Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) Stock Has Average Target Price of $159.63

Shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-nine brokerages that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $159.63.

A number of analysts recently weighed in on GILD shares. HSBC raised their target price on shares of Gilead Sciences from $155.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Bank of America upped their price target on Gilead Sciences from $168.00 to $172.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday. Wall Street Zen raised Gilead Sciences from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, September 19th. Leerink Partners downgraded Gilead Sciences from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating and cut their price objective for the company from $146.00 to $127.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Gilead Sciences from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research note on Monday, September 14th.

Key Stories Impacting Gilead Sciences

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

• Positive Sentiment: Ulcerative colitis trial success strengthens the pipeline. Gilead reported positive Phase 2 SWIFT results for emvistegrast, an oral treatment for active ulcerative colitis. The data were described as “highly competitive,” supporting management’s strategy to expand into immunology and inflammatory bowel disease. Success in a large market could diversify Gilead beyond its HIV franchise. Gilead’s highly competitive mid-stage ulcerative colitis data validate I&I push
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America raised its price target and maintained a Buy rating. The target increased from $168 to $172, implying roughly 10% upside from the referenced price and signaling confidence in Gilead’s earnings outlook and pipeline prospects.
• Positive Sentiment: Recent FDA decisions add commercial catalysts. Gilead received approval for the Bixlenvo HIV regimen, a first-line label expansion for Trodelvy in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, and approval for Hepcludex in chronic hepatitis delta. The company will also present 28 HIV and antiviral research findings at IDWeek 2026, potentially providing additional clinical updates. How Investors Are Reacting To Gilead Sciences FDA Drug Approvals
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst and quantitative sentiment improved. Gilead was upgraded to Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting improving expectations for earnings prospects. Separately, 43 ETFs added Gilead shares, indicating some institutional demand. Gilead rating upgrade to Buy
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are weighing acquisitions against Gilead’s dependable HIV cash flow. Biktarvy and other HIV products continue to support recurring revenue and the dividend, but acquisitions such as Arcellx and Tubulis have increased research and integration costs. Gilead reportedly recorded a substantial trailing loss as it absorbs those investments.
• Negative Sentiment: ETF selling and near-term profitability concerns could limit gains. ETFs were also reported as net sellers of Gilead on October 16, while coverage noted that the ulcerative-colitis trial win initially failed to lift the stock. Investors may remain focused on acquisition-related expenses and the path back to sustainable positive earnings. ETFs Are Net Sellers of Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences Stock Performance

NASDAQ:GILD opened at $156.51 on Wednesday. Gilead Sciences has a twelve month low of $114.02 and a twelve month high of $160.51. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03. The company has a 50-day moving average of $148.01 and a 200-day moving average of $137.50. The firm has a market cap of $194.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -58.62 and a beta of 0.31.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($6.75) earnings per share (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 company had revenue of $7.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.40 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.01 EPS. The business's revenue was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Gilead Sciences will post -0.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity at Gilead Sciences

In related news, CEO Daniel O'Day sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $147.90, for a total value of $2,218,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 566,683 shares in the company, valued at $83,812,415.70. This trade represents a 2.58% decrease in their position. The transaction 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, Director Anthony Welters sold 18,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.62, for a total value of $2,675,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 12,894 shares in the company, valued at $1,916,306.28. This represents a 58.26% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 111,000 shares of company stock valued at $15,877,860 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.30% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Gilead Sciences

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new position in Gilead Sciences during the second quarter worth $100,056,000. Groupe la Francaise raised its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 30.9% during the second quarter. Groupe la Francaise now owns 49,627 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $6,270,000 after buying an additional 11,712 shares in the last quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences in the second quarter worth about $55,754,000. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 3.6% in the second quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 292,295 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $36,929,000 after buying an additional 10,206 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences during the 2nd quarter worth about $6,251,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.67% of the company's stock.

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes medicines for serious and life-threatening diseases. The company is best known for its HIV treatments, including Biktarvy, Descovy, Genvoya and Truvada, as well as therapies for chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Its portfolio also includes Veklury (remdesivir), an antiviral treatment for COVID-19.

Gilead has expanded into oncology and cell therapy through products such as Trodelvy and the CAR T-cell therapies Yescarta and Tecartus, which are developed and marketed through its Kite subsidiary.

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