Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS) Hits New 12-Month High - Still a Buy?

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $180.82 and last traded at $180.01, with a volume of 25916 shares. The stock had previously closed at $179.30.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on KEYS shares. Morgan Stanley raised their target price 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. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Keysight Technologies from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Keysight Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday. Barclays raised their target price on Keysight Technologies from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on Keysight Technologies from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $180.80.

Keysight Technologies Trading Up 0.8 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 2.27 and a current ratio of 2.98. The firm has a market cap of $31.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.81, a PEG ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.02. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $168.60 and a 200-day simple moving average of $158.57.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Satish Dhanasekaran sold 17,822 shares of Keysight Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $169.66, for a total value of $3,023,680.52. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 116,582 shares of the company's stock, valued at $19,779,302.12. The trade was a 13.26 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Mark Adam Wallace sold 6,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.79, for a total value of $970,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 85,829 shares in the company, valued at $13,886,273.91. The trade was a 6.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 33,063 shares of company stock worth $5,573,941 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.61% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of KEYS. Natixis Advisors LLC raised its stake in Keysight Technologies by 8.7% during the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 176,966 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $28,125,000 after buying an additional 14,185 shares during the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its position in shares of Keysight Technologies by 72.6% in the 3rd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 16,895 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $2,685,000 after acquiring an additional 7,106 shares in the last quarter. Speece Thorson Capital Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Keysight Technologies by 28.7% in the 3rd quarter. Speece Thorson Capital Group Inc. now owns 80,629 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $12,814,000 after purchasing an additional 17,962 shares during the period. LMR Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of Keysight Technologies during the 3rd quarter valued at about $14,339,000. Finally, Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Keysight Technologies by 318.8% during the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 49,299 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $7,835,000 after purchasing an additional 37,528 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.58% of the company's stock.

About Keysight Technologies

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.