Zacks Research Expects Stronger Earnings for Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research increased their Q3 2026 earnings estimates for Gilead Sciences in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, August 18th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the biopharmaceutical company will post earnings of $1.93 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $1.84. The consensus estimate for Gilead Sciences’ current full-year earnings is ($0.53) per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Gilead Sciences’ Q4 2026 earnings at $2.14 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.08 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.22 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.42 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $2.59 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $9.30 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $2.14 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $2.27 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $9.58 EPS.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($6.75) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($7.25) by $0.50. Gilead Sciences had a negative net margin of 10.64% and a negative return on equity of 2.11%. The company had revenue of $7.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.40 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.01 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Barclays dropped their target price on Gilead Sciences from $155.00 to $145.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $155.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Truist Financial cut their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $157.00 to $156.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. HSBC raised Gilead Sciences from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $133.00 to $155.00 in a report on Monday, July 6th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $120.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Twenty-four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Gilead Sciences has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $158.04.

Gilead Sciences Price Performance

NASDAQ GILD opened at $143.44 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $177.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -53.72 and a beta of 0.32. Gilead Sciences has a 1-year low of $108.46 and a 1-year high of $157.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $130.69 and its 200-day moving average price is $136.46.

Gilead Sciences Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio is -122.85%.

Insider Activity

In other Gilead Sciences news, CEO Daniel Patrick O’day sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.31, for a total transaction of $1,954,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 592,133 shares in the company, valued at $77,160,851.23. This trade represents a 2.47% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 3,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.36, for a total value of $415,080.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 165,646 shares in the company, valued at $22,918,780.56. This trade represents a 1.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold a total of 82,000 shares of company stock worth $10,837,860 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 20.6% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 14,359 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,326,000 after purchasing an additional 2,450 shares during the period. Bison Wealth LLC bought a new position in Gilead Sciences during the fourth quarter valued at $215,000. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 16.8% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 4,182 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $464,000 after acquiring an additional 602 shares during the period. Ieq Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 12.0% in the 2nd quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 118,695 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $13,160,000 after acquiring an additional 12,705 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Diversify Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 18.6% during the 2nd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,296 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $516,000 after purchasing an additional 674 shares during the last quarter. 83.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting Gilead Sciences

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

• Positive Sentiment: A federal appeals court blocked companies from importing and selling cheaper foreign versions of Biktarvy in the United States. The ruling helps protect revenue and pricing for Gilead’s leading HIV treatment. Gilead stock court ruling on Biktarvy imports
• Positive Sentiment: Gilead’s HIV franchise remains a key growth driver. Biktarvy continues to lead treatment, while Yeztugo’s rollout and additional pipeline programs could expand prevention and treatment revenue. Gilead’s expanding HIV portfolio
• Positive Sentiment: Recent commentary characterized Gilead as an underappreciated healthcare turnaround story, citing double-digit second-quarter revenue growth, strong HIV sales, acquisitions and an expanding oncology portfolio. Its latest quarterly revenue of $7.80 billion exceeded the $7.40 billion consensus estimate. Gilead Sciences turnaround story
• Positive Sentiment: Gilead declared a quarterly dividend of $0.82, equivalent to $3.28 annually and a yield of approximately 2.3%. The payment is scheduled for September 29 for shareholders of record on September 15.
• Neutral Sentiment: Gilead is competing in the rapidly developing antibody-drug conjugate oncology market. The opportunity could support future diversification, although heavy competition and clinical-development risks remain. Cancer and antibody-drug conjugate patent landscape
• Negative Sentiment: Chief Commercial Officer Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares for approximately $3.85 million, while CFO Andrew Dickinson sold 3,000 shares for approximately $415,000. Both transactions were made under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans, limiting their significance but potentially weighing modestly on sentiment. Gilead insider selling

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.