a 2.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 68,000 shares of company stock valued at $9,047,570. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.