Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) Stake Raised by S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC

S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A - Free Report) by 115.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 91,633 shares of the medical research company's stock after buying an additional 49,046 shares during the quarter. Agilent Technologies comprises about 3.6% of S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC's holdings in Agilent Technologies were worth $10,719,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 161.1% in the fourth quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 188 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Lee Danner & Bass Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. raised its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 640.0% in the fourth quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 222 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $34,000.

Agilent Technologies Stock Performance

NYSE:A traded down $1.45 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $111.83. 4,751,122 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,929,518. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $108.44 and its 200-day moving average price is $126.47. Agilent Technologies, Inc. has a one year low of $96.43 and a one year high of $153.84. The company has a quick ratio of 1.66, a current ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The firm has a market cap of $31.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 1.27.

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

Agilent Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be paid a $0.248 dividend. This represents a $0.99 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 1st. Agilent Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.44%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Agilent Technologies from $160.00 to $155.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Barclays cut their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $138.00 to $115.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $135.00 to $116.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 21st. UBS Group cut their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $150.00 to $130.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Finally, Leerink Partners lifted their price objective on Agilent Technologies to $135.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Agilent Technologies has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $140.15.

Insider Transactions at Agilent Technologies

In related news, Director Daniel K. Podolsky sold 1,819 shares of the business'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 sale, the director now directly owns 35,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,161,931.02. The trade was a 4.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Rodney Gonsalves sold 1,908 shares of the business'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 disclosure for this sale can be found here.

Agilent Technologies Company 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.