Natixis reduced its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) by 24.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 431,311 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after selling 139,010 shares during the period. Natixis’ holdings in Gilead Sciences were worth $39,620,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of GILD. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P boosted its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 23.3% in the first quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 1,591 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $146,000 after buying an additional 301 shares in the last quarter. BLB&B Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences during the first quarter valued at approximately $268,000. Stokes & Hubbell Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 15.7% in the first quarter. Stokes & Hubbell Capital Management LLC now owns 3,017 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $277,000 after buying an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. Peregrine Asset Advisers Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences during the first quarter valued at approximately $280,000. Finally, Acrospire Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences during the first quarter valued at approximately $285,000.
Shares of Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) traded up 0.91% during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $81.79. 14,092,978 shares of the company’s stock traded hands. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $84.54 and a 200-day moving average price of $88.69. Gilead Sciences Inc. has a 1-year low of $77.92 and a 1-year high of $120.37. The stock has a market cap of $108.93 billion and a P/E ratio of 6.98.
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 16th will be given a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 14th. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.30%.
Several equities analysts have commented on GILD shares. Vetr cut shares of Gilead Sciences from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $104.96 price target for the company. in a research report on Monday, April 4th. Leerink Swann reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $127.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Friday, April 1st. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $111.00 price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Friday, April 1st. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $97.00 price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Wednesday, June 29th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group AG reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $115.00 price objective (down from $120.00) on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Tuesday. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $109.95.
In related news, CEO John F. Milligan sold 112,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.71, for a total value of $9,823,520.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,170,963 shares in the company, valued at approximately $102,705,164.73. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Paul Rutherford Carter sold 2,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.72, for a total transaction of $177,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 62,939 shares in the company, valued at $5,583,948.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.
Gilead Sciences, Inc is a research-based biopharmaceutical company. The Company focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The Company’s principal areas of focus include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), liver diseases, such as chronic hepatitis C virus infection and chronic hepatitis B virus infection, cardiovascular, hematology/oncology and inflammation/respiratory.
