Gilead Sciences (GILD) Potential M&A In Focus

Despite Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) reporting solid fourth quarter earnings, an aggressive $12 billion buyback, and raised dividend after the close, much of the talk on the Street today centered around the company's M&A strategy.

Piper Jaffray analyst Joshua Schimmer said there's not much in the company's pipeline over the next year, so the company will need to look to M&A to bolster long-term EPS growth.

Addressing M&A on its call last night, management acknowledged that valuations are more attractive in the sector but did not provide specific targets or therapeutic areas of interest.

Jeffeires analyst Brian Abrahams said deals by the company would be well-received by the market.

The company has been linked to rumors involving takeovers of the following companies in the recent past:

• Alexion Pharma (NASDAQ: ALXN)
• Intercept Pharma (NASDAQ: ICPT)
• Vertex Pharma (NASDAQ: VRTX)
• Incyte (NASDAQ: INCY)
• Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IONS)
• Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY)
• Alnylam Pharma (NASDAQ: ALNY)

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