Argent Advisors Inc. Raises Position in Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)

Argent Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) by 5.0% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 11,286 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after purchasing an additional 533 shares during the period. Argent Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Gilead Sciences were worth $774,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of GILD. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences during the 4th quarter valued at $1,649,000. Gilbert & Cook Inc. grew its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. now owns 6,791 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $550,000 after purchasing an additional 344 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. grew its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 10.8% during the 4th quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 10,602 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $859,000 after purchasing an additional 1,032 shares during the last quarter. Choreo LLC grew its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 53.6% during the 4th quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 8,147 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $660,000 after purchasing an additional 2,844 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC grew its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 18.4% during the 4th quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 46,645 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $3,779,000 after purchasing an additional 7,257 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.67% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:GILD traded down $0.45 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $79.00. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 6,204,884 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,175,005. The firm has a market capitalization of $98.42 billion, a PE ratio of 219.44, a P/E/G ratio of 3.37 and a beta of 0.18. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a twelve month low of $62.07 and a twelve month high of $87.86. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $72.93 and a 200 day moving average of $70.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31.

Gilead Sciences Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Investors of record on Friday, September 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.77 per share. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.90%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 855.56%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on GILD shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Robert W. Baird reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $80.00 target price on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Thursday, June 20th. Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of Gilead Sciences from $82.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Evercore ISI raised shares of Gilead Sciences to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Gilead Sciences from $71.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $81.94.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 5,490 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.98, for a total transaction of $406,150.20. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 114,979 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,506,146.42. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Gilead Sciences news, insider Merdad Parsey sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.63, for a total transaction of $137,260.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 96,380 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,614,559.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Johanna Mercier sold 5,490 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.98, for a total transaction of $406,150.20. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 114,979 shares in the company, valued at $8,506,146.42. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.