Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) Short Interest Down 15.7% in February

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 18,454,950 shares, a decline of 15.7% from the February 12th total of 21,892,924 shares. Currently, 1.5% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,745,011 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.7 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,745,011 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.7 days. Currently, 1.5% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 3,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.43, for a total transaction of $463,290.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 167,779 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,910,110.97. This represents a 1.76% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Daniel Patrick O’day sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.79, for a total value of $1,447,900.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 642,308 shares in the company, valued at approximately $92,999,775.32. This trade represents a 1.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders sold 303,280 shares of company stock worth $43,203,470. 0.27% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,887 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $477,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc. lifted its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 7,724 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $948,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC now owns 6,619 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $812,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC grew its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC now owns 4,572 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $561,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,446 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $546,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the period. 83.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Gilead Sciences Price Performance

Shares of GILD traded up $0.31 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $145.30. The stock had a trading volume of 432,222 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,310,676. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 1.55. Gilead Sciences has a 12 month low of $93.37 and a 12 month high of $157.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $180.38 billion, a PE ratio of 21.46, a PEG ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.36. The company’s 50-day moving average is $140.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $126.96.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $7.93 billion during 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 business’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.90 EPS. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.450-8.850 EPS. Research analysts expect that Gilead Sciences will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. This is a boost from Gilead Sciences’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio is 48.45%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. HSBC upped their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $110.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Argus upped their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $135.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Gilead Sciences from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Tuesday, March 10th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $180.00 price objective on the stock. Twenty-four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Gilead Sciences currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $157.62.

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.