3,962 Shares in Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) Acquired by Northern Financial Advisors Inc

Northern Financial Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 3,962 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock, valued at approximately $366,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Avestar Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 19.6% in the fourth quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 8,297 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $766,000 after acquiring an additional 1,362 shares in the last quarter. Hemington Wealth Management raised its position in Gilead Sciences by 28.4% in the 4th quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 673 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC boosted its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 6.5% in the 4th quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 9,173 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $847,000 after buying an additional 561 shares during the period. Certuity LLC grew its position in shares of Gilead Sciences by 44.2% during the fourth quarter. Certuity LLC now owns 8,395 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $775,000 after buying an additional 2,574 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Leavell Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 8.8% during the fourth quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,870 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $450,000 after buying an additional 395 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.67% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Jeffrey Bluestone sold 6,788 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.39, for a total transaction of $620,355.32. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 8,920 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $815,198.80. This represents a 43.21 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 137,676 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.22, for a total transaction of $14,073,240.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 171,223 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $17,502,415.06. This trade represents a 44.57 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 710,500 shares of company stock valued at $67,684,956 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Stock Up 2.6 %

Gilead Sciences stock opened at $105.96 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $93.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $87.24. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a twelve month low of $62.07 and a twelve month high of $106.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $132.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,177.33, a PEG ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 0.18. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.90 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.23. Gilead Sciences had a return on equity of 29.00% and a net margin of 0.45%. As a group, research analysts expect that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 4.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.79 per share. This represents a $3.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.98%. This is a positive change from Gilead Sciences’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.77. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Gilead Sciences’s payout ratio is 3,422.22%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on GILD shares. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Gilead Sciences from $84.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. They set a “buy” rating and a $125.00 target price for the company. Leerink Partnrs upgraded Gilead Sciences from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Gilead Sciences from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, Daiwa America upgraded Gilead Sciences to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 18th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and four have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $101.33.

About Gilead Sciences

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.