Alps Advisors Inc. Grows Stock Holdings in Gilead Sciences, Inc. $GILD

Alps Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) by 171.9% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 53,913 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after purchasing an additional 34,083 shares during the quarter. Alps Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Gilead Sciences were worth $5,984,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in GILD. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences in the second quarter worth $2,150,268,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 397.6% in the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 6,748,403 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $748,147,000 after purchasing an additional 5,392,191 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Gilead Sciences by 33.5% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 13,521,228 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,499,098,000 after purchasing an additional 3,394,330 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in Gilead Sciences by 164.4% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 3,489,062 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $387,286,000 after purchasing an additional 2,169,266 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Gilead Sciences by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 119,364,226 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $13,233,912,000 after purchasing an additional 1,893,401 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.67% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Price Performance

NASDAQ GILD opened at $152.50 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $189.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.64, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 0.36. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 1-year low of $93.37 and a 1-year high of $153.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 1.31. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $127.38 and its 200-day moving average price is $121.04.

Insider Activity at Gilead Sciences

In other Gilead Sciences news, Director Kelly A. Kramer sold 2,805 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 28th. The stock was 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 approximately $170,186.90. This represents a 67.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Johanna Mercier sold 3,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.31, for a total value of $372,930.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 103,221 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,831,402.51. This represents a 2.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 373,037 shares of company stock valued at $50,731,512 in the last 90 days. 0.27% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have issued reports on GILD shares. HSBC lifted their target price on shares of Gilead Sciences from $110.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Citigroup upped their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $140.00 to $156.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Gilead Sciences from $100.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group boosted their price target on Gilead Sciences from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. One equities research 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $136.73.

Gilead Sciences 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.