Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus: 24 of 29 analysts rate Gilead Sciences a buy, while five recommend holding the stock. The average 12-month price target is approximately $158.04.
• Quarterly results exceeded expectations: Gilead reported revenue of $7.80 billion, ahead of the $7.40 billion consensus estimate, with revenue up 10.6% year over year. However, the company posted negative EPS and net margin for the quarter.
• Gilead announced a quarterly dividend of $0.82 per share, equivalent to $3.28 annually and a 2.2% yield. Insiders have sold 90,000 shares worth approximately $12.3 million over the past 90 days, while institutional investors own 83.67% of the stock.

Shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-nine ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $158.0370.

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on GILD. HSBC raised shares of Gilead Sciences from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $133.00 to $155.00 in a report on Monday, July 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on Gilead Sciences from $120.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $166.00 to $165.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 27th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on Gilead Sciences from $157.00 to $156.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Gilead Sciences from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 15th.

Gilead Sciences Stock Performance

NASDAQ GILD opened at $146.34 on Tuesday. Gilead Sciences has a fifty-two week low of $108.46 and a fifty-two week high of $157.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $181.46 billion, a P/E ratio of -54.81 and a beta of 0.32. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $134.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $136.50.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) 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 return on equity of 2.11% and a negative net margin of 10.64%.The firm had revenue of $7.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.40 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.01 earnings per share. Gilead Sciences's revenue for the quarter was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Gilead Sciences will post -0.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Gilead Sciences's payout ratio is currently -122.85%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Jeffrey Bluestone sold 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.02, for a total value of $725,100.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 10,066 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,459,771.32. This trade represents a 33.19% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing 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, insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $137.64, for a total value of $3,853,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 118,234 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,273,727.76. The trade was a 19.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 90,000 shares of company stock worth $12,266,220. Company insiders own 0.30% 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. Tucker Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 6.5% during the 2nd quarter. Tucker Asset Management LLC now owns 3,970 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $502,000 after purchasing an additional 242 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in Gilead Sciences by 5.8% during the second quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 1,534,627 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $193,885,000 after buying an additional 84,450 shares in the last quarter. Groupe la Francaise boosted its stake in Gilead Sciences by 30.9% during the second quarter. Groupe la Francaise now owns 49,627 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $6,270,000 after buying an additional 11,712 shares during the last quarter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al purchased a new stake in Gilead Sciences in the 2nd quarter valued at $130,420,000. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 12,498.3% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 241,168,657 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $30,469,248,000 after purchasing an additional 239,254,365 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.

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