Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) Stock Position Lessened by Swiss National Bank

Key Points

• Swiss National Bank has reduced its holdings in Agilent Technologies by 0.8%, now owning 805,400 shares valued at approximately $94.2 million, following a sale of 6,300 shares during the first quarter.
• Agilent Technologies reported $1.31 EPS for the last quarter, exceeding estimates of $1.26, with revenue of $1.67 billion, indicating a 6% year-over-year increase.
• The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.248 per share, with a yield of 0.9%, reflecting a payout ratio of 24.44%.

Swiss National Bank decreased its holdings in Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A - Free Report) by 0.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 805,400 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 6,300 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Bank owned 0.28% of Agilent Technologies worth $94,216,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Sunbelt Securities Inc. boosted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 640.0% during the fourth quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 222 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 286.2% during the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 251 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Agilent Technologies during the fourth quarter valued at about $34,000. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Agilent Technologies during the first quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC boosted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 3,450.0% during the fourth quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 355 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 345 shares in the last quarter.

Agilent Technologies Price Performance

Agilent Technologies stock opened at $114.69 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 2.09 and a quick ratio of 1.60. The company has a market capitalization of $32.58 billion, a PE ratio of 28.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 1.22. Agilent Technologies, Inc. has a one year low of $96.43 and a one year high of $153.84. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $117.39 and a 200 day simple moving average of $119.43.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 28th. The medical research company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.63 billion. Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 25.92% and a net margin of 17.59%. Agilent Technologies's revenue was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.22 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Agilent Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 1st were given a $0.248 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, July 1st. This represents a $0.99 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. Agilent Technologies's payout ratio is presently 24.44%.

Insider Transactions at Agilent Technologies

In other news, CEO Padraig Mcdonnell sold 1,508 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.44, for a total transaction of $177,099.52. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 37,448 shares in the company, valued at $4,397,893.12. The trade was a 3.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on A shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded Agilent Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, June 28th. Leerink Partners increased their price objective on Agilent Technologies to $135.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 30th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $150.00 to $130.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 29th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $159.00 to $140.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $139.77.

Agilent Technologies Company 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.

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