GILD GILEAD SCIENCES, INC.

Price Chart

Executive Summary

Maxim Group double-upgraded GILD from Hold to Buy with a $165 price target, implying 26.4% upside from $130.50. The call is contrarian against a backdrop of insider selling and recent EPS estimate cuts, but aligns with an overwhelmingly bullish consensus (31 Buy, 8 Hold, 0 Sell). Maxim’s track record is 43% accurate on 305 calls, well below the average of top-tier firms covering the stock. At $157.57 mean PT, the street sees ~20.7% upside; Maxim’s $165 sits above mean. Over the last 30 days, GILD has seen 1 upgrade and 0 downgrades, but EPS revisions for the current year have been slashed 20 times (0 up). Insider sales totaling ~$3.1M in April–May from C-suite officers (CFO, EVP) diverge bearishly from the upgrade. Short interest stands at a high 55.2% of float, suggesting elevated bearish positioning. Bottom line: the upgrade is a positive trigger, but low analyst accuracy, insider selling, and deteriorating near-term estimates warrant caution despite the bullish consensus.

Impact Score

Consensus & Targets

Consensus is heavily bullish: of 39 analysts, 31 rate Buy (including 11 Strong Buy), 8 Hold, and 0 Sell. This is a strong directional consensus, with no bears. Maxim's upgrade aligns with the majority but comes from a lower-accuracy shop.

Current price $130.50. Mean PT is $157.57, median $160, high $180, low $122. Implied upside to mean is 20.7%. Maxim's $165 is above the mean and median, ranking in the upper quartile. The high PT of $180 from Jefferies (initiated in March) suggests further upside potential if catalysts materialize.

Recent Analyst Activity

30-day analyst activity: 1 upgrade (this one), 0 downgrades. EPS revision trend is mixed: current-quarter EPS estimates have 13 downward revisions in 30 days (0 up), and current-year estimates have 20 down (0 up). However, next-quarter and next-year estimates show more balanced revisions (6 up / 0 down and 7 up / 12 down, respectively). The near-term outlook is deteriorating, but forward-looking estimates remain more resilient.

Firm Track Record — Maxim Group

Maxim Group accuracy: 43% on 305 calls | avg return: 5.9%

Industry benchmark: mean 51% ± 11%. Top tier: ≥61% (mean + 1σ). Based on 15 firms with ≥5 scored calls.

Maxim Group has a 43% accuracy rate on 305 calls with an average return of 5.9%. This is well below top-tier firms like Truist (100% on 4 calls), RBC Capital (93% on 14 calls), and Cantor Fitzgerald (86% on 7 calls returning 17.9%). Best performers: TD Cowen (100%, +16.2% avg), Mizuho (100%, +16.8%). Worst: Maxim itself. The double upgrade carries less weight given this track record.

Earnings Estimates

Next earnings: Aug 5, 2026

Cross-Platform Signals

Insider trades: Five sells in April–May totaling ~$3.1M from CFO Mercier (two sells) and EVPs Dickinson and O'Day. These sales are consistent with routine vesting/10b5-1 patterns but diverge bearishly from the upgrade. Institutional moves: Norges Bank opened a $2.6B position then exited entirely; Two Sigma initiated; Renaissance trimmed 49%; Ariel trimmed 41%. This mixed institutional activity offers no clear confirmation. Short interest: 55.2% of float, a high level indicating significant bearish positioning that could fuel a squeeze if positive catalysts hit. No congressional trades. Overall, the analyst bullish signal is partially offset by insider selling and institutional churn.

Documents Analyzed

Report based on filing metadata.

US Market Status