AstraZeneca plc vs Gilead Sciences, Inc. — how do they compare? AstraZeneca plc trades at $166.71 (market cap $253.13B), while Gilead Sciences, Inc. trades at $129.86 (market cap $161.45B). The key difference: AstraZeneca plc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Gilead Sciences, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.52%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AZN | GILD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $253.13B | $161.45B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $209.48 | $155.80 |
52-Week Low | $137.44 | $108.22 |
Enterprise Value | $279.37B | $175.98B |
Dividend Yield | 1.92% | 2.52% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AstraZeneca (AZN) trades at $169.47, down 1.25% amid recent volatility following a Phase III trial failure for Wainua. The stock shows bearish technical signals with key support at $168 and resistance at $170. Fundamentally, the company reported strong 2025 results with revenue of $58.74B and net income of $10.23B, though a recent $1.5B licensing deal for a lung cancer drug highlights ongoing pipeline investments. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 47.5% buy ratings but recent downgrades from firms like HSBC citing trial setbacks.
The outlook balances robust financials against pipeline execution risks. Revenue growth and high margins support valuation, but the Wainua failure raises concerns about future catalysts. Investors should weigh the company's strong cash flow and market position against clinical trial volatility and potential legal investigations. Near-term price action may hinge on Q2 2026 earnings due July 27, 2026.
Gilead Sciences (GILD) trades at $131.40, up 1.21% with strong technical momentum and bullish moving averages. The company demonstrates robust fundamentals with a 30.99% net income margin and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Recent FDA approvals for Trodelvy in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and ongoing Ebola antiviral trials highlight pipeline strength. Analyst consensus remains strongly positive with a $152.83 price target.
GILD presents a compelling investment case with strong profitability, expanding oncology portfolio, and 67% analyst buy ratings. Key risks include patent expirations on HIV drugs and volatile cash flow trends. The stock offers 16% upside to consensus target with dividend support, though investors should monitor pipeline execution and generic competition timelines.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A merger between Astra of Sweden and Zeneca Group of the United Kingdom formed AstraZeneca in 1999. The firm sells branded drugs across several major therapeutic classes, including gastrointestinal, diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer, and immunology. The majority of sales come from international markets with the United States representing close to one third of its sales.
Read more on AZN →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.
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