Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the sixteen analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, eleven have issued a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $161.7692.

Several research firms have commented on A. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Agilent Technologies in a report on Monday. Barclays raised Agilent Technologies from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $165.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Agilent Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Agilent Technologies in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. They set an “overweight” rating on the stock. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Agilent Technologies from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Agilent Technologies news, CEO Padraig Mcdonnell sold 911 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.24, for a total transaction of $130,491.64. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 32,058 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,591,987.92. This trade represents a 2.76% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Rodney Gonsalves sold 3,000 shares of Agilent Technologies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.99, for a total value of $464,970.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 31,846 shares in the company, valued at $4,935,811.54. This represents a 8.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 16,401 shares of company stock valued at $2,468,962.

Institutional Trading of Agilent Technologies

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Flynn Zito Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Flynn Zito Capital Management LLC now owns 2,257 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $290,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP grew its holdings in Agilent Technologies by 2.5% in the third quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 2,921 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $375,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC increased its position in shares of Agilent Technologies by 1.1% during the third quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 6,620 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $850,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co increased its position in shares of Agilent Technologies by 1.6% during the third quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 4,931 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $633,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedmont Private Capital lifted its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 3,630 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $503,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the last quarter.

Agilent Technologies Trading Down 0.0%

A stock opened at $138.32 on Thursday. Agilent Technologies has a 12 month low of $96.43 and a 12 month high of $160.27. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $145.44 and its 200 day moving average is $130.55. The company has a market capitalization of $39.21 billion, a PE ratio of 30.27, a P/E/G ratio of 4.02 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 1.96 and a quick ratio of 1.52.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 24th. The medical research company reported $1.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.83 billion. Agilent Technologies had a net margin of 18.75% and a return on equity of 25.20%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.46 EPS. Agilent Technologies has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.350-1.380 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.860-6.000 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Agilent Technologies will post 5.58 EPS for the current year.

Agilent Technologies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 28th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.255 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 6th. This is a positive change from Agilent Technologies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.02 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Agilent Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is 21.66%.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies is a global provider of scientific instrumentation, consumables, software and services for laboratories across the life sciences, diagnostics and applied chemical markets. The company’s product portfolio includes analytical instruments such as liquid and gas chromatographs, mass spectrometers, spectroscopy systems, and laboratory automation solutions, together with reagents, supplies and informatics tools that support measurement, testing and data analysis workflows. Agilent also offers instrument maintenance, qualification and laboratory services designed to help customers improve productivity and comply with regulatory requirements.

Founded as a corporate spin-off from Hewlett‑Packard in 1999, Agilent has evolved through a combination of strategic restructuring and acquisitions to concentrate on life sciences, diagnostics and applied laboratories.