Traders Purchase Large Volume of Agilent Technologies Put Options (NYSE:A)

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Wednesday. Stock investors purchased 3,743 put options on the company. This represents an increase of 157% compared to the average volume of 1,458 put options.

Agilent Technologies Price Performance

Shares of Agilent Technologies stock traded up $1.53 on Wednesday, hitting $151.46. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 443,726 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,240,150. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $141.31 and a 200-day moving average price of $127.36. The company has a market capitalization of $42.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.24. Agilent Technologies has a 52-week low of $108.35 and a 52-week high of $163.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.56, a current ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 26th. The medical research company reported $1.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.49 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $1.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.84 billion. Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 24.45% and a net margin of 19.53%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.37 EPS. Agilent Technologies has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 1.710-1.740 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 6.180-6.210 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Agilent Technologies will post 6.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of Agilent Technologies in a research report on Thursday, June 11th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price objective for the company. Wall Street Zen raised Agilent Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Sunday, August 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Agilent Technologies from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 28th. HSBC decreased their price target on Agilent Technologies from $180.00 to $165.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $155.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, August 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $170.33.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Agilent Technologies

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Greenleaf Trust increased its holdings in Agilent Technologies by 0.8% during the second quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 8,117 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $1,078,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Nilsine Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. Nilsine Partners LLC now owns 9,650 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $1,282,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co lifted its position in Agilent Technologies by 1.6% during the third quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 4,931 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $633,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Sapient Capital LLC grew its holdings in Agilent Technologies by 4.2% during the first quarter. Sapient Capital LLC now owns 2,105 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $240,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Finally, Plan A Wealth LLC increased its position in Agilent Technologies by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. Plan A Wealth LLC now owns 2,959 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $403,000 after buying an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.41% of the company’s stock.

Agilent Technologies Company Profile

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.