Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Downgraded by Wall Street Zen to “Buy”

Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on GILD. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $100.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Wolfe Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $150.00 target price on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Needham & Company LLC raised their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $133.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $135.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a report on Friday, October 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have assigned a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Gilead Sciences has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $133.52.

Gilead Sciences Price Performance

GILD opened at $135.93 on Friday. Gilead Sciences has a twelve month low of $92.26 and a twelve month high of $136.30. The firm has a market cap of $168.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.07, a PEG ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $123.98 and a 200 day simple moving average of $118.62.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.47 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.16 by $0.31. The company had revenue of $7.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.42 billion. Gilead Sciences had a net margin of 27.88% and a return on equity of 51.86%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.02 EPS. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.050-8.250 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Gilead Sciences will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th were issued a $0.79 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $3.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Gilead Sciences’s payout ratio is 48.99%.

Insider Activity

In other Gilead Sciences news, Director Kelly A. Kramer sold 2,805 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.10, for a total value of $356,515.50. Following the transaction, the director owned 1,339 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $170,186.90. This trade represents a 67.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Jeffrey Bluestone sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the director directly 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 SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 141,757 shares of company stock valued at $17,569,112 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GILD. GoalVest Advisory LLC increased its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 7,566.7% in the 2nd quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC now owns 230 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 227 shares during the period. Corundum Trust Company INC bought a new position in Gilead Sciences in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Financial Consulate Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 85.8% during the fourth quarter. Financial Consulate Inc. now owns 236 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Asset Planning Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences during the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, BOCHK Asset Management Ltd bought a new position in Gilead Sciences in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. 83.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.