Gilead Sciences Inc Stock Buy Recommendation Reiterated (GILD)

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Gilead (Nasdaq: GILD) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a buy with a ratings score of A . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, solid stock price performance, increase in net income, growth in earnings per share and expanding profit margins. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• The revenue growth came in higher than the industry average of 4.7%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 17.6%. This growth in revenue appears to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, improving the earnings per share.
• Investors have apparently begun to recognize positive factors similar to those we have mentioned in this report, including earnings growth. This has helped drive up the company's shares by a sharp 52.50% over the past year, a rise that has exceeded that of the S&P 500 Index. Regarding the stock's future course, although almost any stock can fall in a broad market decline, GILD should continue to move higher despite the fact that it has already enjoyed a very nice gain in the past year.
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Biotechnology industry. The net income increased by 14.6% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, going from $665.15 million to $762.54 million.
• GILEAD SCIENCES INC has improved earnings per share by 8.0% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. This company has reported somewhat volatile earnings recently. But, we feel it is poised for EPS growth in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, GILEAD SCIENCES INC reported lower earnings of $1.64 versus $1.78 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($2.01 versus $1.64).
• The gross profit margin for GILEAD SCIENCES INC is currently very high, coming in at 73.90%. Regardless of GILD's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, GILD's net profit margin of 29.46% compares favorably to the industry average.

Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes human therapeutics for the treatment of life threatening diseases worldwide. Gilead has a market cap of $62.73 billion and is part of the health care sector and drugs industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 21.2, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 12.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

You can view the full Gilead Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

--Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff.

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