Avantax Advisory Services Inc. Lowers Position in Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)

Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lessened its stake in Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD - Free Report) by 9.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 96,745 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after selling 10,184 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc.'s holdings in Gilead Sciences were worth $8,936,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of GILD. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position 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 purchased a new stake in Gilead Sciences in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. purchased a new stake in Gilead Sciences in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in Gilead Sciences in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Stephens Consulting LLC boosted its position in Gilead Sciences by 325.0% in the 4th quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 340 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 260 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.67% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 2,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 129,873 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,863,898.55. This trade represents a 1.89 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 311,285 shares of company stock valued at $31,284,910. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on GILD shares. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Oppenheimer increased their target price on Gilead Sciences from $115.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Citigroup started coverage on Gilead Sciences in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. They set a "buy" rating and a $125.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Gilead Sciences from $123.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Gilead Sciences from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the company from $80.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and four have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $104.52.

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Gilead Sciences Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of GILD opened at $113.35 on Friday. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 52-week low of $62.07 and a 52-week high of $119.96. The company has a market capitalization of $141.16 billion, a PE ratio of 306.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 0.21. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $101.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $92.47. 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 - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.90 earnings per share (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%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.79 per share. This represents a $3.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.79%. This is an increase from Gilead Sciences's previous quarterly dividend of $0.77. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. Gilead Sciences's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 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.

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