Zacks Research Weighs in on Gilead Sciences Q1 Earnings

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) – Research analysts at Zacks Research boosted their Q1 2028 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Gilead Sciences in a report released on Tuesday, September 1st. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the biopharmaceutical company will earn $2.15 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $2.14. Zacks Research currently has a “Strong-Buy” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Gilead Sciences’ current full-year earnings is ($0.47) per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Gilead Sciences’ Q2 2028 earnings at $2.31 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $9.66 EPS.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($6.75) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($7.25) by $0.50. The company had revenue of $7.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.40 billion. Gilead Sciences had a negative return on equity of 2.11% and a negative net margin of 10.64%.Gilead Sciences’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.01 EPS.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Gilead Sciences from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. HSBC raised shares of Gilead Sciences from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their target price for the company from $133.00 to $155.00 in a report on Monday, July 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Gilead Sciences from $120.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $155.00 to $145.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group reduced their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $161.00 to $150.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, May 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $158.04.

Gilead Sciences Stock Down 0.2%

Shares of GILD opened at $149.61 on Thursday. Gilead Sciences has a 1 year low of $108.46 and a 1 year high of $157.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $135.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $136.45. The firm has a market cap of $185.51 billion, a P/E ratio of -56.03 and a beta of 0.33.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 20.6% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 14,359 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,326,000 after purchasing an additional 2,450 shares during the last quarter. Bison Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Gilead Sciences in the 4th quarter worth approximately $215,000. Sivia Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 16.8% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 4,182 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $464,000 after buying an additional 602 shares during the last quarter. Ieq Capital LLC increased its position in Gilead Sciences by 12.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 118,695 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $13,160,000 after buying an additional 12,705 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Diversify Advisory Services LLC increased its position in Gilead Sciences by 18.6% during the 2nd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,296 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $516,000 after buying an additional 674 shares in the last quarter. 83.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Anthony Welters sold 18,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.62, for a total transaction of $2,675,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 12,894 shares in the company, valued at $1,916,306.28. This represents a 58.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Daniel Patrick O’day sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.64, for a total value of $2,229,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 577,133 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $85,785,049.12. The trade was a 2.53% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 105,000 shares of company stock valued at $14,495,820 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be issued a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -122.85%.

Key Headlines Impacting Gilead Sciences

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks upgraded Gilead to a “Strong Buy” rating. The upgrade reflects improving expectations for the company’s earnings outlook and may support investor demand. Gilead Upgraded to Strong Buy
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised its 2027 EPS forecasts for every quarter and the full year. Estimates now range from $2.09 in Q1 to $2.60 in Q4, with full-year 2027 EPS lifted to $9.36 from $9.30. The revisions indicate modestly stronger anticipated profitability. Zacks Gilead Forecasts
• Positive Sentiment: FDA approval of Bixlenvo expands Gilead’s HIV portfolio. The single-tablet treatment targets underserved patients and could create an additional growth opportunity, although sales adoption and competitive dynamics remain important factors. Bixlenvo HIV Growth Opportunity
• Neutral Sentiment: CEO Daniel O’Day sold 15,000 shares valued at approximately $2.23 million. The sale reduced his direct ownership by 2.53%, but it was conducted under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, making it a limited bearish signal. SEC Insider Trading Filing
• Neutral Sentiment: Gilead reaffirmed its quarterly dividend of $0.82 per share. The $3.28 annualized payout provides income support, though the reported negative payout ratio reflects unusual earnings effects and may limit its immediate impact on trading.

About Gilead Sciences

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.