Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) Sets New 1-Year High – Still a Buy?

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $160.51 and last traded at $159.55, with a volume of 1371818 shares. The stock had previously closed at $156.30.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently commented on A shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 28th. HSBC decreased their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $180.00 to $165.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on Agilent Technologies in a research report on Friday, June 26th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $155.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $160.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 12th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Agilent Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Sunday, August 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Agilent Technologies has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $160.24.

Agilent Technologies Stock Up 1.9%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 2.10 and a quick ratio of 1.62. The company has a market cap of $44.98 billion, a PE ratio of 31.98, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.25. The business’s 50 day moving average is $137.57 and its 200-day moving average is $126.23.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 27th. The medical research company reported $1.49 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.41 by $0.08. Agilent Technologies had a net margin of 19.55% and a return on equity of 24.33%. The company had revenue of $1.83 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.80 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.31 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Agilent Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.000-6.100 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.480-1.500 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 6.05 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Agilent Technologies

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Greenleaf Trust lifted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 0.8% during the second quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 8,117 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $1,078,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Nilsine Partners LLC increased its stake in Agilent Technologies by 0.8% in the second quarter. Nilsine Partners LLC now owns 9,650 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $1,282,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co increased its stake in Agilent Technologies by 1.6% in 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 during the last quarter. Sapient Capital LLC raised 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 worth $240,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Plan A Wealth LLC raised its holdings in Agilent Technologies by 3.2% during the fourth quarter. Plan A Wealth LLC now owns 2,959 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $403,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter.

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.