Gilead Sciences GILD.O on Thursday posted a better-than-expected first-quarter profit and raised its 2026 sales forecast, helped by strong demand for its HIV prevention drugs Yeztugo and Descovy

FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS

** Leerink Partners ("outperform," PT: $146) says it is "impressed" by GILD securing minimal access restrictions for Yeztugo, adding that broader awareness of HIV prevention is helping grow the market, including for Descovy

** Citi ("buy," PT: $165) says GILD's HIV franchise is "firing on all cylinders," helped by Biktarvy, Descovy and the Yeztugo launch, and calls the next 12 months "arguably the most catalyst-rich window in the company's history"

** Mizuho ("outperform," PT: $170) says Yeztugo's launch remains top driver for GILD shares over the next year or two, helped by easier access, "growing confidence" among doctors and new prescribers being added "every single week"

** Bernstein ("outperform," PT: $160) says Yeztugo is expected to show the "best" patient continuation rates among HIV prevention treatments; brokerage estimates 2026 sales of $1.2 billion for the drug

** J.P. Morgan ("overweight," PT: $160) says GILD remains one of its "favorite ideas" citing Yeztugo's strong HIV prevention launch, continued strength in the core HIV business and experimental cancer cell therapy anito-cel