Keysight Technologies Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NYSE:KEYS)

Key Points

• Unusual options activity: Traders bought 3,779 Keysight call options, 164% above the average daily volume of 1,432 contracts.
• Shares declined: KEYS fell 6.1% to $335.95, despite the company’s latest quarterly results exceeding analyst expectations for both earnings and revenue.
• Analysts remain bullish: The stock carries a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with an average price target of $401.42, while institutional investors own 84.58% of outstanding shares.

Keysight Technologies Inc. (NYSE:KEYS - Get Free Report) was the target of some unusual options trading on Thursday. Traders bought 3,779 call options on the stock. This is an increase of 164% compared to the average daily volume of 1,432 call options.

Keysight Technologies Stock Down 6.1%

NYSE KEYS traded down $21.67 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $335.95. 906,943 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,398,973. The company has a 50 day moving average of $343.76 and a two-hundred day moving average of $336.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.19 billion, a PE ratio of 46.15, a PEG ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.17. Keysight Technologies has a 12 month low of $161.16 and a 12 month high of $389.93. The company has a current ratio of 2.02, a quick ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28.

Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 18th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $3.07 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.48 by $0.59. The firm had revenue of $1.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.75 billion. Keysight Technologies had a net margin of 19.08% and a return on equity of 24.34%. The firm's revenue was up 36.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.72 earnings per share. Keysight Technologies has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 3.340-3.400 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 11.460-11.460 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Keysight Technologies will post 10.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Keysight Technologies

In related news, VP Lisa Poole sold 200 shares of Keysight Technologies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $348.01, for a total transaction of $69,602.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 6,134 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,134,693.34. The trade was a 3.16% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Ingrid Estrada sold 2,000 shares of Keysight Technologies stock in a transaction on Friday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $326.10, for a total value of $652,200.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 101,861 shares of the company's stock, valued at $33,216,872.10. This trade represents a 1.93% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 12,200 shares of company stock valued at $4,082,752. 0.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Keysight Technologies

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Keysight Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $7,030,806,000. State Street Corp lifted its stake in Keysight Technologies by 3.4% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,270,708 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $2,895,327,000 after acquiring an additional 273,042 shares during the period. Amundi lifted its stake in Keysight Technologies by 12.1% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 2,224,264 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $628,065,000 after acquiring an additional 240,167 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in Keysight Technologies by 4.7% in the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,005,409 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $581,248,000 after acquiring an additional 90,263 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in Keysight Technologies by 1.3% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,550,122 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $437,708,000 after acquiring an additional 20,325 shares in the last quarter. 84.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on KEYS shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Keysight Technologies from $390.00 to $405.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Keysight Technologies from $385.00 to $410.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Keysight Technologies from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 20th. Citigroup reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Keysight Technologies in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Keysight Technologies from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, August 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $401.42.

Keysight Technologies Company Profile

Keysight Technologies, Inc is a technology company that provides electronic design and test solutions for communications, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, energy, and other industries. Its products and services help engineers design, validate, manufacture, and optimize electronic systems and communications networks.

The company offers test and measurement instruments, software, network test and visibility solutions, simulation and modeling tools, cybersecurity testing capabilities, and related technical services.

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