Wells Fargo has recently initiated Agilent Technologies Inc (A) stock to Overweight rating, as announced on August 28, 2024, according to Finviz. Earlier, on July 10, 2024, Citigroup had raised the stock from a Neutral to Buy, setting a price target of $150 for A stock. Wolfe Research also reduced Peer Perform rating. Additionally, Jefferies resumed Hold rating on June 3, 2024, with a target price of $135. Stifel analysts, in their report published on April 5, 2024, also raised Buy rating and set a price target of $145 for Agilent Technologies Inc’s stock. Analyst ratings are significant because they provide insights into stock performance expectations, influencing investor decisions and market sentiment.
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Agilent Technologies Inc (A) Stock Trading Recap
On Monday, Agilent Technologies Inc (A) stock saw a decline, ending the day at $133.86 which represents a decrease of $-2.82 or -2.06% from the prior close of $136.68. The stock opened at $137.2 and touched a low of $133.2 during the day, reaching a high of $137.46. The volume of shares traded was 5.28 million exceeding the average volume of 1.48 million.
A Stock Performance and Moving Averages
In recent trading, Agilent Technologies Inc (A) stock price has shown some volatility, fluctuating -4.15% over the last five trades and -6.93% over the past 30 trades. This represents a notable shift from earlier in the year. Over the last six months, the stock has risen by -9.41%, and it has plunged by -2.59% in the previous three months. Currently, A is trading at -1.34%, -3.89%, and -3.44% relative to its 20-Day, 50-Day, and 200-Day Simple Moving Averages, respectively.
As of the latest trading close, A, a Healthcare sector stock, is trading -13.83% below its 52-week high but remains 28.60% above its 52-week low. The Average True Range (ATR) (14 days) of 3.68 highlights the stock’s average volatility, providing insight into how much the price typically fluctuates. This measure is crucial for understanding potential price swings and assessing overall market risk.
Agilent Technologies Inc’s Profitability and Valuation Ratios
Agilent Technologies Inc’s profitability metrics reveal strong financial health. The company currently boasts an operating margin of 24.49% and a profit margin of 21.75%, with a gross margin of -9.41%. The profit margin, also known as the revenue ratio or gross profit ratio, measures how efficiently a company converts sales into net income; higher margins indicate greater profitability.
In terms of valuation, Agilent Technologies Inc’s market capitalization stands at $37.65 billion. Market cap represents the total value of all outstanding shares and is a key indicator of a company’s market value. The stock’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 27.74, assessing the company’s valuation relative to its earnings. The forward P/E ratio, which uses projected earnings for the next financial year, is 23.71. Additionally, the Price-to-Sales Ratio is 5.79, reflecting the market’s valuation of the company’s sales, while the Price-to-Book Ratio is 6.52, comparing the market value to the company’s book value.
Understanding Insider Trading
Investors often prefer to invest in shares held by company insiders, as management is typically more aligned with the company’s success and shareholder interests. Currently, insiders own just 0.40% of Agilent Technologies Inc (A)’s shares, while financial institutions hold 91.43%.
Notable insider trades include Grau Dominique, Senior Vice President at Agilent Technologies Inc (A), who sold 9990 shares on Sep 26 ’24, at $145 each, totaling $1.45 million. On Sep 26 ’24, Grau Dominique, Senior Vice President, sold 5010 shares for $145 each, amounting to $0.73 million. Additionally, on Aug 22 ’24, MCDONNELL PADRAIG sold 1958 shares at $145 each, generating $0.28 million.
