Agilent Technologies - A Stock Forecast, Price & News

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 Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Agilent Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 3rd. UBS Group assumed coverage on Agilent Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, July 20th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $139.00 price objective on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on Agilent Technologies from $170.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 14th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Agilent Technologies from $155.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 25th. Finally, Truist Financial downgraded Agilent Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 19th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $152.75.

Agilent Technologies Trading Up 1.2 %

A traded up $1.60 during trading on Friday, reaching $133.55. 865,778 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,290,048. The company has a quick ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 2.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The stock's 50-day moving average is $123.11 and its 200 day moving average is $127.64. Agilent Technologies has a 12 month low of $112.52 and a 12 month high of $179.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.89 billion, a PE ratio of 32.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 1.06.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A - Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 24th. The medical research company reported $1.13 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.11 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.62 billion. Agilent Technologies had a net margin of 19.35% and a return on equity of 27.42%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.97 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Agilent Technologies will post 4.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Agilent Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 27th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 5th were given a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 1st. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.63%. Agilent Technologies's dividend payout ratio is currently 20.24%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP Padraig Mcdonnell sold 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.62, for a total transaction of $118,620.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 17,826 shares in the company, valued at $2,114,520.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, VP Padraig Mcdonnell sold 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.62, for a total value of $118,620.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 17,826 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,114,520.12. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Jacob Thaysen sold 5,879 shares of Agilent Technologies stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.43, for a total value of $749,160.97. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 88,737 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,307,755.91. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.