Marshall Wace LLP Increases Stock Holdings in Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)

Marshall Wace LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD - Free Report) by 18.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 1,216,798 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after acquiring an additional 193,133 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP owned approximately 0.10% of Gilead Sciences worth $112,396,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in GILD. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 63.7% in the 4th quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 91,653 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $8,466,000 after buying an additional 35,657 shares during the period. Stenger Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences in the fourth quarter worth $310,000. Gabelli Funds LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences during the fourth quarter worth $387,000. Bridgewater Associates LP lifted its position in Gilead Sciences by 122.7% during the fourth quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 460,936 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $42,577,000 after purchasing an additional 253,994 shares during the period. Finally, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lifted its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 54.6% in the fourth quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 37,051 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $3,422,000 after acquiring an additional 13,086 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.67% of the company's stock.

Gilead Sciences Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of NASDAQ:GILD traded down $0.39 during trading on Friday, hitting $104.49. The company's stock had a trading volume of 8,066,368 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,519,796. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $62.07 and a fifty-two week high of $119.96. The company has a market capitalization of $130.10 billion, a PE ratio of 282.40, a P/E/G ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.50. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $109.16 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $97.45.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.90 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.23. Gilead Sciences had a net margin of 1.67% and a return on equity of 31.63%. As a group, research analysts expect that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.79 per share. This represents a $3.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.02%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This is an increase from Gilead Sciences's previous quarterly dividend of $0.77. Gilead Sciences's payout ratio is currently 854.05%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Bank of America upped their price target on Gilead Sciences from $116.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Gilead Sciences from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price objective for the company from $80.00 to $120.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Gilead Sciences from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and four have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $105.12.

Insider Activity at Gilead Sciences

In other Gilead Sciences news, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 17,929 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.17, for a total transaction of $2,118,669.93. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 169,061 shares of the company's stock, valued at $19,977,938.37. The trade was a 9.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders have sold 302,785 shares of company stock valued at $30,540,875 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.27% of the company's stock.

Gilead Sciences Company 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.