Legal & General Group Plc Raises Position in Agilent Technologies, Inc. $A

Legal & General Group Plc lifted its holdings in Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) by 0.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,189,639 shares of the medical research company’s stock after purchasing an additional 19,874 shares during the quarter. Legal & General Group Plc owned about 0.77% of Agilent Technologies worth $281,040,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 6.1% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 4,663 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $626,000 after acquiring an additional 270 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its position in shares of Agilent Technologies by 15.9% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 5,610 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $602,000 after purchasing an additional 769 shares during the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Agilent Technologies by 54.8% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 599 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 212 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 16.5% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 5,352 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $625,000 after purchasing an additional 758 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Agilent Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $273,000. 87.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Agilent Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE A opened at $115.44 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $131.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $135.93. The stock has a market cap of $32.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.48, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a current ratio of 2.07, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. Agilent Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $96.43 and a 12 month high of $160.27.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The medical research company reported $1.36 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.37 by ($0.01). Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 24.49% and a net margin of 18.26%.The business had revenue of $1.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.31 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Agilent Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.900-6.040 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.390-1.420 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Agilent Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 22nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.255 per share. This represents a $1.02 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. Agilent Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.52%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $170.00 to $157.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Agilent Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $170.00 price objective for the company. Evercore raised shares of Agilent Technologies from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $155.00 to $160.00 in a report on Monday, January 5th. UBS Group cut their target price on Agilent Technologies from $180.00 to $165.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on Agilent Technologies from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $161.20.

More Agilent Technologies News

Here are the key news stories impacting Agilent Technologies this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Agilent agreed to acquire Biocare Medical for about $950 million — a bolt-on that strengthens its immunohistochemistry/diagnostics consumables and pathology market exposure, adding recurring reagents and slide/staining workflow products that can lift revenue durability and margin profile over time. Agilent to acquire Biocare in $950M ‘complementary combination’
• Positive Sentiment: Agilent launched “Agilent Advanced Therapeutics,” unifying its CDMO capabilities across the U.S. and Canada — a move aimed at scaling drug-development and manufacturing services that can generate higher-margin service revenue and cross-sell opportunities with instrument/consumable customers. Agilent Launches Agilent Advanced Therapeutics, Unifying CDMO Capabilities Across Canada and United States
• Neutral Sentiment: Citi opened a 90‑day “upside catalyst” watch on Agilent as part of a sector sweep — this flags potential positive catalysts but is not a formal upgrade; it signals analysts are watching for near‑term drivers rather than changing the fundamental view. Citi Flags Agilent Technologies, Cuts Icon PLC Target, and More
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage noting “steady growth amid headwinds” emphasizes Agilent’s resilient top-line and reiterated FY26 guidance but highlights macro and sector pressures that could keep near-term multiples constrained. Agilent Technologies Signals Steady Growth Amid Headwinds
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysis pieces point out Agilent has recently underperformed the S&P 500 despite analyst optimism — a reminder that valuation and sector rotation dynamics could limit near-term upside. Is Agilent Technologies Stock Underperforming the S&P 500?
• Negative Sentiment: High-profile negative commentary from Jim Cramer — saying investors “don’t need” the stock — may pressure retail sentiment and contribute to short-term volatility despite the company’s strategic moves. Jim Cramer on Agilent Technologies: “I Don’t Think You Need It”

Agilent Technologies 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.