Pharma Stocks on the Verge of a Breakthrough: Earnings May Propel Them Forward.

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

GILD-0.89%

MRK-0.95%

BIIB+0.41%

Source: Barron's

Updated: 12h ago

0mins

Source: Barron's

Pharmaceutical Stocks Performance: Pharmaceutical stocks have recently reached new highs in the market.
Earnings Potential: Upcoming earnings reports are expected to further boost the stock prices of pharmaceutical companies.

GILD

$139.72+Infinity%1D

Analyst Views on GILD

Wall Street analysts forecast GILD stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for GILD is 137.88 USD with a low forecast of 105.00 USD and a high forecast of 154.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

19 Analyst Rating

16 Buy

3 Hold

0 Sell

Strong Buy

Current: 140.970

Low

105.00

Averages

137.88

High

154.00

Current: 140.970

Low

105.00

Averages

137.88

High

154.00

Truist

Buy

maintain

$140 -> $145

2026-01-27

New

Reason

Truist

Price Target

$140 -> $145

AI Analysis

2026-01-27

New

maintain

Buy

Reason

Truist raised the firm's price target on Gilead to $145 from $140 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares as part of a broader research note previewing Q4 earnings in Biotech. The firm is adjusting Yeztugo numbers heading into Q4 EPS, tweaking its timelines based on updated guidance for near-term launches, including BIC/LEN in 2H25, US launch of Hepcludex, and expansion opportunity for Livdelzi, and also fine-tuning its estimates for the anito-cel launch following FDA guidance, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

Citi

Buy

maintain

$140 -> $156

2026-01-27

New

Reason

Citi

Price Target

$140 -> $156

2026-01-27

New

maintain

Buy

Reason

Citi raised the firm's price target on Gilead to $156 from $140 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm adjusted targets in the biopharma group as part of a Q4 preview. Estimates that are "beatable" and lower policy risk should create a favorable setup in 2026 for the group, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

Unlock Full Analyst Thesis， Get the complete breakdown of rating reason for GILD

Unlock Now

UBS

Buy

maintain

$145 -> $155

2026-01-26

New

Reason

UBS

Price Target

$145 -> $155

2026-01-26

New

maintain

Buy

Reason

UBS raised the firm's price target on Gilead to $155 from $145 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The U.S. Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology group is expected to perform well this year, supported by attractive valuations, light positioning, easing drug pricing overhangs, and continued pharma-led M&A activity that benefits biotech, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Despite concerns around conservative guidance after the recent rally, cheap big pharma and biotech valuations should sustain positive money flows into the sector, the firm says.

BofA

Buy

maintain

$144 -> $154

2026-01-09

Reason

BofA

Price Target

$144 -> $154

2026-01-09

maintain

Buy

Reason

BofA raised the firm's price target on Gilead to $154 from $144 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm, which switched its valuation method, says the company's "steady" HIV franchise growth remains core to its Buy thesis as it sees upside from recent and upcoming launches.

About GILD

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company. It is engaged in advancing medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, cancer, and inflammation. It is focused on discovering, developing, and delivering medicines to address unmet medical needs in virology, oncology, and other therapeutic areas. Its portfolio of marketed products includes Biktarvy, Genvoya, Descovy, Complera/Eviplera, Symtuza, Truvada, Stribild, Sunlenca, Epclusa, Vemlidy, Harvoni, Viread, Livdelzi, Veklury, Yescarta, Tecartus, Trodelvy, AmBisome, and Letairis. Its product candidates include Bulevirtide, Lenacapavir, Axicabtagene ciloleucel, Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy, and others. It also develops the HB-400 program and the HB-500 program. It develops therapies that are intended to provide functional cures for hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus-1. It has a cancer program, namely TREX1. It operates in more than 35 countries worldwide.

About the author

Emily J. Thompson

Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.