Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Sixteen analysts give Agilent an average recommendation of Moderate Buy (11 buy, 2 strong buy, 3 hold) with a 12‑month consensus price target of $161.20.
• Agilent agreed to acquire Biocare Medical for $950 million in cash, a deal that boosted the stock but also prompted concerns about integration costs and near‑term execution risk.
• Agilent slightly missed Q1 estimates (EPS $1.36 vs. $1.37 consensus) with revenue up 7% YoY, set FY2026 guidance of 5.900–6.040 EPS, and declared a $0.255 quarterly dividend (0.9% yield).

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the sixteen analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, eleven have given a buy recommendation and two have assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $161.20.

A has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. HSBC began coverage on Agilent Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. They set a "buy" rating and a $180.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $180.00 to $165.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $142.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. Evercore raised Agilent Technologies from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $160.00 in a report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 26th.

Agilent Technologies Stock Up 1.3%

A stock opened at $116.57 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 2.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $132.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $136.12. The company has a market cap of $32.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.31. Agilent Technologies has a twelve month low of $96.43 and a twelve month high of $160.27.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The medical research company reported $1.36 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.37 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $1.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.81 billion. Agilent Technologies had a net margin of 18.26% and a return on equity of 24.49%. The business's revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.31 EPS. Agilent Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.900-6.040 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.390-1.420 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Agilent Technologies will post 5.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Agilent Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 22nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a $0.255 dividend. This represents a $1.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. Agilent Technologies's payout ratio is 22.52%.

Key Agilent Technologies News

Here are the key news stories impacting Agilent Technologies this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Strategic product and market fit — Biocare is a global leader in immunohistochemistry, in‑situ hybridization and related pathology reagents and instrumentation, giving Agilent a stronger position in clinical pathology and recurring consumables revenue streams. Agilent to Acquire Biocare Medical — Business Wire
• Positive Sentiment: Market reacted favorably to the deal — multiple outlets reported a share lift after the announcement, reflecting investor approval of the strategic rationale and potential for cross-sell into Agilent’s distribution channels. Agilent stock rises on $950M Biocare Medical acquisition — Investing
• Neutral Sentiment: Deal scale and financing — the $950M all‑cash price is meaningful but modest versus Agilent’s ~$33B market cap, suggesting the transaction is a manageable bolt‑on that should be accretive over time without major dilution. Agilent to acquire Biocare Medical in $950 million all-cash deal — Reuters
• Neutral Sentiment: Seller and product continuity — private equity owners Excellere Partners and GHO Capital are exiting; Biocare brings established products and channels that could shorten time‑to‑value for Agilent. Excellere Partners and GHO Capital Sell Biocare Medical to Agilent — GlobeNewswire
• Negative Sentiment: Lingering investor caution after earnings miss — Agilent posted a slight Q1 EPS/revenue miss and modest guidance, and some commentary noted the Biocare buyout didn’t immediately erase investor concerns about near‑term growth. Agilent stock slips premarket: $950M Biocare buyout fails to lift investor sentiment after Q1 miss — MSN
• Negative Sentiment: Execution and integration risks — as with any acquisition, watch integration costs, margin mix, and how quickly Agilent can scale Biocare’s products through its channels; analysts will watch near‑term margins and cash metrics. Agilent Buys Biocare for $950M — Bloomberg

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in A. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Agilent Technologies by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 4,663 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $626,000 after buying an additional 270 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 15.9% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 5,610 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $602,000 after buying an additional 769 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in Agilent Technologies by 54.8% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 599 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $70,000 after acquiring an additional 212 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its position in Agilent Technologies by 16.5% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 5,352 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $625,000 after acquiring an additional 758 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in Agilent Technologies during the second quarter worth about $273,000.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies is a global provider of scientific instrumentation, consumables, software and services for laboratories across the life sciences, diagnostics and applied chemical markets. The company's product portfolio includes analytical instruments such as liquid and gas chromatographs, mass spectrometers, spectroscopy systems, and laboratory automation solutions, together with reagents, supplies and informatics tools that support measurement, testing and data analysis workflows. Agilent also offers instrument maintenance, qualification and laboratory services designed to help customers improve productivity and comply with regulatory requirements.

Founded as a corporate spin-off from Hewlett‑Packard in 1999, Agilent has evolved through a combination of strategic restructuring and acquisitions to concentrate on life sciences, diagnostics and applied laboratories.

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