Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Insider Johanna Mercier Sells 28,000 Shares of Stock

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.44, for a total value of $4,324,320.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 120,288 shares in the company, valued at $18,577,278.72. This represents a 18.88% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Johanna Mercier also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Thursday, January 15th, Johanna Mercier sold 3,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.31, for a total value of $372,930.00.
• On Monday, December 15th, Johanna Mercier sold 3,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.00, for a total value of $366,000.00.

Gilead Sciences Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:GILD opened at $152.74 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. The stock has a market cap of $189.50 billion, a PE ratio of 22.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.36. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $132.29 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $123.18. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 1-year low of $93.37 and a 1-year high of $157.29.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.86 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.03. Gilead Sciences had a net margin of 28.90% and a return on equity of 49.46%. The company had revenue of $7.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.68 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.90 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.450-8.850 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. This is an increase from Gilead Sciences’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. Gilead Sciences’s payout ratio is 46.68%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target 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. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $135.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on Gilead Sciences from $140.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $131.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 21st. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Gilead Sciences in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Twenty-three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $152.96.

More Gilead Sciences News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Rothschild & Co Redburn raised its price target on GILD to $170 and maintained a Buy rating — this adds upside perception (~11% above recent price) and supports bullish analyst-driven flows. Rothschild PT Raise
• Positive Sentiment: News highlighting Gilead’s HIV franchise progress and a Yescarta label shift is reframing the investment thesis toward durable HIV revenue plus potential CAR-T positioning — supportive for medium-term growth expectations. HIV & Yescarta Article
• Neutral Sentiment: Maxim Group’s Michael Okunewitch reiterated a Hold rating, noting strong HIV growth may be largely priced in and diversification still limited — a cautious tone that tempers upside. TipRanks / Hold Rating
• Neutral Sentiment: Benzinga’s retrospective on 5‑year returns (what $1,000 then would be worth today) is informational for retail investors but unlikely to move price materially by itself. Benzinga Performance Piece
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst Q&A coverage from Gilead’s Q4 earnings call highlights issues analysts want answered (pipeline timing, margins, guidance drivers). Useful context for investors but mixed in directional impact. Q4 Earnings Call Questions
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 3,000 shares at ~$$154.43 (SEC filing). Large or leadership insider sales can pressure sentiment even when scheduled/known. CFO Form 4
• Negative Sentiment: Significant insider sale by Johanna Mercier: 28,000 shares sold at ~$$154.44 (18.9% reduction in her holding) — a large single insider transaction that may weigh on investor confidence. Mercier Form 4

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC grew its stake in Gilead Sciences by 71.4% during the fourth quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 204 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 7,566.7% in the 2nd quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC now owns 230 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Corundum Trust Company INC purchased a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences during the third quarter worth about $26,000. Quattro Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Gilead Sciences during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Finally, Ares Financial Consulting LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Institutional investors own 83.67% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Company 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.