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[U: Now Over $116, On Friday!] Power Alley: Excellent Q2 2025 Results For Gilead — Raising Top- And Bottom-Line Guidance For The Full Year. Up $3/Sh, In NASDAQ After-Hours Trading…

~ condor ~ Leave a comment

Well, I am pleased. Over $116 $113, now. Sweet.

To be sure, there will be ups and downs — over the next 24 months — but this is a very well-run public life sciences company.

Here’s a bit, from Bloomberg reporting:

…Gilead Raises Guidance on Robust Demand for Its HIV Treatments

Gilead Sciences Inc. lifted its full-year outlook after strong HIV drug sales in the second quarter helped revenue and earnings modestly beat analyst expectations.

The company now expects profit excluding some items will be as much as $8.25 a share this year, up from a prior forecast of as much as $8.10. The drugmaker also raised its guidance for annual product sales by about $100 million….

Now you know. Onward, grinning.

नमस्ते

And, In The “Deluded Old Codger” Files: Tangerine 2.0 Claimed On Video Sunday That He’s About To Drop Drug Prices… By 1,200% to $1,500%?!

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I hesitate (cringe, actually) as to anything that might be seen as… giving this any oxygen, at all. [At right is the lawful, and well-oiled plan that Mr. Biden actually… achieved [a modest, about 35% decrease — on the ten most widely prescribed (and long in market) drugs in the US]. Smoke that, Donnie.

But we do need to make it clear: the man’s absolutely… lost his… marbles.

In later 2017, he made a similar (but smaller) boast. Then… poof. Nothing.

He possesses no lever, whatsoever (not without full Congressional legislation — and even that might be ruled to be Unconstitutional) to achieve anything like that. Again, he tried in late 2017. Poof. Never happened. Here’s that:

…Days after he sent letters instructing top pharmaceutical manufacturers to use a “most favored nation” pricing model for prescription drugs, President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he had cut costs by up to 1,500%.

But Trump’s grandiose claim is mathematically impossible.

Here’s a closer look at the facts.

TRUMP: “You know, we’ve cut drug prices by 1,200, 1,300, 1,400, 1,500%. I don’t mean 50%, I mean 14 — 1,500%.”

THE FACTS: This is false. Cutting drug prices by more than 100% would theoretically mean that people are being paid to take medications. The Trump administration has taken steps to lower prescription drug prices, but experts say there’s no indication costs have seen such a massive drop.

Geoffrey Joyce, director of health policy at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center, called Trump’s claim “total fiction” made up by the Republican president. He agreed that it would amount to drug companies paying customers, rather than the other way around….

Elect a clown — expect… a circus. Yikes. Out.

नमस्ते

Many Highly-Esteemed Legal Minds Say It’s A Near Certainty Trump’s IEEPA-Invoked Tariffs Will Be Bounced Out By The Supremes. Then What?

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The guy is (and this is actually turning out to be a redeeming feature! Not a bug!), without any doubt — the least competent person to ever sit at the Resolute Desk. His tariffs, taking effect today, are likely to be halted (this time by a 5-4 majority of the Supremes) by the Fall. As we’ve said repeatedly, this is a corrupt clown show.

Geez — here’s just a bit of one version of this analysis. [There are dozens out right now.]

…Trump’s emergency tariff authority, which is the legal basis for Trump’s country-specific “reciprocal” tariffs that are set to go into effect Thursday, is likely to be struck down by the Supreme Court.

An appeals court is reviewing that authority, which Trump invoked through the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), becoming the first president in history to use the law for tariffs.

“It’s more than likely that the Supreme Court knocks out IEEPA, the law that’s being used for these tariffs, which doesn’t have the word ‘tariff’ in it. Then the president is going to have to go to other laws to justify tariffs — 232, 201, 301. There’s a bunch of laws, and those are harder laws to operate with,” he told CNBC….

And in the mean time, this represents the largest single tax increase on American workers and businesses… in the history of the United States. Damn.

[And yes, I intentionally chose the otherwise odious Paul Ryan version so that the idjit GOP-ers cannot say it is only lefties making this argument.] Out.

नमस्ते

Once Again, Idiotic McMahon / Trump Lawyers Think “Bare Naked Promises” To “Stop” Their Unlawful Conduct (Already Completed) Against Harvard U… Will Mean Anything? Nope.

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Overnight, and into this morning, in one of the Harvard University suppression of free speech and association cases, Tangerine 2.0 and Secy. McMahon tried to say that they made a nakedly banal “offer” to stop violating clear federal law — and thus the case should not proceed.

That’s not how this works, kids.

How stupid are these lawyers? This same (lame-brained) approach was laughed out of court repeatedly, in Tangerine 1.0. So too, it will be in Boston, next week:

…[Tangerine 2.0 & the WWF Wife offered to agree] that the May 22 letter will not be used to revoke Harvard’s SEVP certification or Exchange Visitor Program designation. Defendants are currently following the procedures under 8 C.F.R. §§ 214.3, 214.4 and 22 C.F.R. Part 62.

[Trump] Defendants proposed this stipulation to Plaintiff in an attempt to jointly simplify the case. Defendants also made clear that they were open to counterproposals and a meet and confer.

[Harvard] did not accept…

Y A W N.

Specifically, Trump 1.0 tried this same gambit as to plainly lawless “confidentiality agreements” he made 1600 Penn staffers sign last time around. He and Melania were soundly thrashed in that effort. [It failed as well in the BLM Portland protest cases.]

He also tried it in 2019 — whilst separating families at the southern border, and was told by both trial and appellate federal judges that agreeing to stop violating the law does not undo the injuries already inflicted.

Again, he will lose in Boston — as justice would have it. Onward, resolutely.

नमस्ते

[Another] Colossally Dumb Post From Hinderaker, Tonight.

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This time, John’s subject is purportedly… blue state gerrymandering efforts.

He claims to have created (at his “not so much” think tank)… an index — that would supposedly show that Democratic states are more gerrymandered than Republican ones.

Hilarious.

He gets there by comparing the number of Democratic candidates that get elected in a given state as a proportion of the total number of Democrats in the state.

The lunacy of this approach is patently obvious:

Could it possibly be Hinderaker might wonder, that in states with slightly less than 50% registered as Democratic populations, the best candidates just happen come out of/from the Democratic Party — anyway? Yes — it could well be.

But true to his shallow statistical / analytical skills, John wholly ignores any thought about this possibility to reach his goofily wrong… conclusions.

John’s flawed premise assumes that GOP voters will only ever vote for GOP candidates (perhaps that is mostly true?)… but it is clearly untrue, as to people electing Democratic ones.

This has been proven — time and time again across hundreds of statewide elections — to be a false premise.

Thus, all John wrote… falls of its own weight.

What a decrepit old moron.

Out.

USDC Judge Breyer In SF… Blasts Team Tangerine 2.0, About Posse Comitatus Act [Faked] Defense.

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This update concerns Noem, et al. rolling the National Guard and the Marines into LA without an invitation, to use punishing brutality to abuse brown people with, and without papers — indiscriminately. There can be no national emergency without an express invitation to Trump, from from CA Gov. Newsom. There was… the opposite of that.

Trump is destined to lose, and lose badly here (again). He cannot “federalize” a city — and effectively declare martial law in this way. No other president has ever tried this, on anything like this scale. The Constitution’s federalism clauses forbid it, as does the Tenth Amendment, expressly.

But Team Tangerine had to be reminded that federal judges have all the power they need… to hold trials. Even if Kristi Noem’s rather large… undies are in a bunch — about that.

Here’s the stinger of a three paragraph order this afternoon from Senior Judge Breyer (and the operative bit of it):

…[Tangerine 2.0] Defendants’ Corrected Supplemental Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction asserts that because Plaintiffs’ Posse Comitatus Act claim fails as a matter of law, “next week’s trial should be cancelled and Plaintiffs’ motion denied.” Opp’n (dkt. 136) at 14. Next week’s trial is not cancelled.

The Court expects to hear evidence beginning on Monday. Per the Court’s Order for Pretrial Preparation for Civil Bench Trial, the presentation of evidence shall proceed efficiently: “[f]ailure to have the next witness ready or to be prepared to proceed with the evidence will usually constitute resting.” Pretrial Order (dkt. 123) at 3.

Following the presentation of evidence, the Court expects to hear the parties’ legal arguments beginning on Tuesday….

These MAGAt lawyers are — without doubt — the most under-educated on the planet… almost to a person. Team Newsom is going to bury them, next week.

Count on it. Out.

नमस्ते

Suni Williams’ Crew-Mate, Butch Wilmore… Retires From Active NASA Astronaut Roles. Did Being “Marooned” (By Boeing) At ISS For Nine Months Play Any Role In It? Hard To Imagine It… Did Not.

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Well… it is now… official.

Butch is calling it… a career — after three space hops. Likely at least in part because one that was supposed to last eight days — at the ISS… lasted nine months. No one will ever say that, on the record, of course. But here’s the official press position, from NASA:

…After 25 years at NASA, flying in four different spacecraft, accumulating 464 days in space, astronaut and test pilot Butch Wilmore has retired from NASA….

During his time at NASA, Wilmore completed three missions launching aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, Roscosmos Soyuz, and Boeing Starliner to the International Space Station. Wilmore also returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Additionally, he conducted five spacewalks, totaling 32 hours outside the orbital laboratory.

“Throughout his career, Butch has exemplified the technical excellence of what is required of an astronaut. His mastery of complex systems, coupled with his adaptability and steadfast commitment to NASA’s mission, has inspired us all,” said Joe Acaba, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA Johnson. “As he steps into this new chapter, that same dedication will no doubt continue to show in whatever he decides to do next….”

[And from a prior AP News post:] Stuck in space no more, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Earth on Tuesday, hitching a different ride home to close out a saga that began with a bungled test flight more than nine months ago.

Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico in the early evening, just hours after departing the International Space Station. Splashdown occurred off the coast of Tallahassee in the Florida Panhandle, bringing their unplanned odyssey to an end….

As we so often say… space is hard, man. And being off-world for nine months as opposed to a few days… would try any family man or woman. In total, he was in space for over a year and a half — throughout his career. Onward. Thank you for your service — to space science, Butch!

नमस्ते

Of Geese — And Gander, Hinderaker?!

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John writes today — quoting the US House Oversight GOP Chairman Comer’s letter, as follows:

…“Given your past relationships with Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell, the Committee believes that you have information regarding their activities that is relevant to the Committee’s investigation…”

I am sure he does….

Hilarious.

They (Hinderaker and Coner) must mean the current occupant of 1600 Penn, right?!

We already know that Donald J. Trump’s name appears on about every third page of what Pam Bondi called the DoJ’s Epstein files.

I agree, John! Let’s get to the bottom of this — right now!

Our 42nd president will not be scheduled for a hearing until mid to late October.

That leaves plenty of time to swear in the 47th president, and have him testify under oath. C’mon man! WE WANT THE WHOLE TRUTH, HERE!

Bring it on!

Out.

Hiroshima Was Exactly 80 Years Ago, This Morning. Sigh.

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While we — all of humanity — accept that this event “ended” the war… it was also undoubtedly an unimaginably-vast war crime, against millions of civilians — and one for which all the US must atone, to this very day.

Beyond that, all I will say, today… is I am fearful that the present GOP leadership (and Tangerine NON-leadership) has long-forgotten, or never bothered to learn — the lessons there.

We know Oppenheimer did. We know Einstein, and millions upon millions — billions, even… of others… did.

But this, perhaps more than at any time in the last half-century… is a fraught moment.

Still — onward as we, the people of good will — and accepting of science, the world over… take a few moments of silence… to reflect on what humanity lost, in that blinding flash… 80 years ago.

[In passing, I should also note that (once again this year, as in 2016) the feckless Powerline boy, Scott Johnson, posted more stupidly banal drivel, solely to take this as an opportunity to bash BHO 44. Charming; what a soul-less, embittered old man Scott Johnson is.] Out.

नमस्ते

Q.: Will Gilead Continue To Recover From The Dip, Seen In May Of This Year? We Shall See: Earnings Call, Tomorrow Night.

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Dateline | Power Alley Stuff [Again!]: On May 8, 2025, it closed around $98 a share, on the NASDAQ (after an FDA complete response letter) — and that was near the 12 month low for the name. Since then, though, it has been on a pretty steady rising vector — topping $116.50, at one point in mid-July.

The news at right is largely responsible for that rise. Now we see if the sales revenue momentum machine can be re-primed, and start inching northward, as well. We will keep you posted, as we now intend to cover material events related to this finely run company.

Here’s a mostly AI-generated article on the coming Q2 results disclosures — but the guesses at number-trends look like they do accurately track the Wall Street estimates (despite being written by a dead hand):

…The pharma company is expected to post Q2 ’25 EPS of $1.96, a 2.5% decline from the year-ago quarter, while revenue is expected to come in at $6.96 billion, a marginal 0.1% increase compared to last year….

[While] Gilead reported impressive earnings last quarter, its revenue was flat with the prior year’s quarter at $6.67 billion. The company says on its website it will hold a conference call with analysts after the market closes Thursday to discuss Q2 results.

Wall Street projects flat year-over-year sales again, at $6.96 billion, and a 2% dip in EPS as the company faces a difficult comparison vs. a 50% surge in EPS in Q2 a year ago….

For its part, the outlet that ran the above pull-quote, Investors’ Business Daily, has recently upgraded its outlook on Gilead — now you know. We will likely tune in to the call tomorrow night, as we also hold a modest position in the name. Onward.

नमस्ते