Daiwa Securities Group Issues Positive Forecast for Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Stock Price

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) had its price target increased by Daiwa Securities Group from $129.00 to $161.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday,MarketScreener reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the biopharmaceutical company’s stock.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Gilead Sciences from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Barclays began coverage on Gilead Sciences in a research note on Friday, February 20th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $155.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted 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. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reissued a “buy” rating and set a $170.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Monday. Twenty-three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $156.72.

Gilead Sciences Trading Down 2.3%

Shares of NASDAQ GILD traded down $3.39 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $143.73. 2,304,931 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,585,214. The stock has a market capitalization of $178.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.21, a PEG ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.68. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $135.16 and a 200 day simple moving average of $124.44. Gilead Sciences has a twelve month low of $93.37 and a twelve month high of $157.29.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.86 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 return on equity of 49.46% and a net margin of 28.90%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.90 earnings per share. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.450-8.850 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Gilead Sciences will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of $0.82 per share. This is a boost from Gilead Sciences’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio is 46.68%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.44, for a total value of $4,324,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 120,288 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,577,278.72. The trade was a 18.88% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Jeffrey Bluestone sold 5,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction on Friday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.08, for a total transaction of $625,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 8,920 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,115,713.60. This represents a 35.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 317,085 shares of company stock valued at $44,734,886. 0.27% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of GILD. Csenge Advisory Group grew its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 319.0% during the 3rd quarter. Csenge Advisory Group now owns 21,394 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $2,375,000 after purchasing an additional 16,288 shares during the period. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management lifted its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 52.1% in the third quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 78,494 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $8,713,000 after purchasing an additional 26,882 shares during the period. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. boosted its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 249.1% during the third quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. now owns 10,045 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,115,000 after buying an additional 7,168 shares in the last quarter. Railway Pension Investments Ltd grew its position in Gilead Sciences by 3.1% during the third quarter. Railway Pension Investments Ltd now owns 1,415,665 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $157,139,000 after buying an additional 42,200 shares during the period. Finally, TriaGen Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,274,000. 83.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Gilead Sciences News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Daiwa Securities raised its price target to $161 from $129 and kept an “outperform” rating, arguing for upside versus recent levels — a clear analyst vote of confidence that can support buying interest. Daiwa Securities adjusts price target on Gilead Sciences to $161 from $129, maintains outperform
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research boosted numerous near‑ and medium‑term EPS estimates (multiple quarters and FY2026–FY2028), implying stronger earnings trajectory over the next two years — this underpins valuation upgrades and investor confidence in cash flow growth.
• Positive Sentiment: Gilead presented Phase 3 ARTISTRY‑1/2 data showing its investigational single‑tablet bictegravir/lenacapavir regimen maintained virological suppression with low discontinuation — supports HIV franchise durability and potential longer‑term revenue upside. Gilead’s Single-Tablet Regimen Maintained Virological Suppression
• Neutral Sentiment: Gilead agreed to buy the remaining stake in Arcellx for roughly $7.8B (about $115/share) to gain full control of anito‑cel — a strategic, pipeline‑building move into cell therapy that expands long‑term growth potential but also raises near‑term execution and funding questions. Gilead Snaps Up Arcellx For $115 Per Share — A $7.8 Billion Bet On Cancer Therapy
• Neutral Sentiment: UBS reiterated a Buy and kept a $175 target, highlighting confidence in Gilead’s long‑acting HIV franchise and pipeline — another supportive analyst view but not new capital or clinical data. Gilead Sciences: Advancing Long-Acting HIV Franchise Underscores Competitive Edge and Supports Buy Rating
• Negative Sentiment: Competitive risk: Merck published Phase 3 results showing a two‑drug HIV regimen that matched Gilead’s Biktarvy, and Merck’s program is under FDA review — increased competition could pressure Gilead’s HIV pricing and market share over time. Merck’s New HIV Drug Shows Promise. Its Chief Medical Officer Explains Why Wall Street Should Care.
• Negative Sentiment: Short‑term drag likely from investor concerns about the size/price of the Arcellx deal and integration risk; when a stock has had analyst upgrades and recent run‑up, big M&A headlines can trigger profit‑taking and higher volatility.

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.