Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Upgraded at Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen upgraded Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) from a "buy" to a "strong‑buy," joining other analysts who have recently raised price targets (average target about $157.62).
• Gilead slightly beat quarterly EPS ($1.86 vs. $1.83 consensus) with revenue of $7.93 billion (up 4.7% YoY) and set FY 2026 guidance of $8.45–8.85 EPS
• Insiders sold roughly 309,280 shares (~$43.9M) in the last three months, although institutional investors still own about 83.7% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report issued on Saturday.

Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of Gilead Sciences from $140.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $145.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Bank of America set a $162.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Daiwa Securities Group raised their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $129.00 to $161.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Finally, Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $128.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Twenty-four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $157.62.

Gilead Sciences Stock Down 0.2%

Gilead Sciences stock opened at $144.99 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 1.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $179.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.37. Gilead Sciences has a fifty-two week low of $93.37 and a fifty-two week high of $157.29. The stock's fifty day moving average is $140.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $126.78.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.03. Gilead Sciences had a return on equity of 49.46% and a net margin of 28.90%.The business had revenue of $7.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.68 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.90 EPS. The business's revenue was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.450-8.850 EPS. Analysts predict that Gilead Sciences will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other Gilead Sciences news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.44, for a total value of $4,324,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 120,288 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $18,577,278.72. The trade was a 18.88% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jeffrey Bluestone sold 5,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.50, for a total value of $617,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 8,920 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,101,620. This trade represents a 35.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 309,280 shares of company stock worth $43,935,470. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in GILD. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 71.4% during the 4th quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 204 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Quattro Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Gilead Sciences during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 60.0% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the period. Finally, Ares Financial Consulting LLC purchased a new position in Gilead Sciences in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.67% of the company's stock.

Gilead Sciences News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst optimism — Jefferies and other firms have initiated or reiterated positive coverage, highlighting Gilead’s strong HIV franchise, expanding oncology/cell therapy pipeline and long IP runway (through ~2036), which supports both income and growth narratives. How Renewed Wall Street Optimism Around HIV, Oncology And IP Runway At Gilead Sciences (GILD) Has Changed Its Investment Story
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised near-term EPS estimates (Q1/Q2 and FY2027 upgrades reported), nudging earnings expectations higher — a constructive signal for investors focused on fundamentals. The Zacks Analyst Blog: Oracle, T‑Mobile, Gilead and C&F Financial
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually large call-option activity (130k+ calls) signals bullish positioning by traders, which can amplify upside if catalysts continue. (Market data)
• Positive Sentiment: Index and institutional flows — rising institutional focus amid Nasdaq‑100 dynamics can support demand for GILD shares from passive and quant funds. Gilead NASDAQ: GILD Institutional Focus Rises In Nasdaq 100 Index
• Neutral Sentiment: Acquisition rationale — coverage and analyst pieces discuss whether the ~$7.8B Arcellx buy strengthens Gilead’s cell‑therapy franchise amid declining cell therapy sales; the strategic case is positive but clinical/commercial risks remain. Will GILD's Move to Acquire ACLX Boost Its Cell Therapy Franchise?
• Neutral Sentiment: Market context — broader investor flows into growth/tech vs. traditional defensives are affecting healthcare sector moves; this macro backdrop is neither uniquely positive nor negative for Gilead. Why Investors Aren’t Fleeing to Safe‑Haven Stocks
• Negative Sentiment: Deal/legal risk — a law firm (Kahn Swick & Foti) is investigating Arcellx’s proposed sale to Gilead, citing concerns over price/process; shareholder litigation or regulatory scrutiny could delay or alter the transaction terms and is a near‑term overhang. Arcellx Investor Alert: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Adequacy of Price and Process in Proposed Sale of Arcellx, Inc.

About Gilead Sciences

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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