Zacks Research Predicts Weaker Earnings for Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research decreased their Q3 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Gilead Sciences in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, April 14th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the biopharmaceutical company will post earnings per share of $2.25 for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $2.30. The consensus estimate for Gilead Sciences’ current full-year earnings is $7.95 per share.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.03. Gilead Sciences had a net margin of 28.90% and a return on equity of 49.46%. The company had revenue of $7.93 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.68 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.90 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.450-8.850 EPS.

A number of other research firms also recently issued reports on GILD. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $145.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald cut their price target on Gilead Sciences from $155.00 to $115.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 10th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $160.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Gilead Sciences in a report on Tuesday, March 10th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $180.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on Gilead Sciences from $118.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. Twenty-four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $156.77.

Gilead Sciences Trading Up 1.0%

Gilead Sciences stock opened at $140.45 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $144.99 and its 200-day moving average is $130.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 1.55. Gilead Sciences has a 1 year low of $93.37 and a 1 year high of $157.29. The company has a market cap of $174.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.75, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.39.

Institutional Trading of Gilead Sciences

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Csenge Advisory Group raised its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 319.0% in the 3rd quarter. Csenge Advisory Group now owns 21,394 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $2,375,000 after purchasing an additional 16,288 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 52.1% in the 3rd quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 78,494 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $8,713,000 after purchasing an additional 26,882 shares in the last quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 249.1% in the 3rd quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. now owns 10,045 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,115,000 after purchasing an additional 7,168 shares in the last quarter. Railway Pension Investments Ltd raised its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 3.1% during the third quarter. Railway Pension Investments Ltd now owns 1,415,665 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $157,139,000 after purchasing an additional 42,200 shares during the period. Finally, TriaGen Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences during the third quarter worth $1,274,000. 83.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Gilead Sciences news, CEO Daniel Patrick O’day sold 10,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction on Friday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.79, for a total transaction of $1,447,900.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 642,308 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $92,999,775.32. The trade was a 1.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Jeffrey Bluestone sold 5,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.50, for a total value of $617,500.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 8,920 shares in the company, valued at $1,101,620. The trade was a 35.92% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 299,280 shares of company stock worth $42,820,550 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th were paid a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 13th. This is an increase from Gilead Sciences’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.45%.

Key Stories Impacting Gilead Sciences

Here are the key news stories impacting Gilead Sciences this week:

• Positive Sentiment: PEPFAR and The Global Fund agreed to further fund Gilead’s twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug lenacapavir, expanding access for up to an additional 1 million people (raising the total commitment to cover up to 3 million people through 2028) — a meaningful demand/volume win in low? and middle?income markets that supports long?term revenue visibility for GILD. PEPFAR and The Global Fund Make Additional Investment in Gilead’s Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention to Further Expand Access
• Positive Sentiment: Recent analyst upgrades/target increases (Morgan Stanley raised its outlook; Citigroup bumped its price target to $165) bolster upside expectations and institutional sentiment toward GILD. Analyst model updates and higher targets can support buying interest. Morgan Stanley Boosts Gilead (GILD) Outlook on Updated Biopharma Models
• Positive Sentiment: Gilead’s most recent quarterly results and FY?2026 guidance remain supportive: an EPS beat and revenue above consensus, plus guidance that implies mid?single?digit growth — fundamentals that underpin valuation and dividend appeal. (Background company earnings and guidance referenced in recent coverage.) Here’s Why Gilead Sciences (GILD) Gained But Lagged the Market Today
• Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary notes GILD “gained but lagged the market,” reflecting that while company?specific headlines are positive, broader market moves and sector dynamics are influencing relative performance. Useful for short?term trading context. Here’s Why Gilead Sciences (GILD) Gained But Lagged the Market Today
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage highlighting stocks with positive earnings momentum cites tools (Zacks Earnings ESP) that list Gilead among names to watch for potential beats — this is informational and may attract short?term momentum traders but does not itself change fundamentals. Looking for Stocks with Positive Earnings Momentum? Check Out These 2 Medical Names
• Negative Sentiment: Cantor Fitzgerald cut its price target on GILD to $115, signaling some downside in analyst sentiment and providing ammunition for cautious investors; such cuts can pressure the stock if followed by more conservative estimates. Cantor Fitzgerald Cuts Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) Price Target to $115.00
• Negative Sentiment: Activist and advocacy pressure: AIDS Healthcare Foundation publicly protested Gilead over drug pricing, a reputational and regulatory risk that could fuel policy scrutiny or pricing concessions over time. Protests: AHF Blasts Gilead Over Extortionate AIDS Drug Pricing

Gilead Sciences Company Profile

Gilead Sciences, Inc, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Foster City, California, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of medicines in areas of high unmet medical need. The company initially built its reputation in antiviral therapies and has since expanded into oncology, cell therapy and inflammatory diseases. Gilead operates a global research and commercial organization, conducting clinical development and selling medicines in markets around the world.

Gilead’s product portfolio is anchored by antiviral therapies for HIV and viral hepatitis.