Baird Financial Group Inc. Raises Stock Position in Keysight Technologies Inc. $KEYS

Key Points

• Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its shareholding in Keysight Technologies by 14.1%, acquiring an additional 8,849 shares, bringing its total to 71,520 shares valued at approximately $10.7 million.
• Several institutional investors have also raised their positions in Keysight Technologies, including Praxis Investment Management Inc. with a 45.8% increase, indicating strong institutional interest.
• Research analysts are optimistic about Keysight Technologies, with multiple firms raising price targets and maintaining a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy", suggesting positive future performance in the stock.

Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its position in Keysight Technologies Inc. (NYSE:KEYS - Free Report) by 14.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 71,520 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after purchasing an additional 8,849 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc.'s holdings in Keysight Technologies were worth $10,712,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of KEYS. Summit Financial LLC raised its stake in Keysight Technologies by 2.2% in the first quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 3,468 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $519,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NA raised its stake in Keysight Technologies by 39.9% in the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. raised its stake in Keysight Technologies by 9.1% in the first quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 910 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $146,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the period. Haven Private LLC raised its stake in Keysight Technologies by 2.1% in the first quarter. Haven Private LLC now owns 3,974 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $595,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the period. Finally, Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. raised its stake in Keysight Technologies by 14.2% in the first quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 669 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $100,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the period. 84.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on KEYS. Wall Street Zen raised Keysight Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday. Bank of America lifted their price target on Keysight Technologies from $175.00 to $179.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Barclays dropped their price target on Keysight Technologies from $200.00 to $195.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Keysight Technologies from $177.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Keysight Technologies from $156.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $187.38.

Keysight Technologies Stock Up 0.7%

KEYS stock traded up $1.16 on Friday, reaching $168.11. 957,194 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,040,006. Keysight Technologies Inc. has a one year low of $121.43 and a one year high of $186.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 3.59 and a quick ratio of 2.94. The company has a market cap of $28.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.16. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $163.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $157.09.

Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 19th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.05. Keysight Technologies had a return on equity of 19.53% and a net margin of 10.36%.The company had revenue of $1.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.32 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.57 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. Keysight Technologies has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 1.790-1.85 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 7.090-7.090 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Keysight Technologies Inc. will post 6.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Keysight Technologies

In related news, SVP Ingrid A. Estrada sold 10,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.97, for a total value of $1,589,700.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 108,590 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $17,262,552.30. This represents a 8.43% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Neil Dougherty sold 12,215 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.60, for a total value of $2,010,589.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 115,228 shares in the company, valued at $18,966,528.80. This trade represents a 9.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.61% of the company's stock.

Keysight Technologies Profile

Keysight Technologies, Inc provides electronic design and test solutions to commercial communications, networking, aerospace, defense and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, electronic, and education industries in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Communications Solutions Group and Electronic Industrial Solutions Group.