Alcon AG vs Gilead Sciences, Inc. — how do they compare? Alcon AG trades at $73.21 (market cap $36.44B), while Gilead Sciences, Inc. trades at $136.86 (market cap $168.35B). The key difference: Gilead Sciences, Inc. is far larger — about 4.6× Alcon AG's market cap, and Gilead Sciences, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.42%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALC | GILD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.44B | $168.35B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $90.12 | $155.80 |
52-Week Low | $62.02 | $110.56 |
Enterprise Value | $40.28B | $191.42B |
Dividend Yield | 0.48% | 2.42% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ALC trades at $73.63, up 2.53% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong recent earnings beats. Revenue growth is steady, reaching $10.40B in 2025, though net income margin dipped to 5.92%. Positive news includes raised 2026 profit guidance and new product launches driving investor optimism.
The outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $86.67 implying 17.7% upside, supported by analyst buy ratings. Risks include elevated P/E of 57.52 and potential tariff impacts, but operational cash flow strength and strategic collaborations provide a solid foundation for growth.
Gilead Sciences (GILD) trades at $133.06, down slightly by 0.11% today, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 revenue growth of 8% year-over-year, beating estimates, though a net loss of $6.75 per share resulted from acquisition-related costs. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with a $151.22 price target, and recent news highlights robust HIV drug sales and pipeline progress.
The outlook for GILD is positive, driven by raised 2026 guidance and HIV franchise strength, but risks include patent cliffs by the mid-2030s and integration challenges from acquisitions. Investors should weigh the high valuation multiples against growth potential, with the stock offering upside if execution continues to exceed expectations.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Alcon, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the global eyecare leader with a diverse portfolio in ophthalmology including contact lenses, eye drops, surgical equipment, and related surgical products. Novartis purchased Alcon from Nestle in 2010 and, following nine years as a Novartis subsidiary, the company was spun off as a public company in April 2019. The company reports five distinct segments: implantables (16% of revenue), consumables (31%), equipment (9%), contact lenses (27%), and ocular health (17%). The company is geographically diversified, with only about 40% of revenue from the U.S. market, and the firm has a strong presence in the European Union and Japan.
Read more on ALC →Gilead Sciences develops and markets therapies to treat life-threatening infectious diseases, with the core of its portfolio focused on HIV and hepatitis B and C. The acquisitions of Corus Pharma, Myogen, CV Therapeutics, Arresto Biosciences, and Calistoga have broadened this focus to include pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Gilead's acquisition of Pharmasset brought rights to hepatitis C drug Sovaldi, which is also part of combination drug Harvoni, and the Kite, Forty Seven, and Immunomedics acquisitions boost Gilead's exposure to cell therapy and noncell therapy in oncology.
Read more on GILD →