Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) Sets New 52-Week Low - Here's Why

Shares of Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $121.45 and last traded at $122.51, with a volume of 516043 shares. The stock had previously closed at $126.33.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup increased their target price on Agilent Technologies to $165.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. StockNews.com upgraded Agilent Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 24th. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their target price on Agilent Technologies from $140.00 to $135.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Bank of America decreased their target price on Agilent Technologies from $153.00 to $150.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Agilent Technologies from $161.00 to $159.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Agilent Technologies currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $146.15.

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Agilent Technologies Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.66, a current ratio of 2.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The stock has a market cap of $36.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.10, a PEG ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 1.11. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $139.67 and a 200-day simple moving average of $138.69.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The medical research company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $1.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.67 billion. Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 25.56% and a net margin of 19.27%. Equities analysts expect that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Agilent Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be given a dividend of $0.248 per share. This represents a $0.99 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 1st. Agilent Technologies's dividend payout ratio is currently 22.76%.

Insider Transactions at Agilent Technologies

In related news, CEO Padraig Mcdonnell sold 1,911 shares of Agilent Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total value of $286,650.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 39,652 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,947,800. This trade represents a 4.60 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Agilent Technologies

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of A. Norges Bank bought a new position in Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $456,963,000. Madison Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $94,051,000. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its stake in Agilent Technologies by 345.9% in the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 769,897 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $103,428,000 after purchasing an additional 597,249 shares in the last quarter. Iron Triangle Partners LP bought a new position in Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $80,110,000. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP boosted its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 280.3% during the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 806,895 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $108,398,000 after acquiring an additional 594,744 shares during the period.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies, Inc provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets, Diagnostics and Genomics, and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers liquid chromatography systems and components; liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems; gas chromatography systems and components; gas chromatography mass spectrometry systems; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instruments; atomic absorption instruments; microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry instruments; inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry instruments; raman spectroscopy; cell analysis plate based assays; flow cytometer; real-time cell analyzer; cell imaging systems; microplate reader; laboratory software; information management and analytics; laboratory automation and robotic systems; dissolution testing; and vacuum pumps, and measurement technologies.