Gilead Sciences Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NASDAQ:GILD)

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Thursday. Stock investors purchased 15,097 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 57% compared to the typical daily volume of 9,592 call options.

Gilead Sciences News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Gilead and Merck reported positive topline Phase 3 results for their once-weekly oral HIV regimen, a potentially important catalyst for Gilead’s HIV franchise and long-term growth. Is Gilead (GILD) One of the Top Large Cap Value Stocks to Buy Now?
• Positive Sentiment: Bernstein reiterated a Buy view on Gilead, and unusual call option activity suggests traders are positioning for upside ahead of additional catalysts. Gilead Sciences (GILD) Gets a Buy from Bernstein
• Positive Sentiment: The company advanced a Phase 2 study of denikitug in difficult-to-treat colorectal cancer, adding another pipeline readout that could broaden Gilead’s oncology prospects. Gilead Advances Denikitug Trial in Tough-to-Treat Colorectal Cancer
• Positive Sentiment: Gilead is donating remdesivir to Uganda to support Ebola response efforts, reinforcing the company’s reputation in infectious disease care and public-health leadership. Gilead Mobilizes Rapid Donation of Remdesivir to Support Ebola Response, Building on Decade-Long Commitment to Outbreak Relief
• Neutral Sentiment: Gilead and the Gilead Foundation announced about $3 million in funding with the National AIDS Memorial for HIV/AIDS education and leadership initiatives, a brand-building effort with limited near-term earnings impact. National AIDS Memorial and the Gilead Foundation Launch Major Investment to Expand HIV/AIDS Education and Community Leadership
• Neutral Sentiment: Erste Group slightly lowered its FY2026 earnings estimate for Gilead, but the revision was small and stays close to the broader loss expectations already in place. Gilead Advances Denikitug Trial in Tough-to-Treat Colorectal Cancer
• Negative Sentiment: Recent commentary suggests Gilead’s stock has pulled back from its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating some short-term technical pressure despite the positive pipeline news.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

GILD has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Gilead Sciences from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, May 9th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Gilead Sciences from $156.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of 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. Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and set a $170.00 target price on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Tuesday, March 10th. They set a “buy” rating and a $180.00 target price on the stock. Twenty-five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Gilead Sciences presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $156.93.

Gilead Sciences Stock Performance

Shares of Gilead Sciences stock opened at $125.59 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $155.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.11 and a beta of 0.31. Gilead Sciences has a 52 week low of $104.46 and a 52 week high of $157.29. The company has a quick ratio of 1.77, a current ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $133.16 and its two-hundred day moving average is $134.28.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 7th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.03 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $6.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.91 billion. Gilead Sciences had a net margin of 30.99% and a return on equity of 48.19%. The firm’s revenue was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.81 earnings per share. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at -1.050–0.650 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Gilead Sciences will post -0.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 29th. Investors of record on Monday, June 15th will be given a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 15th. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.69%.

Insider Transactions at Gilead Sciences

In other news, CEO Daniel Patrick O’day sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.46, for a total transaction of $1,971,900.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 617,567 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $81,185,357.82. This represents a 2.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.29, for a total transaction of $3,676,120.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 125,779 shares in the company, valued at $16,513,524.91. This represents a 18.21% decrease in their position. 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 quarter, insiders have sold 68,000 shares of company stock valued at $9,047,570. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. purchased a new position in Gilead Sciences in the 1st quarter valued at $256,000. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co grew its position in Gilead Sciences by 12.1% in the 1st quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co now owns 2,427 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $338,000 after buying an additional 262 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in Gilead Sciences by 144.2% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 392,435 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $54,694,000 after buying an additional 231,715 shares during the last quarter. First Nebraska Trust Co purchased a new position in Gilead Sciences in the 1st quarter valued at $530,000. Finally, Avidity Partners Management LP purchased a new position in Gilead Sciences in the 1st quarter valued at $2,787,000. 83.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.