Zacks Research Forecasts Lower Earnings for Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) – Zacks Research dropped their Q3 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Gilead Sciences in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, February 24th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the biopharmaceutical company will post earnings per share of $2.30 for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $2.34. The consensus estimate for Gilead Sciences’ current full-year earnings is $7.95 per share.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on GILD. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on Gilead Sciences from $103.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Gilead Sciences from $145.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Gilead Sciences from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $170.00 target price on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Twenty-three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $156.72.

Gilead Sciences Stock Up 3.6%

Shares of NASDAQ GILD opened at $148.95 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $184.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.36. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $136.10 and its 200-day simple moving average is $124.81. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. Gilead Sciences has a 52-week low of $93.37 and a 52-week high of $157.29.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $7.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.68 billion. Gilead Sciences had a net margin of 28.90% and a return on equity of 49.46%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.90 EPS. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.450-8.850 EPS.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GILD. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised 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 valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. Quattro Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Gilead Sciences in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Gilead Sciences by 60.0% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the period. Finally, Ares Financial Consulting LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. 83.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Daniel Patrick O’day sold 115,640 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total transaction of $17,346,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 613,912 shares in the company, valued at approximately $92,086,800. This trade represents a 15.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 3,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.43, for a total transaction of $463,290.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 167,779 shares in the company, valued at $25,910,110.97. The trade was a 1.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 299,280 shares of company stock valued at $42,487,570 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

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

Gilead Sciences News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Gilead highlighted a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection with reported 99.9% efficacy (executive interview), reinforcing the company’s long-acting HIV/IP prevention market potential and upside to future sales if uptake and approvals follow. Johanna Mercier on Gilead’s HIV prevention innovation
• Positive Sentiment: New Phase 3 ARTISTRY-1 and ARTISTRY-2 data show the investigational single-tablet bictegravir/lenacapavir (BIC/LEN) maintained virological suppression when patients switched regimens — strengthens pipeline value and switch-market potential. Gilead’s Single-Tablet Regimen Maintained Virological Suppression
• Positive Sentiment: Daiwa raised its price target to $161 and kept an “outperform” rating, signaling buy-side confidence and giving shares technical/analyst momentum. Daiwa Securities Adjusts Price Target on Gilead Sciences
• Positive Sentiment: UBS reiterated a Buy with a $175 target, citing the advancing long-acting HIV franchise — another supportive analyst endorsement for upside. Gilead Sciences: Advancing Long-Acting HIV Franchise
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks issued a series of upward revisions to Gilead’s FY2026–FY2028 and multiple quarterly EPS forecasts (raises across 2026–2028), which supports higher medium-term earnings expectations. Zacks Research GILD Estimates
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage pieces note Gilead has been outperforming the healthcare sector recently and analysts remain optimistic — supports momentum but is descriptive rather than new fundamental news. Gilead Sciences Stock: Is GILD Outperforming the Healthcare Sector?
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry/peer updates such as Kymera’s results were reported but are not directly material to Gilead’s near-term outlook. Kymera Therapeutics Q4 Highlights
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed its Q3 2026 EPS estimate slightly (from $2.34 to $2.30) — a small near-term downgrade within otherwise stronger multi-year raises; worth monitoring for quarterly variability. Zacks Lowers Q3 2026 Estimate
• Negative Sentiment: Merck reported promising Phase 3 results for a two-drug HIV regimen that matched Gilead’s Biktarvy, representing competitive pressure if approved. Investors should monitor regulatory outcomes and market-share implications. Merck’s New HIV Drug Shows Promise

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.