Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Stock Price Up 0.5% - Still a Buy?

Shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) rose 0.5% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $107.12 and last traded at $106.84. Approximately 1,427,116 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 81% from the average daily volume of 7,491,703 shares. The stock had previously closed at $106.34.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently weighed in on GILD shares. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on Gilead Sciences in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set an "overweight" rating and a $125.00 target price on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Gilead Sciences from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $80.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Gilead Sciences from $84.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $116.00 to $126.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Gilead Sciences presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $109.43.

Gilead Sciences Price Performance

The company's fifty day moving average price is $109.19 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $98.48. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The company has a market cap of $131.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 285.72, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 0.32.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.77 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $6.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.77 billion. Gilead Sciences had a return on equity of 31.63% and a net margin of 1.67%. The company's revenue was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($1.32) EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 27th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.79 per share. This represents a $3.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.99%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 13th. Gilead Sciences's payout ratio is 66.53%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Gilead Sciences

In related news, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 137,676 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.22, for a total value of $14,073,240.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 171,223 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $17,502,415.06. This trade represents a 44.57 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In the last three months, insiders have sold 302,785 shares of company stock worth $30,540,875. Insiders own 0.27% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Gilead Sciences

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GILD. Redwood Financial Network Corp increased its position in Gilead Sciences by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Redwood Financial Network Corp now owns 2,530 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $234,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in Gilead Sciences by 2.9% during the fourth quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,580 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $322,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Peak Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Peak Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,040 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $677,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Perkins Coie Trust Co increased its position in Gilead Sciences by 2.6% during the first quarter. Perkins Coie Trust Co now owns 3,880 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $435,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. grew its position in Gilead Sciences by 33.3% during the first quarter. Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. now owns 400 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.67% of the company's stock.

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines in the areas of unmet medical need in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company provides Biktarvy, Genvoya, Descovy, Odefsey, Truvada, Complera/ Eviplera, Stribild, Sunlencs, and Atripla products for the treatment of HIV/AIDS; Veklury, an injection for intravenous use, for the treatment of COVID-19; and Epclusa, Harvoni, Vemlidy, and Viread for the treatment of viral hepatitis.

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