Mystic Asset Management Inc. Boosts Holdings in Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A)

Mystic Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) by 9.3% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 2,766 shares of the medical research company’s stock after acquiring an additional 235 shares during the period. Mystic Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Agilent Technologies were worth $324,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 7,479 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $1,025,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the period. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,449 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $403,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the period. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP boosted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 15.2% during the 1st quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 873 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $102,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the period. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,406 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $281,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the period. Finally, Brighton Jones LLC boosted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 4,784 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $560,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares during the period.

Agilent Technologies Stock Down 2.1%

Shares of NYSE A opened at $113.97 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.60, a current ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Agilent Technologies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $96.43 and a 52 week high of $153.84. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $116.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $122.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 1.23.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 28th. The medical research company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.05. Agilent Technologies had a net margin of 17.59% and a return on equity of 25.92%. The firm had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.63 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.22 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Agilent Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be paid a $0.248 dividend. This represents a $0.99 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.87%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 1st. Agilent Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.44%.

Insider Activity at Agilent Technologies

In other Agilent Technologies news, CEO Padraig Mcdonnell sold 1,508 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.44, for a total transaction of $177,099.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 37,448 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,397,893.12. This trade represents a 3.87% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on A. Leerink Partners increased their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies to $135.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 30th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $135.00 to $116.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 21st. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Agilent Technologies to $150.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 29th. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of Agilent Technologies from $159.00 to $140.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of Agilent Technologies from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Agilent Technologies presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $139.77.

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.