2 Intriguing Medical Stocks to Watch as Q4 Results Approach: EXEL, GILD

Group 1: Exelixis Overview - Exelixis has seen a stock increase of +30% over the last year, with Q4 sales expected to rise by 3% year over year to $584.68 million and Q4 EPS projected to increase by 40% to $0.77 compared to $0.55 in the prior year quarter [1][4] - The company received FDA acceptance for a New Drug Application for a combination therapy targeting metastatic colorectal cancer, marking its transition from a single-product biotech to a multi-asset oncology company [2][3] - Exelixis has consistently surpassed Zacks EPS Consensus for six consecutive quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 21.39% in its last four quarterly reports [4][5] Group 2: Gilead Sciences Overview - Gilead Sciences' stock has surged nearly +60% in the last year, with Q4 sales expected to be flat at $7.57 billion and quarterly EPS anticipated to dip 3% to $1.83 [1][10] - The company's HIV franchise, particularly Biktarvy, is highlighted as a primary long-term growth driver, contributing to a "wide moat" for the business [8] - Gilead's robust R&D pipeline, including oncology and virology programs, has been noted as the most extensive in the company's history, fueling investor sentiment [9] Group 3: Financial Projections - For fiscal 2025, Exelixis' annual EPS is expected to increase by 48% to $2.96, while Gilead Sciences' EPS is projected to grow by 76% to $8.14 per share [11] - Exelixis trades at an attractive 12X forward earnings multiple, compared to Gilead's 17X, which is still a slight discount to the Zacks Medical-Biomedical and Genetics Industry average [11] Group 4: Investment Ratings - Exelixis holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), while Gilead Sciences has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) ahead of their Q4 reports [12]