Bernstein Raises Rating on Agilent Technologies to Buy
Bernstein has given Agilent Technologies a new buy rating with a $155 price target, a 16.50% upside from the current price.
Key Points
- On June 26, 2026, Bernstein reinstated its rating on Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) to buy with a $155 price target.
- Bernstein's $155 price target implies 16.50% upside from Agilent Technologies, Inc.'s ($A) current $133.04 share price.
- Shares of Agilent Technologies traded near $137.58 on Friday, with a market cap of $38.27 billion and a P/E ratio of 27.16.
- Insiders at Agilent Technologies have been active, with multiple recent transactions including CEO Padraig McDonnell selling 418 shares.
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Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) got a boost from Bernstein on June 26, 2026, when the firm reinstated its rating to buy. Analyst Eve Burstein set a price target of $155, highlighting a positive outlook for the company.
Bernstein vs. the S&P 500
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What Changed in Bernstein's Agilent Technologies Position
Bernstein's latest move reinstates Agilent Technologies with a buy rating, suggesting confidence in the company's future performance. The new price target of $155 reflects optimism about Agilent's market position and growth potential.
Other Institutional Activity in Agilent Technologies
Several major funds have adjusted their positions in Agilent Technologies. BlackRock, Inc. increased its holdings by 33,738 shares, resulting in a total of 25,902,662 shares valued at approximately $2.95 billion. Vanguard Capital Management LLC and Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC both opened new positions, acquiring 18,381,030 and 14,352,682 shares, respectively. State Street Corp added 82,840 shares, bringing its total to 12,764,632 shares worth about $1.46 billion. Meanwhile, Massachusetts Financial Services Co /MA/ reduced its stake by 1,523,511 shares, now holding 12,624,090 shares valued at $1.47 billion.
Agilent Technologies, Inc. Stock Down 13.5%
Shares of Agilent Technologies traded near $137.58 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $38.27 billion and a P/E ratio of 27.16. Its forward P/E is 20.49, and the stock shows a beta of 1.256. Agilent's 52-week range spans from $108.35 to $160.27, with a 50-day moving average of $122.18 and a 200-day moving average of $130.49. The company maintains a current ratio of 2.099 and a quick ratio of 1.457, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.733.
$A price target
Past daily closes and this analyst's 12-month price target. Not investment advice.
Recent Earnings
Agilent Technologies reported revenue of $7.23 billion, showing a 0.1% growth. The company achieved an EPS of $4.99 and a net margin of 19.55%. With a return on equity of 21.33%, Agilent is set to announce its next earnings on August 26, 2026.
Earnings drift grade
Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.
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Forward outlook
5 target cuts vs 1 raises.
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EPS & revenue
EPS beat estimates by 3.8%. Revenue met estimates.
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Profit surprise
EBITDA missed by 4 percent. Operating income missed by 7 percent.
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Pre-earnings setup
Bar was high, analysts already very bullish.
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Analyst signal
1 upgrade, 1 target raise, 5 target cuts.
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Earnings quality
Gross margin up 3.1 points. Operating margin up 3.8 points. Positive free cash flow.
Earnings Call Summary
Agilent delivered a strong second quarter with $1.83 billion in revenue, up 6.3 percent core growth and beating guidance by 80 basis points. Earnings per share came in at $1.49, beating expectations by 7 cents and growing 14 percent year over year. Operating margin expanded 130 basis points to 26.4 percent, well ahead of guidance. The company is seeing robust momentum across its instrument business with double digit growth in LC LCMS and GC driven by replacement cycles and share gains. Diagnostics grew 11 percent led by the Omnis family and cancer offerings. Strategic pricing delivered over 200 basis points of contribution, exceeding the annual target of 100 basis points at midyear. Management credited the Ignite operating system for driving execution excellence and structural improvements.
Guidance Management raised full year revenue and earnings guidance. The company now expects $7.39 to $7.49 billion in annual revenue with core growth of 4.5 to 6.0 percent, up 30 basis points from prior guidance. Earnings per share guidance increased to $6.00 to $6.10, up 8 cents at the midpoint. For the third quarter, they forecast $1.83 to $1.85 billion in revenue with EPS of $1.48 to $1.50.
Clearly negative report. The company missed important expectations and likely triggers downward revisions.
Dividend
Agilent Technologies offers an annual dividend rate of $1.02, yielding 0.75%. The dividend payout ratio stands at 20.2%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Agilent Technologies, Inc.
Insider activity at Agilent Technologies includes several transactions. On June 3, 2026, CEO Padraig McDonnell sold 418 shares at an average price of $137.40. Earlier, on May 29, 2026, Mikael Dolsten sold 1,600 shares at $135.42. Michael Steven Buckner, a Senior Vice President, bought 8,872 shares on May 19, 2026. Simon May, another Senior Vice President, sold 368 shares on May 8, 2026, at $115.62.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
On June 26, 2026, Bernstein reinstated its buy rating for Agilent Technologies with a $155 price target. Earlier, on June 11, 2026, Piper Sandler initiated coverage with a hold rating and a $150 target. HSBC maintained a buy rating on June 3, 2026, with a target of $165. The consensus among analysts is a buy rating, with an average target price of $160.65 based on 17 opinions.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies, Inc. is a leading company in the healthcare sector, specializing in diagnostics and research. Based in Santa Clara, California, Agilent provides solutions for life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. The company operates through segments such as Life Sciences and Diagnostics Markets, Agilent CrossLab, and Applied Markets, offering a range of products and services in chromatography, mass spectrometry, software, and laboratory management. Led by CEO Mr. Padraig McDonnell, Agilent employs around 18,000 people worldwide.
Bottom Line
Bernstein's reinstatement of a buy rating for Agilent Technologies reflects confidence in the company's potential. Investors closely watch analyst ratings as they provide insights into future performance. Remember, these ratings are based on past data and projections, and actual outcomes may vary.
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