Optimize Financial Inc Takes Position in Gilead Sciences, Inc. $GILD

Optimize Financial Inc bought a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm bought 3,691 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock, valued at approximately $410,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Gilead Sciences by 1.6% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 119,364,226 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $13,233,912,000 after acquiring an additional 1,893,401 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 2.6% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 29,207,662 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $3,231,548,000 after purchasing an additional 727,515 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Gilead Sciences during the 2nd quarter worth about $2,150,268,000. Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in Gilead Sciences by 33.5% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 13,521,228 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,499,098,000 after purchasing an additional 3,394,330 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amundi grew its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 18.2% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 10,467,411 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,167,221,000 after buying an additional 1,614,355 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.67% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.86, for a total transaction of $3,524,080.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 107,193 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $13,491,310.98. The trade was a 20.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction 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 stock in a transaction on Friday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.08, for a total value of $625,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 8,920 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,115,713.60. The trade was a 35.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders sold 257,397 shares of company stock valued at $33,385,512. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Gilead Sciences Trading Up 2.1%

NASDAQ:GILD opened at $146.23 on Thursday. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 12 month low of $93.37 and a 12 month high of $146.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $181.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.67, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 0.36. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $126.41 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $120.40. The company has a current ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Gilead Sciences from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and set a $135.00 price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $153.00 to $159.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Gilead Sciences from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $140.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Gilead Sciences currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $136.73.

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.