Its outlook is still bright

Article Excerpt

AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. $124 is a buy. The company (New York symbol A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 292.1 million; Market cap: $36.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 5.3; Dividend yield: 0.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.agilent.com) makes specialized testing equipment for medical research laboratories and industrial clients. In its fiscal 2023 fourth quarter, ended October 31, 2023, revenue fell 8.7%, to $1.69 billion from $1.85 billion a year earlier. That drop is mainly due to 31% lower sales in China, as that country’s economic growth has slowed. However, demand for equipment that can detect polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water remains strong. Those chemicals may impact the immune system. Earnings also declined 11.4%, to $404 million from $456 million. Due to fewer shares outstanding, per-share earnings fell at a slower rate of 9.8%, to $1.38 from $1.53. Agilent now expects its earnings for fiscal 2024 will rise about 1% to $5.50 a share. The stock trades at 22.5 times that estimate, which is a reasonable P/E…