Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis Of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information. The financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that the management of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead, we or us) believes are necessary for a fair presentation of the periods presented. These interim financial results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for the full fiscal year or for any subsequent interim period.

The preparation of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including critical accounting policies or estimates related to revenue recognition, intangible assets, allowance for doubtful accounts, prepaid royalties, clinical trial accruals, its tax provision and stock-based compensation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other market specific and other relevant assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Gilead, our wholly-owned subsidiaries and our joint ventures with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS), for which we are the primary beneficiary. We record a noncontrolling interest in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements to reflect BMS's interest in the joint ventures. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the results of companies acquired by us from the date of each acquisition for the applicable reporting periods.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related financial information should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2010, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Net Income Per Share Attributable To Gilead Common Shareholders

Net Income Per Share Attributable to Gilead Common Stockholders

Basic net income per share attributable to Gilead common stockholders is calculated based on the weighted-average number of shares of our common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share attributable to Gilead common stockholders is calculated based on the weighted-average number of shares of our common stock outstanding and other dilutive securities outstanding during the period. The potential dilutive shares of our common stock resulting from the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, performance shares and warrants relating to the convertible senior notes due in 2011 (2011 Notes), 2013 (2013 Notes), 2014 (2014 Notes) and 2016 (2016 Notes) (collectively, the Convertible Notes) are determined under the treasury stock method.

Because the principal amount of the Convertible Notes is settled in cash, only the conversion spread relating to the Convertible Notes is included in our calculation of diluted net income per share attributable to Gilead common stockholders. Our common stock resulting from the assumed settlement of the conversion spread of the Convertible Notes has a dilutive effect when the average market price of our common stock during the period exceeds the conversion prices of approximately $38.75, $38.10, $45.08 and $45.41 for the 2011 Notes, 2013 Notes, 2014 Notes and 2016 Notes, respectively.

In May 2011, our 2011 Notes matured and as a result, we have only considered their impact for the period they were outstanding on our net income per share calculations. In August 2011, the warrants related to our 2011 Notes expired and as a result, we have only considered their impact for the period they were outstanding on our net income per share calculations.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the average market prices of our common stock exceeded the conversion prices of the 2011 Notes and the 2013 Notes, and the dilutive effects are included in the accompanying table. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the average market prices of our common stock did not exceed the conversion prices of the 2014 Notes and 2016 Notes, which were issued in July 2010, and therefore did not have a dilutive effect on our net income per share for those periods.

Warrants relating to the 2011 Notes, 2013 Notes, 2014 Notes and 2016 Notes have a dilutive effect when the average market price of our common stock during the period exceeds the warrants' exercise prices of $50.80, $53.90, $56.76 and $60.10, respectively. The average market prices of our common stock during each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 did not exceed the warrants' exercise prices relating to any of the Convertible Notes; therefore, these warrants did not have a dilutive effect on our net income per share for those periods.

Stock options to purchase approximately 21.0 million and 21.4 million weighted-average shares of our common stock were outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share attributable to Gilead common stockholders because their effect was antidilutive. Stock options to purchase approximately 27.1 million and 22.6 million weighted-average shares of our common stock were outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share attributable to Gilead common stockholders because their effect was antidilutive.

The following table is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share attributable to Gilead common stockholders (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Gilead	$	741,124	$	704,876	$	2,138,492	$	2,271,838
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding used in the calculation of basic net income per share attributable to Gilead common stockholders		767,033		833,006		787,272		871,887
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and equivalents		13,548		14,222		14,452		17,120
Conversion spread related to the 2011 Notes		—		—		253		461
Conversion spread related to the 2013 Notes		731		—		785		748
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding used in the calculation of diluted net income per share attributable to Gilead common stockholders		781,312		847,228		802,762		890,216

Concentrations Of Risk

Concentrations of Risk

We are subject to credit risk from our portfolio of cash equivalents and marketable securities. Under our investment policy, we limit amounts invested in such securities by credit rating, maturity, industry group, investment type and issuer, except for securities issued by the U.S. government. We are not exposed to any significant concentrations of credit risk from these financial instruments. The goals of our investment policy, in order of priority, are as follows: safety and preservation of principal and diversification of risk; liquidity of investments sufficient to meet cash flow requirements; and a competitive after-tax rate of return.

We are also subject to credit risk from our accounts receivable related to our product sales. The majority of our trade accounts receivable arises from product sales in the United States and Europe. To date, we have not experienced significant losses with respect to the collection of our accounts receivable. We believe that our allowance for doubtful accounts was adequate at September 30, 2011.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new accounting guidance intended to simplify goodwill impairment testing.  Entities will be allowed to perform a qualitative assessment on goodwill impairment to determine whether a quantitative assessment is necessary. This guidance is effective for goodwill impairment tests performed in interim and annual periods for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The standard is effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.