Panagora Asset Management Inc. Cuts Stock Position in Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS)

Panagora Asset Management Inc. cut its stake in shares of Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS) by 99.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 2,858 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 305,842 shares during the period. Panagora Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Keysight Technologies were worth $391,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Keysight Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Family Firm Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Keysight Technologies in the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Keysight Technologies in the first quarter worth about $31,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC boosted its position in Keysight Technologies by 262.9% during the second quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 254 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 184 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in Keysight Technologies by 842.4% during the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 311 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. 84.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Keysight Technologies Price Performance

Shares of KEYS opened at $148.05 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $138.70 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $145.13. The stock has a market cap of $25.84 billion, a PE ratio of 32.25, a P/E/G ratio of 5.23 and a beta of 0.95. Keysight Technologies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $118.57 and a 1-year high of $162.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 2.05 and a quick ratio of 1.52.

Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.57 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.22. Keysight Technologies had a net margin of 18.24% and a return on equity of 21.01%. The firm had revenue of $1.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.19 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.04 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Keysight Technologies, Inc. will post 5.35 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on Keysight Technologies from $167.00 to $160.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 19th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $180.00 target price on shares of Keysight Technologies in a report on Wednesday, August 21st. Barclays lifted their price target on Keysight Technologies from $141.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 21st. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Keysight Technologies from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Keysight Technologies from $155.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Keysight Technologies has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $167.09.

Insider Activity at Keysight Technologies

In related news, Director Richard P. Hamada sold 1,632 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.00, for a total transaction of $254,592.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 42,160 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,576,960. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, VP Lisa M. Poole sold 440 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.45, for a total transaction of $60,038.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 3,913 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $533,928.85. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Richard P. Hamada sold 1,632 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.00, for a total value of $254,592.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 42,160 shares in the company, valued at $6,576,960. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.60% of the company’s stock.

Keysight Technologies Profile

Keysight Technologies, Inc provides electronic design and test solutions to commercial communications, networking, aerospace, defense and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, electronic, and education industries in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Communications Solutions Group and Electronic Industrial Solutions Group.