Johanna Mercier Sells 28,000 Shares of Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Stock

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the insider owned 120,288 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,577,278.72. This trade represents a 18.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

Johanna Mercier also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Thursday, January 15th, Johanna Mercier sold 3,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.31, for a total value of $372,930.00.
• On Monday, December 15th, Johanna Mercier sold 3,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.00, for a total transaction of $366,000.00.

Gilead Sciences Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:GILD opened at $151.12 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $132.85 and a 200 day moving average of $123.38. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. The stock has a market cap of $187.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.32, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.36. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 12 month low of $93.37 and a 12 month high of $157.29.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.86 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.03. Gilead Sciences had a net margin of 28.90% and a return on equity of 49.46%. The firm had revenue of $7.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.68 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.90 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.450-8.850 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a $0.82 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. This is a boost from Gilead Sciences’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.68%.

Institutional Trading of Gilead Sciences

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 71.4% in the 4th quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 204 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. GoalVest Advisory LLC increased its position in Gilead Sciences by 7,566.7% during the 2nd quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC now owns 230 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 227 shares during the period. Corundum Trust Company INC bought a new position in Gilead Sciences in the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Quattro Advisors LLC bought a new position in Gilead Sciences in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Finally, Ares Financial Consulting LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. 83.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Gilead Sciences from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Argus lifted their price target on Gilead Sciences from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Wolfe Research increased their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their target price on Gilead Sciences from $135.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Gilead Sciences from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Twenty-three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $154.21.

Gilead Sciences News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Rothschild & Co Redburn raised its price target to $170 and kept a Buy rating, reinforcing upside expectations tied to Gilead’s core franchises and supporting potential inflows. Rothschild PT Raise
• Positive Sentiment: Mizuho also lifted its target to $170 and maintained an Outperform rating — another analyst upgrade adding to buy-side momentum. Mizuho PT Raise
• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results showed an EPS beat and revenue beat, and management set FY‑2026 guidance at $8.45–$8.85 — this reinforces the earnings narrative (HIV franchise strength and durable cash flow) that underpins analyst optimism. Post-earnings Analyst Coverage
• Neutral Sentiment: Maxim Group reiterated a Hold rating, noting much of the HIV growth may be priced in and diversification remains limited — a cautious view that tempers aggressive upside. Maxim / Hold
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst Q&A and feature pieces (including performance retrospectives) are providing context for investors but are mixed in directional impact — useful for positioning but unlikely to move price materially alone. Analyst Q&A
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: CFO Andrew Dickinson sold 3,000 shares at ~ $154.43 (Form 4 filing). Leadership sales often add near‑term selling pressure or raise governance questions for some investors. CFO Form 4
• Negative Sentiment: Significant insider sale: Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares at ~ $154.44 (an ~18.9% reduction in her holding), a larger single insider transaction that can weigh on investor confidence. Mercier Form 4

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.