Principal Financial Group Inc. Trims Holdings in Gilead Sciences, Inc. $GILD

Principal Financial Group Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) by 1.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,382,414 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after selling 18,461 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned 0.11% of Gilead Sciences worth $153,448,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rothschild Investment LLC increased its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 4,539 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $503,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Hemington Wealth Management grew its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 9.3% during the 3rd quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 998 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $110,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the period. Ignite Planners LLC increased its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Ignite Planners LLC now owns 7,932 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $880,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Archer Investment Corp raised its stake in Gilead Sciences by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 7,277 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $807,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the period. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. lifted its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 0.3% during the third quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 34,711 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $3,912,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. 83.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $145.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a report on Friday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $151.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Gilead Sciences from $140.00 to $156.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Gilead Sciences from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have assigned a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $136.73.

Gilead Sciences Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of NASDAQ GILD opened at $142.89 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 12-month low of $93.37 and a 12-month high of $143.80. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $125.71 and its 200-day moving average price is $119.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $177.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.15, a P/E/G ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 0.36.

Insider Activity at Gilead Sciences

In related news, Director Kelly A. Kramer sold 2,805 shares of the 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 sale, the director directly owned 1,339 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $170,186.90. This represents a 67.69% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 3,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.31, for a total transaction of $372,930.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 150,503 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,709,027.93. The trade was a 1.95% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 257,397 shares of company stock worth $33,385,512 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

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.