Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) Shares Gap Down - What's Next?

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $144.58, but opened at $141.51. Agilent Technologies shares last traded at $140.49, with a volume of 98,046 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A has been the topic of several analyst reports. Evercore ISI increased their target price on Agilent Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Agilent Technologies in a report on Tuesday, August 27th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $157.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Agilent Technologies from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies from $140.00 to $147.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 22nd. Finally, UBS Group lifted their target price on Agilent Technologies from $141.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $144.36.

Agilent Technologies Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a current ratio of 1.78. The company has a market capitalization of $40.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.86, a PEG ratio of 6.96 and a beta of 1.05. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $140.87 and its 200-day moving average price is $138.86.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 21st. The medical research company reported $1.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $1.58 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.56 billion. Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 25.26% and a net margin of 21.75%. The company's quarterly revenue was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.43 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Agilent Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 1st will be given a dividend of $0.236 per share. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 1st. Agilent Technologies's payout ratio is 22.22%.

Insider Activity at Agilent Technologies

In related news, SVP Dominique Grau sold 9,990 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.00, for a total transaction of $1,448,550.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 40,011 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,801,595. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Agilent Technologies news, SVP Dominique Grau sold 9,990 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.00, for a total value of $1,448,550.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,011 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,801,595. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Padraig Mcdonnell sold 1,958 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.00, for a total transaction of $274,120.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 26,076 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,650,640. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 13,953 shares of company stock worth $2,013,630. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Integrated Advisors Network LLC lifted its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 3,868 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $538,000 after acquiring an additional 184 shares during the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA acquired a new stake in shares of Agilent Technologies during the fourth quarter valued at about $541,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Agilent Technologies during the fourth quarter worth about $823,000. CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 55.0% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 11,718 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $1,705,000 after purchasing an additional 4,159 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 14.3% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,028 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $150,000 after buying an additional 129 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.42% of the company's stock.

Agilent Technologies Company Profile

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.