Wright Investors Service Inc. Sells 15,942 Shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)

Wright Investors Service Inc. cut its stake in Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) by 24.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 48,181 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after selling 15,942 shares during the period. Gilead Sciences accounts for approximately 1.4% of Wright Investors Service Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. Wright Investors Service Inc.’s holdings in Gilead Sciences were worth $4,450,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of GILD. FNY Investment Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences in the 4th quarter worth about $471,000. First Financial Corp IN bought a new stake in Gilead Sciences during the fourth quarter worth about $68,000. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 4.0% in the fourth quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 8,150 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $753,000 after purchasing an additional 314 shares during the period. Claro Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 30.6% during the fourth quarter. Claro Advisors LLC now owns 11,172 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,032,000 after purchasing an additional 2,617 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedmont Private Capital lifted its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 41.2% during the fourth quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 13,481 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,212,000 after purchasing an additional 3,931 shares during the last quarter. 83.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Gilead Sciences Price Performance

NASDAQ GILD opened at $89.94 on Tuesday. The business’s fifty day moving average is $91.94 and its 200 day moving average is $83.54. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $62.07 and a fifty-two week high of $98.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.26. The company has a market capitalization of $112.09 billion, a PE ratio of 999.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.18.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.02 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.58 by $0.44. The firm had revenue of $7.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.01 billion. Gilead Sciences had a return on equity of 29.00% and a net margin of 0.45%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.29 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 4.36 earnings per share for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th were given a dividend of $0.77 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 13th. This represents a $3.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.42%. Gilead Sciences’s payout ratio is 3,422.22%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on GILD shares. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $84.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Gilead Sciences from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Gilead Sciences from $94.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Sanford C. Bernstein initiated coverage on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $105.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Gilead Sciences from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $87.00 to $113.00 in a research note on Friday. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and four have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $97.96.

Insider Activity at Gilead Sciences

In other news, insider Merdad Parsey sold 164,211 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.92, for a total transaction of $15,094,275.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 80,801 shares in the company, valued at $7,427,227.92. This trade represents a 67.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 248,645 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.76, for a total value of $23,064,310.20. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 138,919 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,886,126.44. The trade was a 64.16 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 453,734 shares of company stock worth $41,902,086. 0.16% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Gilead Sciences Profile

Gilead Sciences, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines in the areas of unmet medical need in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company provides Biktarvy, Genvoya, Descovy, Odefsey, Truvada, Complera/ Eviplera, Stribild, Sunlencs, and Atripla products for the treatment of HIV/AIDS; Veklury, an injection for intravenous use, for the treatment of COVID-19; and Epclusa, Harvoni, Vemlidy, and Viread for the treatment of viral hepatitis.