Bristol Myers vs Gilead Sciences: Which Biotech Stock Is a Better Bet Now?

Core Insights - Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) are prominent biotechnology companies with diverse portfolios and global reach [1][2] - GILD is a leader in the HIV market, with significant revenue contributions from its key drugs [4][10] - BMY has a strong oncology portfolio, with drugs like Opdivo driving revenue despite facing generic competition [12][17] Gilead Sciences (GILD) - GILD's flagship HIV drug, Biktarvy, holds over 52% of the U.S. treatment market and is the most prescribed regimen for HIV-1 infection [4][10] - The company has received FDA approval for lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug, which generated $39 million in sales in Q3 [5][6] - GILD forecasts a 5% revenue growth in HIV for 2025, up from a previous estimate of 3% [7] - The liver disease portfolio has been bolstered by the FDA approval of Livdelzi, which exceeded $100 million in quarterly sales for the first time [9] - GILD's oncology portfolio includes Trodelvy and a Cell Therapy franchise, although the latter faces competitive pressures [10][11] - GILD's total debt-to-total-capital ratio was 53.8% as of September 30, 2025, with $9.4 billion in cash and $25 billion in long-term debt [11] Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) - BMY's growth portfolio includes drugs like Opdivo, which is the top revenue generator and shows strong sales momentum [12][13] - The approval of Opdivo Qvantig has further strengthened BMY's immuno-oncology portfolio, with projected global sales growth [14] - BMY's Reblozyl and Breyanzi have also contributed significantly to revenue, with Reblozyl annualizing over $2 billion in sales [15] - BMY is facing challenges from generic competition for legacy drugs, impacting overall revenue growth [17] - The company announced the acquisition of Orbital Therapeutics for $1.5 billion, which will enhance its pipeline with promising candidates [18][19] - BMY's total debt-to-total-capital ratio was 72.5% as of September 30, 2025, with $15.7 billion in cash and $44.5 billion in long-term debt [20] Financial Estimates and Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BMY's 2025 sales indicates a decrease of 0.82%, while EPS is expected to increase by 466.96% [21] - GILD's 2025 sales are projected to grow by 1.05%, with EPS expected to improve by 76.84% [22] - GILD has outperformed BMY in price performance, gaining 38% compared to BMY's loss of 12.9% [24] - GILD's shares trade at a forward P/E ratio of 15.15, while BMY's is at 8.17, indicating GILD is more expensive [25] - BMY offers a higher dividend yield of 5.04% compared to GILD's 2.48% [26] Investment Outlook - Both companies hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), making the choice between them complex [29] - GILD's innovation in the HIV portfolio and recent approvals position it for growth [29] - BMY's efforts to stabilize revenue amid generic competition are noted, but significant challenges remain [30]