Gilead Sciences "buy"

04/18/06 - Lazard Freres

NEW YORK, April 18 (newratings.com) - Analyst Joel Sendek of Lazard Freres maintains his "buy" rating on Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD). The target price is set to $69.

In a research note published yesterday, the analyst mentions that the company is expected to post its 1Q06 EPS marginally ahead of the consensus on April 18. The analyst expects the sales of Gilead Sciences’ Truvada and Viread drugs to be ahead of the estimates. Gilead Sciences is likely to have received $101 million in royalty revenues during the quarter, primarily due to Tamiflu royalties from Roche, Lazard Freres adds.