Agilent Technologies, Inc. provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. 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; vacuum pumps, and measurement technologies. The Diagnostics and Genomics segment provides arrays for DNA mutation detection, genotyping, gene copy number determination, identification of gene rearrangements, DNA methylation profiling, gene expression profiling, next generation sequencing, target enrichment and genetic data management, and interpretation support software; and produces synthesized oligonucleotide. It also offers immunohistochemistry in situ hybridization, and hematoxylin and eosin staining and special staining; consumables, and software for quality control analysis of nucleic acid samples; and reagents for use in turbidimetry and flow cytometry, as well as develops liquid-based pharmacodiagnostics. The Agilent CrossLab segment provides GC and LC columns, sample preparation products, custom chemistries, and laboratory instrument supplies; and startup, operational, training, compliance support, software as a service, asset management, and consultation services. The company markets its products through direct sales, distributors, resellers, manufacturer's representatives, and electronic commerce. Agilent Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. Truist Financial downgraded shares of Agilent Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 19th. StockNews.com raised shares of Agilent Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 3rd. KeyCorp cut their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $195.00 to $155.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, June 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $160.00 to $130.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 25th. Finally, UBS Group started coverage on shares of Agilent Technologies in a report on Wednesday, July 20th. They set a "buy" rating and a $139.00 price target for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Agilent Technologies presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $152.75.
Agilent Technologies Price Performance
NYSE:A traded down $0.88 on Tuesday, hitting $133.02. The company had a trading volume of 2,046 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,284,865. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.27, a PEG ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 2.01, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $123.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $127.54. Agilent Technologies has a 52 week low of $112.52 and a 52 week high of $179.57.
Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A - Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 24th. The medical research company reported $1.13 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.11 by $0.02. Agilent Technologies had a net margin of 19.35% and a return on equity of 27.42%. The business had revenue of $1.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.62 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.97 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Agilent Technologies will post 4.88 earnings per share for the current year.
Agilent Technologies Announces Dividend
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 27th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 5th were given a $0.21 dividend. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.63%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 1st. Agilent Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 20.24%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Agilent Technologies
In other news, VP Jacob Thaysen sold 5,879 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.43, for a total transaction of $749,160.97. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 88,737 shares in the company, valued at $11,307,755.91. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, VP Padraig Mcdonnell sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.62, for a total transaction of $118,620.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 17,826 shares in the company, valued at $2,114,520.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, VP Jacob Thaysen sold 5,879 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.43, for a total transaction of $749,160.97. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 88,737 shares in the company, valued at $11,307,755.91. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.
