Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Reaches New 12-Month High After Analyst Upgrade

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday after Rothschild & Co Redburn raised their price target on the stock from $153.00 to $159.00. Rothschild & Co Redburn currently has a buy rating on the stock. Gilead Sciences traded as high as $129.17 and last traded at $129.2410, with a volume of 4156427 shares. The stock had previously closed at $124.14.

GILD has been the subject of a number of other research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $151.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Argus increased their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Gilead Sciences from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday, January 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $100.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Tuesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have issued a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $133.52.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.86, for a total value of $3,524,080.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 107,193 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,491,310.98. This trade represents a 20.71% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 3,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.00, for a total transaction of $366,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 153,503 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,727,366. The trade was a 1.92% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 141,757 shares of company stock valued at $17,569,112. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Gilead Sciences

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

• Positive Sentiment: NEJM published full Phase 3 ASCENT‑04/KEYNOTE‑D19 results showing Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan) + Keytruda met the primary endpoint with a ~35% PFS improvement (HR 0.65), supporting the combo as a potential new first‑line standard in PD‑L1+ metastatic TNBC — a major commercial catalyst for Gilead’s oncology franchise. NEJM ASCENT-04 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple outlets (PharmaLetter) summarized the NEJM publication and reinforced the significance of the clinical data for Trodelvy’s uptake and reimbursement discussions — amplifying the immediate market reaction. PharmaLetter Trodelvy-Keytruda NEJM Coverage
• Positive Sentiment: Rothschild & Co Redburn raised its price target to $159 and kept a “buy” rating — a bullish institutional signal that supports further upside and likely contributed to buying momentum. Rothschild & Co Redburn Price Target
• Positive Sentiment: Investor commentary highlighting margin expansion and stronger free cash flow as underappreciated drivers has supported fundamental buying beyond the clinical news. Seeking Alpha on Margins & Cash Flow
• Neutral Sentiment: Market write‑ups and a Zacks note pointed out that GILD outpaced the broader market today — useful for context but largely descriptive of price action rather than new fundamental change. Zacks: Why GILD Outpaced Market
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation and technical pieces note recent share‑price strength and improved momentum — these can attract traders but don’t alter the clinical/commercial thesis. Yahoo Valuation Check
• Negative Sentiment: Director Jeffrey Bluestone sold 5,000 shares (~$617.5k at ~$123.50), reducing his stake by ~36% — an insider sale that can prompt short‑term investor concern about timing or confidence (though insiders sell for many non‑signal reasons). SEC Form 4 — Bluestone
• Negative Sentiment: RBC’s price target (~$103, sector perform) remains well below current levels — a conservative analyst view that could limit upside if other firms adopt similar stances. RBC Price Target Note

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Personal CFO Solutions LLC raised its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC now owns 4,572 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $561,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the period. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. raised its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 8.7% in the fourth quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 1,016 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $125,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the period. Trivium Point Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Trivium Point Advisory LLC now owns 7,325 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $813,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc boosted its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 11.8% during the 3rd quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 785 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $87,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the period. Finally, Rothschild Investment LLC boosted its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 1.9% during 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 during the period. 83.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Gilead Sciences Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.45. The company has a market capitalization of $162.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.33, a P/E/G ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 0.33. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $123.76 and its 200 day moving average is $118.46.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.16 by $0.31. Gilead Sciences had a return on equity of 51.86% and a net margin of 27.88%.The business had revenue of $7.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.42 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.02 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.050-8.250 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th were paid a $0.79 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $3.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.99%.

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.