Banque Cantonale Vaudoise Purchases New Shares in Keysight Technologies Inc. (NYSE:KEYS)

Key Points

• Banque Cantonale Vaudoise has acquired 10,335 shares in Keysight Technologies, valued at approximately $1.5 million, as part of its first-quarter investment strategy.
• Several institutional investors have significantly increased their stakes in Keysight Technologies, with Central Pacific Bank Trust Division raising its holdings by 97.8%.
• Wall Street analysts have boosted their target prices for Keysight Technologies, with JPMorgan Chase & Co. raising its target from $177.00 to $200.00, while the stock currently carries an average rating of "Moderate Buy."

Banque Cantonale Vaudoise acquired a new stake in Keysight Technologies Inc. (NYSE:KEYS - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 10,335 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $1,548,000.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division raised its holdings in Keysight Technologies by 97.8% in the 1st quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 182 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its position in shares of Keysight Technologies by 39.9% during the 1st 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 in the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. increased its holdings in Keysight Technologies by 241.8% in the 4th quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 270 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Goodman Advisory Group LLC acquired a new position in Keysight Technologies during the first quarter worth $51,000. Finally, Quarry LP raised its position in Keysight Technologies by 188.1% during the fourth quarter. Quarry LP now owns 435 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $70,000 after acquiring an additional 284 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.58% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP John Page sold 7,368 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.78, for a total transaction of $1,162,523.04. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 36,986 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,835,651.08. This trade represents a 16.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Ingrid A. Estrada sold 10,000 shares of Keysight Technologies stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.97, for a total transaction of $1,589,700.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 108,590 shares in the company, valued at $17,262,552.30. This trade represents a 8.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 31,830 shares of company stock worth $5,124,049. Insiders own 0.61% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Keysight Technologies from $156.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Bank of America raised Keysight Technologies from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their target price for the company from $170.00 to $175.00 in a report on Monday, July 21st. Finally, 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 research note on Thursday, July 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Keysight Technologies currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $187.50.

Keysight Technologies Stock Up 0.3%

KEYS stock opened at $167.56 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $28.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.33, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.09. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $162.30 and a two-hundred day moving average of $158.94. Keysight Technologies Inc. has a 12 month low of $119.72 and a 12 month high of $186.20. The company has a current ratio of 3.39, a quick ratio of 2.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46.

Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $1.32 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.28 billion. Keysight Technologies had a return on equity of 19.65% and a net margin of 14.50%. The firm's revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.41 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Keysight Technologies Inc. will post 6.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Keysight Technologies Company 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.

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