Merit Financial Group LLC Boosts Stake in Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)

Merit Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD - Free Report) by 40.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 19,707 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after purchasing an additional 5,635 shares during the quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC's holdings in Gilead Sciences were worth $1,820,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. First National Bank of Mount Dora Trust Investment Services lifted its stake in Gilead Sciences by 7.1% in the fourth quarter. First National Bank of Mount Dora Trust Investment Services now owns 4,390 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $406,000 after buying an additional 291 shares during the period. Relyea Zuckerberg Hanson LLC increased its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 17.0% in the 4th quarter. Relyea Zuckerberg Hanson LLC now owns 3,007 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $278,000 after acquiring an additional 437 shares in the last quarter. Avanza Fonder AB acquired a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences during the 4th quarter valued at $11,742,000. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC grew its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 13.9% in the fourth quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 18,263 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,687,000 after purchasing an additional 2,229 shares during the period. Finally, Decker Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new stake in Gilead Sciences in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Institutional investors own 83.67% of the company's stock.

Gilead Sciences Stock Performance

GILD traded up $1.13 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $92.97. The stock had a trading volume of 5,966,065 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,643,314. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 1 year low of $62.07 and a 1 year high of $98.90. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $91.65 and its 200 day simple moving average is $84.38. The stock has a market cap of $115.87 billion, a PE ratio of 1,033.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.44. The company had revenue of $7.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.01 billion. Gilead Sciences had a net margin of 0.45% and a return on equity of 29.00%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.29 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 4.36 earnings per share for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th were given a $0.77 dividend. This represents a $3.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 13th. Gilead Sciences's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3,422.22%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

GILD has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $80.00 price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $94.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Mizuho upped their target price on Gilead Sciences from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Bank of America reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $109.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and set a $84.00 price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and four have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Gilead Sciences presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $97.96.

Insider Activity at Gilead Sciences

In related news, insider Merdad Parsey sold 25,590 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.50, for a total transaction of $2,341,485.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 99,599 shares in the company, valued at $9,113,308.50. The trade was a 20.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 248,645 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.76, for a total value of $23,064,310.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 138,919 shares in the company, valued at $12,886,126.44. This represents a 64.16 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 456,234 shares of company stock worth $42,130,461. 0.29% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.