New York, Jan 26, 2026, 21:14 EST — Market closed
- On Monday, Gilead shares hit a new 52-week high, marking their fourth consecutive day of gains.
- Analyst price targets climbed once more, alongside an SEC filing revealing CEO Daniel O’Day sold shares as part of a pre-arranged trading plan.
- Attention shifts to whether the breakout sticks on Tuesday and to the company’s upcoming earnings report.
Gilead Sciences Inc shares climbed 1.36%, ending Monday at $137.78—a new 52-week peak and marking the stock’s fourth consecutive day of gains. Volume topped the usual levels as Gilead outperformed Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Abbott Laboratories, all while U.S. indexes moved higher. 1
With U.S. markets closed overnight, the immediate question is clear: will buyers hold the new high when regular trading picks up Tuesday, or will this rally fade like a typical late-January spike? Moves like this can attract momentum traders, but they also put pressure on management during their outlook comments.
Wall Street is shifting its numbers once more. The stock’s recent rally has sparked fresh focus on targets, ratings, and any clues about expectations for February.
BMO Capital lifted its price target on Gilead to $150 from $135, keeping an Outperform rating in a note released Monday. The firm cited strong momentum in Gilead’s HIV segment and noted payer coverage for Yeztugo, the company’s twice-yearly HIV prevention injection. 2
On Jan. 26, UBS raised its target price on the stock to $155 from $145, maintaining a buy rating, per Benzinga’s analyst-rating data. A single upgrade rarely moves a stock by itself, but several increases gain traction when shares are pushing into fresh territory. 3
Chief Executive Daniel O’Day exercised options for 115,640 shares at $66.01 each and sold the same number of shares at $135 on Jan. 23, according to an SEC filing. The transaction was worth about $15.6 million. The Form 4 noted the sale was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 plan established on Feb. 28, 2025. 4
Rule 10b5-1 plans allow insiders to trade shares on a fixed schedule, aiming to avoid accusations of using non-public information. Still, a big sale can spook short-term investors, particularly when the stock is hovering near its peak.
Yeztugo has played a key role in the bullish outlook. At the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Jan. 12, O’Day announced that CVS Health’s commercial plans now cover the drug. “CVS has confirmed their coverage of Yeztugo as of January 1, putting us at more than 80% coverage overall,” he said. Priced at nearly $30,000 annually, Yeztugo demonstrated almost 100% effectiveness in large trials, Reuters reported. 5
Investor’s Business Daily flagged Gilead for showing renewed technical strength after it cleared the 127.41 “buy point,” a breakout level watched by some traders. The stock has pushed well past that mark, which could spark new buying interest but also prompt rapid profit-taking if the momentum fades. 6
The setup works both ways. Should February’s results or guidance fall short of the newfound optimism, or if there’s any hint that Yeztugo’s early momentum is fading, the stock—trading near its peak—could slide quickly.
Gilead plans to release earnings on Feb. 10 after the market closes, per MarketBeat’s historical reporting patterns. Investors will be focused on any updates regarding the HIV segment and guidance for 2026 demand. The stock will be tested on whether it can maintain its recent breakout when trading resumes. 7
