Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) Hits New 1-Year Low on Insider Selling

Shares of Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Thursday after an insider sold shares in the company. The company traded as low as $112.75 and last traded at $115.96, with a volume of 1947367 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $114.05.

Specifically, Director Daniel K. Podolsky sold 1,819 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.46, for a total transaction of $211,840.74. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 35,737 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,161,931.02. This represents a 4.84 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $157.00 to $155.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 9th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $161.00 to $159.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies to $165.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Barclays upgraded shares of Agilent Technologies from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and upped their target price for the company from $135.00 to $145.00 in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Agilent Technologies from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 24th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $150.83.

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Agilent Technologies Stock Up 0.5 %

The firm has a market cap of $29.50 billion, a PE ratio of 23.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $129.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $135.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 2.20 and a quick ratio of 1.66.

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

Agilent Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be paid a $0.248 dividend. This represents a $0.99 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.96%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 1st. Agilent Technologies's dividend payout ratio is presently 22.76%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Agilent Technologies

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in A. CKW Financial Group grew its position in shares of Agilent Technologies by 114.9% during the 4th quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 187 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Agilent Technologies by 161.1% during the 4th quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 188 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Redwood Park Advisors LLC bought a new position in Agilent Technologies during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Lee Danner & Bass Inc. purchased a new position in Agilent Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 640.0% in the 4th quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 222 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares in the last quarter.

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.