Prudential PLC Sells 4,238 Shares of Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A)

Key Points

• Prudential PLC has reduced its stake in Agilent Technologies by 5.8%, now holding 69,035 shares valued at approximately $8.08 million.
• Agilent Technologies reported a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $1.31, exceeding analysts' estimates and marking a 6% revenue increase year-over-year.
• Equities analysts show a mixed outlook on Agilent, with six hold ratings and eight buy ratings, reflecting a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with a target price of $139.77.

Prudential PLC lessened its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A - Free Report) by 5.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 69,035 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 4,238 shares during the quarter. Prudential PLC's holdings in Agilent Technologies were worth $8,076,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in A. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Agilent Technologies by 15,648.1% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 627,247 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $73,375,000 after buying an additional 623,264 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its position in Agilent Technologies by 345.9% in the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 769,897 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $103,428,000 after buying an additional 597,249 shares during the last quarter. Iron Triangle Partners LP acquired a new position in Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter worth approximately $80,110,000. Marshall Wace LLP grew its position in Agilent Technologies by 280.3% in the fourth quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 806,895 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $108,398,000 after buying an additional 594,744 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its position in Agilent Technologies by 141.5% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 935,893 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $109,481,000 after buying an additional 548,344 shares during the last quarter.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have issued reports on A. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies to $150.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies from $135.00 to $116.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies from $150.00 to $130.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $139.77.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Padraig Mcdonnell sold 1,508 shares of Agilent Technologies stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.44, for a total value of $177,099.52. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 37,448 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,397,893.12. The trade was a 3.87% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

Agilent Technologies Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of NYSE:A traded up $0.43 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $119.30. 1,238,463 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,437,926. 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 52-week low of $96.43 and a 52-week high of $153.84. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $117.82 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $118.51. The company has a market capitalization of $33.89 billion, a PE ratio of 29.46, a P/E/G ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 1.22.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 28th. The medical research company reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 business had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.63 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.22 earnings per share. Agilent Technologies's quarterly revenue was up 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Agilent Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 1st were paid a $0.248 dividend. This represents a $0.99 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 1st. Agilent Technologies's payout ratio is presently 24.44%.

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.