Stock Traders Purchase High Volume of Call Options on Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD)

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) saw unusually large options trading on Thursday. Traders acquired 130,626 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 1,013% compared to the typical volume of 11,737 call options.

Gilead Sciences Trading Down 0.2%

Shares of NASDAQ:GILD traded down $0.22 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $144.99. 4,375,491 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,379,389. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $140.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $126.78. Gilead Sciences has a 12 month low of $93.37 and a 12 month high of $157.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 1.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $179.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.42, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.37.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.86 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $7.93 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.68 billion. Gilead Sciences had a net margin of 28.90% and a return on equity of 49.46%. The firm’s revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.90 EPS. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.450-8.850 EPS. Analysts predict that Gilead Sciences will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a $0.82 dividend. This is a boost from Gilead Sciences’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Gilead Sciences’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.68%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Gilead Sciences

In related news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.44, for a total transaction of $4,324,320.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 120,288 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,577,278.72. This trade represents a 18.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Daniel Patrick O’day sold 10,000 shares of Gilead Sciences stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.79, for a total transaction of $1,447,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 642,308 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $92,999,775.32. The trade was a 1.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders sold 309,280 shares of company stock worth $43,935,470. Insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Gilead Sciences

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in GILD. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new position in Gilead Sciences during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC increased its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 71.4% during the fourth quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 204 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. Corundum Trust Company INC bought a new position in Gilead Sciences during the third quarter worth $26,000. Quattro Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Gilead Sciences in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Gilead Sciences by 60.0% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the period. 83.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about Gilead Sciences

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst optimism — Jefferies and other firms have initiated or reiterated positive coverage, highlighting Gilead’s strong HIV franchise, expanding oncology/cell therapy pipeline and long IP runway (through ~2036), which supports both income and growth narratives. How Renewed Wall Street Optimism Around HIV, Oncology And IP Runway At Gilead Sciences (GILD) Has Changed Its Investment Story
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised near-term EPS estimates (Q1/Q2 and FY2027 upgrades reported), nudging earnings expectations higher — a constructive signal for investors focused on fundamentals. The Zacks Analyst Blog: Oracle, T‑Mobile, Gilead and C&F Financial
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually large call-option activity (130k+ calls) signals bullish positioning by traders, which can amplify upside if catalysts continue. (Market data)
• Positive Sentiment: Index and institutional flows — rising institutional focus amid Nasdaq‑100 dynamics can support demand for GILD shares from passive and quant funds. Gilead (NASDAQ:GILD) Institutional Focus Rises In Nasdaq 100 Index
• Neutral Sentiment: Acquisition rationale — coverage and analyst pieces discuss whether the ~$7.8B Arcellx buy strengthens Gilead’s cell‑therapy franchise amid declining cell therapy sales; the strategic case is positive but clinical/commercial risks remain. Will GILD’s Move to Acquire ACLX Boost Its Cell Therapy Franchise?
• Neutral Sentiment: Market context — broader investor flows into growth/tech vs. traditional defensives are affecting healthcare sector moves; this macro backdrop is neither uniquely positive nor negative for Gilead. Why Investors Aren’t Fleeing to Safe‑Haven Stocks
• Negative Sentiment: Deal/legal risk — a law firm (Kahn Swick & Foti) is investigating Arcellx’s proposed sale to Gilead, citing concerns over price/process; shareholder litigation or regulatory scrutiny could delay or alter the transaction terms and is a near‑term overhang. Arcellx Investor Alert: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Adequacy of Price and Process in Proposed Sale of Arcellx, Inc.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on GILD shares. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “buy” rating and set a $170.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Gilead Sciences from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Argus lifted their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $135.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Twenty-four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $157.62.

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.