Short Interest in Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) Decreases By 10.4%

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) was the target of a large drop in short interest during the month of August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totalling 4,040,000 shares, a drop of 10.4% from the August 15th total of 4,510,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,930,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.1 days. Approximately 1.4% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Agilent Technologies Price Performance

Shares of Agilent Technologies stock traded down $3.24 on Monday, hitting $112.67. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,817,922 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,780,349. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a current ratio of 2.29. Agilent Technologies has a 1 year low of $109.00 and a 1 year high of $160.26. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $121.61 and a 200-day moving average price of $126.47. The company has a market capitalization of $32.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.03.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 15th. The medical research company reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.36 by $0.07. Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 29.86% and a net margin of 16.20%. The company had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.66 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.34 EPS. Agilent Technologies’s quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Agilent Technologies will post 5.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. 58.com reiterated a “maintains” rating on shares of Agilent Technologies in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on Agilent Technologies from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on Agilent Technologies from $150.00 to $146.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. Evercore ISI cut their price target on Agilent Technologies from $124.00 to $120.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. Finally, Bank of America cut their price target on Agilent Technologies from $164.00 to $144.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $148.12.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Rodney Gonsalves sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.78, for a total transaction of $415,730.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 24,219 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,876,732.82. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, VP Rodney Gonsalves sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.78, for a total transaction of $415,730.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 24,219 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,876,732.82. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Michael R. Mcmullen sold 944 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $122,720.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 260,869 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $33,912,970. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Agilent Technologies

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Agilent Technologies in the first quarter valued at approximately $2,108,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp acquired a new position in Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Delta Asset Management LLC TN acquired a new position in Agilent Technologies in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Hollencrest Capital Management lifted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 562.5% during the second quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 212 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ancora Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Agilent Technologies during the fourth quarter worth $34,000.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies, Inc provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. 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; vacuum pumps, and measurement technologies.