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

Key Points

• Analysts rate Gilead Sciences a “Moderate Buy”: 25 of 29 brokerages recommend buying the stock, with an average 12-month price target of approximately $158 versus its recent price of $130.86.
• Gilead’s latest quarter beat revenue expectations, generating $7.8 billion in revenue, up 10.6% year over year, driven by HIV medicines and Trodelvy. However, the company reported a $6.75-per-share loss, largely due to acquisition-related costs and higher research spending.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.82 per share, equivalent to an annualized $3.28 and a 2.5% yield. Investors should also weigh oncology pipeline setbacks, declining Veklury sales and recent insider stock sales.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-nine brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $158.0370.

Several analysts have weighed in on GILD shares. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, April 17th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Gilead Sciences from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a report on Thursday, May 28th. HSBC upgraded Gilead Sciences from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $133.00 to $155.00 in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Citigroup increased their price target on Gilead Sciences from $156.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, April 13th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a "buy" rating and set a $170.00 price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Wednesday.

Gilead Sciences Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ GILD opened at $130.86 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.77. The firm has a market cap of $162.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -49.01 and a beta of 0.32. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $129.43 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $136.22. Gilead Sciences has a one year low of $108.46 and a one year high of $157.29.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($6.75) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($7.25) by $0.50. The company had revenue of $7.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.40 billion. Gilead Sciences had a negative return on equity of 2.11% and a negative net margin of 10.64%.The company's revenue was up 10.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.01 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Gilead Sciences will post -0.65 EPS for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 29th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be paid a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. Gilead Sciences's payout ratio is 44.69%.

Key Gilead Sciences News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Gilead reported second-quarter revenue of $7.8 billion, above the roughly $7.4 billion consensus estimate. Product sales excluding Veklury rose 10% year over year to $7.6 billion, led by HIV medicines and Trodelvy. GILD Q2 Earnings Beat
• Positive Sentiment: Management raised its HIV growth outlook to 9%–10% and highlighted rapid adoption of Yeztugo, its HIV prevention treatment. PrEP sales reportedly doubled to approximately $1 billion, supporting the view that HIV remains Gilead’s primary growth engine. Q2 Earnings Call Highlights
• Positive Sentiment: Several analysts remain constructive: Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an Overweight rating with a $155 target, while Needham reaffirmed Buy with a $170 target. Gilead also declared its $0.82 quarterly dividend, providing continued income support.
• Neutral Sentiment: The quarter was described as operationally strong, but reported earnings guidance remains negative because of acquisition-related charges and elevated research spending. The company’s 2026 base-business sales outlook is approximately $29.8 billion–$30.1 billion.
• Negative Sentiment: Gilead posted a $6.75 per-share quarterly loss versus $2.01 of earnings a year earlier. The loss was driven largely by acquisition-related costs, increasing concern about near-term profitability despite the revenue beat. Strong Quarter Hidden Behind Ugly Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: MSD and Gilead discontinued a Phase III Trodelvy-Keytruda study after lacklustre interim data. The failure weakens expectations for expanding Trodelvy’s use in combination therapy and adds uncertainty to Gilead’s oncology growth strategy. Trodelvy-Keytruda Study Discontinued
• Negative Sentiment: Veklury sales continued to decline sharply, while AIDS Healthcare Foundation criticized Gilead’s HIV pricing and access policies. The controversy could create reputational or longer-term market-access risks. CEO Daniel O’Day’s planned sale of 15,000 shares was a minor additional negative signal.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 3,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.92, for a total transaction of $371,760.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 124,234 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $15,395,077.28. This represents a 2.36% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 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 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 sale, the chief executive officer owned 592,133 shares in the company, valued at $77,160,851.23. This represents a 2.47% decrease in their position. 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 82,000 shares of company stock valued at $10,641,790 over the last quarter. 0.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC grew its position in Gilead Sciences by 71.4% in the fourth quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 204 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Quattro Advisors LLC bought a new position in Gilead Sciences in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 60.0% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ares Financial Consulting LLC bought a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. 83.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

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