Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Insider Sells 3,000 Shares of Company Stock

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) insider Johanna Mercier sold 3,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.22, for a total value of $468,660.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 113,684 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $17,759,714.48. This represents a 2.57% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Johanna Mercier also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Tuesday, September 15th, Johanna Mercier sold 3,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.22, for a total value of $432,660.00.
• On Monday, August 17th, Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $137.64, for a total transaction of $3,853,920.00.

Gilead Sciences Trading Down 0.7%

Gilead Sciences stock traded down $1.18 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $156.19. 7,762,254 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,823,515. 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 firm’s 50 day moving average price is $146.73 and its 200 day moving average price is $137.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $193.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -58.50 and a beta of 0.31. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 52-week low of $114.02 and a 52-week high of $160.51.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last posted its earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($6.75) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 firm had revenue of $7.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.40 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.01 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post -0.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 29th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were paid a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio is presently -122.85%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Davidson Trust Co. raised its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 4.1% in the first quarter. Davidson Trust Co. now owns 1,879 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $262,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the period. Grove Bank & Trust grew its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 6,345 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $946,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the period. Financial Connections Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 30.2% during the 1st quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 328 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the period. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 54.2% during the 1st quarter. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC now owns 222 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the period. Finally, Balboa Wealth Partners increased its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Balboa Wealth Partners now owns 3,057 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $426,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.67% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $160.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $155.00 target price on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Zacks Research lowered Gilead Sciences from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 29th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Gilead Sciences from $165.00 to $163.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Gilead Sciences from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, September 19th. Twenty-three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Gilead Sciences presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $159.33.

Key Stories Impacting Gilead Sciences

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

• Positive Sentiment: Oncology pipeline strengthened: Gilead agreed to collaborate with Vir Biotechnology on next-generation T-cell engagers (TCEs) for solid tumors. Gilead will receive exclusive development and commercialization rights, while Vir contributes its immunology and antibody-engineering platform. The agreement covers three potential cancer therapies and could provide Vir up to approximately $1.74 billion in milestone payments, or about $1.9 billion including other deal components. The partnership gives Gilead access to a potentially important cancer-treatment technology and complements its earlier investment in TCEs through the acquisition of Ouro Medicines. Gilead and Vir forge $1.9bn pact to develop next-gen T-cell engagers
• Positive Sentiment: Defensive-sector rotation: Investors have been shifting toward large pharmaceutical companies as a technology-stock selloff increases demand for companies viewed as more defensive. Gilead, along with other major drugmakers, has been trading near record levels, helping reinforce positive momentum and investor interest. Big pharma stocks near all-time highs as tech selloff pushes investors toward safer bets
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains mixed: Recent coverage highlights conflicting views on Gilead’s prospects. Increased searches and investor attention may support trading activity, but the reports do not identify a clear consensus change in earnings expectations or price targets. Analysts Have Conflicting Sentiments on These Healthcare Companies
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and technical risks: With GILD near its recent highs, the stock may be vulnerable to profit-taking if the broader defensive rotation fades or if investors question the long-term commercial potential of the early-stage TCE programs. The partnership also entails milestone payments that depend on successful development.

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc (NASDAQ: GILD) is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes medicines for serious and life-threatening diseases. Its research and commercial activities focus primarily on virology, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, as well as oncology, inflammation and other areas of significant unmet medical need.

Gilead’s portfolio includes HIV treatments such as Biktarvy, Descovy, Genvoya and Sunlenca; hepatitis therapies including Epclusa, Harvoni and Vemlidy; and Veklury (remdesivir), an antiviral used to treat COVID-19 in certain patients.