LPL Financial LLC Buys 4,468 Shares of Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A)

LPL Financial LLC increased its holdings in Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A - Free Report) by 3.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 121,147 shares of the medical research company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,468 shares during the quarter. LPL Financial LLC's holdings in Agilent Technologies were worth $14,172,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Agilent Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC increased its position in Agilent Technologies by 286.2% in the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 251 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. raised its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 640.0% during the 4th quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 222 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Agilent Technologies during the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Agilent Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000.

Agilent Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:A traded up $0.65 on Thursday, hitting $113.88. 1,157,371 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,799,770. The company's 50 day moving average price is $117.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $119.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.12, a PEG ratio of 3.43 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a current ratio of 2.09. Agilent Technologies, Inc. has a one year low of $96.43 and a one year high of $153.84.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 28th. The medical research company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.05. Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 25.92% and a net margin of 17.59%. The firm had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.63 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.22 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Agilent Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 1st were issued a dividend of $0.248 per share. This represents a $0.99 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 1st. Agilent Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.44%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies from $155.00 to $135.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Agilent Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, June 28th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies from $135.00 to $116.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 21st. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on Agilent Technologies from $159.00 to $140.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price target 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 given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $139.77.

Insider Activity at Agilent Technologies

In other news, CEO Padraig Mcdonnell sold 1,508 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.44, for a total value of $177,099.52. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 37,448 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,397,893.12. This represents a 3.87% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link.

About Agilent Technologies

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.