Argent Trust Co Increases Stock Holdings in Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS)

Argent Trust Co grew its stake in Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS) by 8.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,515 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the period. Argent Trust Co’s holdings in Keysight Technologies were worth $207,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of KEYS. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Keysight Technologies during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Keysight Technologies during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Family Firm Inc. purchased a new position in Keysight Technologies during the second quarter worth about $30,000. Larson Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Keysight Technologies in the first quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC boosted its holdings in Keysight Technologies by 262.9% in the 2nd quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 254 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 184 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.58% of the company’s stock.

Keysight Technologies Stock Performance

NYSE:KEYS opened at $152.42 on Friday. Keysight Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $118.57 and a twelve month high of $162.51. The company has a market capitalization of $26.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.03 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a current ratio of 2.05, a quick ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $141.83 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $144.89.

Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.22. The business had revenue of $1.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.19 billion. Keysight Technologies had a net margin of 18.24% and a return on equity of 21.01%. The company’s revenue was down 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.04 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Keysight Technologies, Inc. will post 5.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

KEYS has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Keysight Technologies from $167.00 to $160.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 19th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $180.00 target price on shares of Keysight Technologies in a report on Wednesday, August 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Keysight Technologies from $155.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Keysight Technologies from $163.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, August 26th. Finally, Vertical Research began coverage on shares of Keysight Technologies in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. They set a “buy” rating and a $175.00 price objective on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Keysight Technologies currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $167.67.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Richard P. Hamada sold 1,632 shares of Keysight Technologies stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.00, for a total transaction of $254,592.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 42,160 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,576,960. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.60% of the company’s stock.

Keysight Technologies Profile

Keysight Technologies, Inc provides electronic design and test solutions to commercial communications, networking, aerospace, defense and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, electronic, and education industries in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Communications Solutions Group and Electronic Industrial Solutions Group.