Gilead Sciences likes taking the lead in the sector


Readers of this space know that biotech and pharmaceutical companies are not the preferred investment candidates, but there exceptions to the rule, and Gilead Sciences is one.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) is a biopharmaceutical company that concentrates on the research, development, and marketing of anti-infective medications with a primary focus on treatments for HIV.

In general, analysts see Gilead registering 25-30% revenue growth in FY 2008, following solid, double-digit gains in FY 2007. Further, Gilead should also register market share gains for HIV drugs, offsetting likely royalty revenue declines for Tamiflu, in the immediate years ahead.


Meanwhile, expenses remain above-average, but still acceptable for a biopharmaceutical company, and GILD's fundamentals remain among the strongest in the biotech sector. The Reuters FY 2008/FY 2009 EPS consensus estimates for are $1.92 to $2.22.

The risks? Analysts are keeping an eye on Gilead's pipeline development and roll-out timetable. Further, a slowdown in GILD's HIV product sales would also hurt the company's results.

The First Call mean rating for GILD is: Buy [32 firms]. Mean 2008 target: $55 [high: $60, low: $47].

Stock Analysis: Gilead Sciences is a moderate-risk stock not suitable for low-risk investors. Investors with an investment horizon longer than 2 years should be rewarded from GILD's shares. Sell/Stop Loss if you were to purchase shares in this company: $34.

Disclosure: Lazzaro has no positions in stocks. In addition to private real estate holdings, he owns corporate and municipal bonds, and cash certificates of deposit.
Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA+65.9212,867.15
NASDAQ0.002,903.88
S&P 500+9.191,351.83

Last updated: February 13, 2012: 09:44 AM

Hot Stocks

General Electric

18.93+0.055(+0.29)

Alcoa

10.42+0.13(+1.26)

Apple Inc

502.84+9.42(+1.91)

Google Inc 'A'

611.34+5.43(+0.90)

Bank of America

8.28+0.21(+2.60)

Wal-Mart Stores

62.04+0.14(+0.23)

Exxon Mobil Corp

84.48+0.68(+0.81)

Ford

12.63+0.19(+1.53)

Citigroup

33.44+0.515(+1.56)

IBM

193.09+0.67(+0.35)

Yahoo

16.16+0.02(+0.12)

Starbucks

48.94+0.12(+0.25)

Microsoft

30.61+0.115(+0.38)

Home Depot

45.72+0.39(+0.86)

DailyFinance Headlines

Benzinga Headlines

TheFlyOnTheWall.com Headlines

BioHealth Investor Headlines

WalletPop Headlines

DailyFinance BlackBerry App

My Portfolios

Track your stocks here!

Find out why more people track their portfolios on AOL Money & Finance then anywhere else.

BloggingStocks Partners

More from AOL Money & Finance

BioHealth Investor Headlines

Page Loaded in 1329144275328 ms.