Advisors Preferred LLC Acquires Shares of 18,260 Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS)

Advisors Preferred LLC acquired a new position in shares of Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 18,260 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $2,937,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. acquired a new position in Keysight Technologies during the fourth quarter worth $1,472,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Keysight Technologies by 26.2% in the fourth quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 18,567 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $3,018,000 after purchasing an additional 3,857 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. boosted its holdings in Keysight Technologies by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 6,181 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $993,000 after buying an additional 202 shares in the last quarter. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB grew its position in Keysight Technologies by 17.1% during the fourth quarter. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB now owns 8,200 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $1,317,000 after buying an additional 1,200 shares during the period. Finally, Willis Investment Counsel increased its holdings in Keysight Technologies by 2.9% in the fourth quarter. Willis Investment Counsel now owns 75,611 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $12,145,000 after buying an additional 2,125 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.58% of the company's stock.

Keysight Technologies Trading Up 0.7 %

NYSE:KEYS traded up $1.26 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $177.82. The company's stock had a trading volume of 784,803 shares, compared to its average volume of 884,982. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 2.98 and a quick ratio of 2.27. The stock has a market cap of $30.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.02. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $167.95 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $157.46. Keysight Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $119.72 and a twelve month high of $180.26.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, SVP Mark Adam Wallace sold 6,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.79, for a total value of $970,740.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 85,829 shares in the company, valued at $13,886,273.91. This trade represents a 6.53 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Jeffrey K. Li sold 4,412 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.92, for a total transaction of $758,511.04. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 30,637 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,267,113.04. This trade represents a 12.59 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 33,063 shares of company stock valued at $5,573,941. Insiders own 0.61% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

KEYS has been the subject of several research reports. Susquehanna reaffirmed a "positive" rating and set a $185.00 price target on shares of Keysight Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Keysight Technologies from $165.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Keysight Technologies from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Keysight Technologies from $163.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Keysight Technologies from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and increased their target price for the company from $170.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $180.80.

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.