Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Price Target Cut to $165.00 by Analysts at Morgan Stanley

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) had its price objective reduced by investment analysts at Morgan Stanley from $166.00 to $165.00 in a report issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an “overweight” rating on the biopharmaceutical company’s stock. Morgan Stanley’s target price would suggest a potential upside of 25.52% from the stock’s previous close.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Gilead Sciences from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Truist Financial dropped their price target on Gilead Sciences from $157.00 to $156.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $156.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, April 13th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Gilead Sciences from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Sunday, July 12th. Finally, Leerink Partners cut shares of Gilead Sciences from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $146.00 to $127.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Twenty-five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Gilead Sciences currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $158.30.

Gilead Sciences Stock Up 1.7%

Gilead Sciences stock traded up $2.14 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $131.45. The stock had a trading volume of 1,889,181 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,107,848. The stock has a market cap of $163.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.95 and a beta of 0.32. Gilead Sciences has a 12 month low of $108.46 and a 12 month high of $157.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.97, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $129.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $135.62.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 7th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.12. Gilead Sciences had a net margin of 30.99% and a return on equity of 48.19%. The firm had revenue of $6.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.91 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.81 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at -1.050–0.650 EPS. Research analysts predict that Gilead Sciences will post -0.77 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Gilead Sciences

In other news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.29, for a total transaction of $3,676,120.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 125,779 shares in the company, valued at $16,513,524.91. The trade was a 18.21% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 3,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.40, for a total transaction of $376,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 171,646 shares in the company, valued at $21,524,408.40. This trade represents a 1.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 77,000 shares of company stock valued at $9,978,740. Corporate insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC increased its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 71.4% in the fourth quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 204 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Quattro Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Gilead Sciences in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC raised its position in Gilead Sciences by 60.0% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ares Financial Consulting LLC bought a new position in Gilead Sciences during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. 83.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.