Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What is your recommendation on Gilead Sciences? Thank you

Article Excerpt

Gilead Sciences Inc., $102.94, symbol GILD on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 1.5 billion; Market cap: $153.8 billion; www.gilead.com), discovers, develops and markets treatments for viruses. The company’s two newest hepatitis C drugs, Sovaldi and Harvoni, continue to perform well. In 2014, Gilead sold $10.3 billion worth of Sovaldi, which it started selling in December 2013, and $2.1 billion of Harvoni, introduced in October 2014. Hepatitis refers to both the inflammation of the liver and a group of viral infections that affect the liver. The most common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason why patients need liver transplants. Gilead has developed a wide range of treatments to counteract hepatitis C. This is one of the major reasons why the shares have more than doubled in the past year. The market for hepatitis treatments is huge, with over 150 million people worldwide suffering from one of the hepatitis viruses. Hepatitis…