Anthony Welters Sells 18,000 Shares of Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Stock

Key Points

• Gilead director Anthony Welters sold 18,000 shares for approximately $2.68 million at an average price of $148.62, reducing his direct ownership by 58.26%; the transaction was made under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan.
• Gilead reported quarterly revenue of $7.8 billion, up 10.6% year over year, and exceeded analysts’ loss-per-share expectations. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.82, equivalent to a 2.2% annualized yield.
• Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $158.04, while recent FDA and European approvals for Bixlenvo and Trodelvy could support growth in Gilead’s HIV and oncology businesses.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) Director Anthony Welters sold 18,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.62, for a total value of $2,675,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 12,894 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,916,306.28. The trade was a 58.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Gilead Sciences Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ GILD traded up $0.77 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $148.86. 4,981,389 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,049,849. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $184.58 billion, a PE ratio of -55.75 and a beta of 0.32. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 12 month low of $108.46 and a 12 month high of $157.29. The company's 50 day moving average price is $133.31 and its 200 day moving average price is $136.58.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($6.75) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 business had revenue of $7.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.40 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.01 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 10.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post -0.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences Dividend Announcement

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on GILD. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $155.00 to $145.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Gilead Sciences from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 15th. HSBC upgraded Gilead Sciences from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $133.00 to $155.00 in a report on Monday, July 6th. Daiwa Securities Group lowered their target price on Gilead Sciences from $161.00 to $150.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, May 19th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn dropped their price target on Gilead Sciences from $170.00 to $167.00 in a report on Monday, May 11th. Twenty-four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Gilead Sciences has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $158.04.

Trending Headlines about Gilead Sciences

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

• Positive Sentiment: The U.S. FDA approved Bixlenvo, Gilead’s once-daily single-tablet HIV treatment combining bictegravir and lenacapavir. It is the first and only single-tablet regimen for virologically suppressed adults who are unable to use currently available single-tablet options, potentially expanding Gilead’s HIV product reach and simplifying treatment for patients on complex regimens. Reuters FDA approval article
• Positive Sentiment: Bixlenvo combines bictegravir, a key component of blockbuster Biktarvy, with lenacapavir, a strategic HIV treatment and prevention asset. The approval reinforces Gilead’s dominant HIV franchise and provides another potential source of longer-term growth. CNBC Bixlenvo approval article
• Positive Sentiment: The European Commission approved Trodelvy in combination with Keytruda for certain first-line metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients. The expanded European indication strengthens Gilead’s oncology franchise and could broaden Trodelvy’s commercial opportunity. Yahoo Finance EU Trodelvy approval article
• Positive Sentiment: Investor commentary highlights continued optimism around Gilead’s HIV prevention medicines, including its long-term pre-exposure prophylaxis growth potential. Analysts and investors are increasingly viewing the HIV pipeline as an important catalyst beyond the company’s established products. Motley Fool HIV prevention catalyst article
• Neutral Sentiment: Gilead will present at healthcare investor conferences in September, potentially giving management an opportunity to provide updates on Bixlenvo, Trodelvy, HIV prevention programs and financial guidance. Gilead investor conference announcement
• Positive Sentiment: One valuation review describes Gilead as potentially undervalued despite its substantial five-year share-price gains, suggesting investors may still be underappreciating the company’s HIV and oncology fundamentals. Yahoo Finance Gilead valuation article

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in GILD. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,887 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $477,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc. boosted its stake in Gilead Sciences by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 7,724 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $948,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. Davidson Trust Co. boosted its stake in Gilead Sciences by 4.1% during the first quarter. Davidson Trust Co. now owns 1,879 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $262,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the period. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC grew its position in Gilead Sciences by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC now owns 6,619 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $812,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Venture Visionary Partners LLC grew its position in Gilead Sciences by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Venture Visionary Partners LLC now owns 6,422 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $788,000 after buying an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. 83.67% of the stock is 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.

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