Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) Shares Purchased by Caprock Group LLC

Caprock Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A - Free Report) by 25.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 9,698 shares of the medical research company's stock after buying an additional 1,982 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLC's holdings in Agilent Technologies were worth $1,305,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Sivik Global Healthcare LLC bought a new position in Agilent Technologies during the fourth quarter worth about $4,702,000. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management lifted its position in Agilent Technologies by 66.5% during the fourth quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management now owns 263 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Invesco LLC increased its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 12.9% during the fourth quarter. Invesco LLC now owns 21,602 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $2,902,000 after purchasing an additional 2,461 shares during the period. BSW Wealth Partners lifted its holdings in Agilent Technologies by 8.2% during the 4th quarter. BSW Wealth Partners now owns 5,343 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $718,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares during the last quarter. Finally, VCI Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Agilent Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at $1,563,000.

Agilent Technologies Stock Down 0.2 %

A stock traded down $0.34 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $147.65. The company's stock had a trading volume of 340,335 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,659,178. The company has a current ratio of 2.09, a quick ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Agilent Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $124.16 and a 12 month high of $155.35. The company has a market cap of $42.17 billion, a PE ratio of 33.41, a P/E/G ratio of 4.10 and a beta of 1.07. The firm's 50-day moving average is $141.25 and its 200-day moving average is $139.13.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 25th. The medical research company reported $1.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.41 by $0.05. Agilent Technologies had a net margin of 19.80% and a return on equity of 25.43%. The firm had revenue of $1.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.67 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.38 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up .8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Agilent Technologies Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 22nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were issued a dividend of $0.248 per share. This represents a $0.99 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.67%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This is a positive change from Agilent Technologies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. Agilent Technologies's dividend payout ratio is presently 22.40%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Agilent Technologies from $157.00 to $155.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Citigroup raised their target price on Agilent Technologies to $165.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $145.00 to $135.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $153.00 to $150.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Agilent Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $143.62.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Padraig Mcdonnell sold 1,911 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total transaction of $286,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 39,652 shares in the company, valued at $5,947,800. The trade was a 4.60 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Agilent Technologies Profile

Agilent Technologies, Inc provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets, Diagnostics and Genomics, and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers liquid chromatography systems and components; liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems; gas chromatography systems and components; gas chromatography mass spectrometry systems; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instruments; atomic absorption instruments; microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry instruments; inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry instruments; raman spectroscopy; cell analysis plate based assays; flow cytometer; real-time cell analyzer; cell imaging systems; microplate reader; laboratory software; information management and analytics; laboratory automation and robotic systems; dissolution testing; and vacuum pumps, and measurement technologies.