Ruffer LLP Raises Stake in Gilead Sciences, Inc. $GILD

Ruffer LLP increased its stake in Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) by 304.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 182,343 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after purchasing an additional 137,246 shares during the quarter. Gilead Sciences accounts for 1.1% of Ruffer LLP’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Ruffer LLP’s holdings in Gilead Sciences were worth $20,240,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GILD. GoalVest Advisory LLC boosted its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 7,566.7% during the 2nd quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC now owns 230 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Corundum Trust Company INC purchased a new stake in Gilead Sciences during the third quarter worth $26,000. Harbor Asset Planning Inc. acquired a new stake in Gilead Sciences in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new position in shares of Gilead Sciences in the second quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Putney Financial Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 53.4% during the 2nd quarter. Putney Financial Group LLC now owns 270 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. 83.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Gilead Sciences Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:GILD opened at $139.72 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $173.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.66, a P/E/G ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 0.33. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $124.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $119.24. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 52 week low of $93.37 and a 52 week high of $141.71. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.16 by $0.31. The firm had revenue of $7.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.42 billion. Gilead Sciences had a return on equity of 51.86% and a net margin of 27.88%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.02 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CFO Andrew D. Dickinson sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.31, for a total value of $372,930.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 150,503 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,709,027.93. This trade represents a 1.95% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Johanna Mercier sold 3,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.31, for a total value of $372,930.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 103,221 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,831,402.51. This trade represents a 2.82% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 247,397 shares of company stock valued at $31,986,612. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on GILD shares. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences from $145.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday. Scotiabank initiated coverage on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. They issued a “sector outperform” rating and a $140.00 price target on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded Gilead Sciences from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Wolfe Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $150.00 target price on shares of Gilead Sciences in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets boosted their price target on Gilead Sciences from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have assigned a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Gilead Sciences presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $135.36.

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.