LGT Group Foundation Sells 18,481 Shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)

LGT Group Foundation lowered its position in shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) by 85.1% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 3,248 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after selling 18,481 shares during the period. LGT Group Foundation’s holdings in Gilead Sciences were worth $300,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Gilead Sciences by 118.5% in the 4th quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 284 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. YANKCOM Partnership bought a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Stephens Consulting LLC boosted its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 325.0% in the fourth quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 340 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 260 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 83.67% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Citigroup started coverage on Gilead Sciences in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. They set a “buy” rating and a $125.00 price objective on the stock. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Gilead Sciences from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $80.00 price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on shares of Gilead Sciences in a report on Friday, November 15th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $110.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and four have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $102.76.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.35, for a total transaction of $228,375.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 129,873 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,863,898.55. This trade represents a 1.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders sold 293,356 shares of company stock valued at $29,166,240 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of NASDAQ:GILD opened at $114.74 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $143.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 310.11, a P/E/G ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 0.21. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 12-month low of $62.07 and a 12-month high of $117.39. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $98.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of $90.74. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.90 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.23. Gilead Sciences had a return on equity of 31.63% and a net margin of 1.67%. Analysts predict that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.79 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This is a boost from Gilead Sciences’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.77. This represents a $3.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.75%. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio is 854.05%.

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.