Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. Raises Stock Holdings in Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A)

Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. grew its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A - Free Report) by 4.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 145,555 shares of the medical research company's stock after buying an additional 6,777 shares during the period. Agilent Technologies accounts for 1.0% of Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A.'s portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest position. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. owned approximately 0.05% of Agilent Technologies worth $17,027,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $456,963,000. Madison Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $94,051,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake 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 purchasing an additional 623,264 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its stake 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 purchasing an additional 597,249 shares during the period. Finally, Iron Triangle Partners LP purchased a new stake in Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $80,110,000.

Agilent Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:A traded down $1.94 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $116.97. 1,651,962 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,915,712. The company has a market cap of $33.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.88, a P/E/G ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 1.23. 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. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $109.34 and a 200 day moving average of $125.38.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 28th. The medical research company reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $1.67 billion for 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%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.22 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Agilent Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be given a dividend of $0.248 per share. This represents a $0.99 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 1st. Agilent Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.44%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Agilent Technologies from $155.00 to $135.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Agilent Technologies from $135.00 to $116.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 21st. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Agilent Technologies to $150.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 29th. Leerink Partners boosted their target price on Agilent Technologies to $135.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 30th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their target price on Agilent Technologies from $150.00 to $130.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 29th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $140.15.

Insider Activity at Agilent Technologies

In other Agilent Technologies news, VP Rodney Gonsalves sold 1,908 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.98, for a total value of $232,737.84. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 21,786 shares in the company, valued at $2,657,456.28. This represents a 8.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Daniel K. Podolsky sold 1,819 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.46, for a total value of $211,840.74. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 35,737 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,161,931.02. The trade was a 4.84% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.

Agilent Technologies 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.