Kentucky Retirement Systems Lowers Stock Position in Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS)

Kentucky Retirement Systems lessened its holdings in Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS) by 6.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,265 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 943 shares during the quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems’ holdings in Keysight Technologies were worth $2,074,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Keysight Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Keysight Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Keysight Technologies by 145.9% during the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 268 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares in the last quarter. EdgeRock Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Keysight Technologies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $46,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Keysight Technologies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.58% of the company’s stock.

Keysight Technologies Trading Down 0.7 %

KEYS traded down $0.91 during trading on Monday, hitting $137.49. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 115,485 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,188,094. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $139.14 and its 200-day moving average price is $148.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 1.99 and a quick ratio of 1.48. The stock has a market cap of $24.00 billion, a PE ratio of 30.16, a PEG ratio of 4.78 and a beta of 0.95. Keysight Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $118.57 and a twelve month high of $162.63.

Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.23 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.20 billion. Keysight Technologies had a return on equity of 23.79% and a net margin of 15.70%. On average, analysts expect that Keysight Technologies, Inc. will post 5.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Keysight Technologies

In other news, Director Kevin A. Stephens acquired 460 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 28th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $143.35 per share, for a total transaction of $65,941.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 7,681 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,101,071.35. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Kevin A. Stephens acquired 460 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 28th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $143.35 per share, for a total transaction of $65,941.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 7,681 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,101,071.35. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Lisa M. Poole sold 440 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.45, for a total value of $60,038.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 3,913 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $533,928.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently commented on KEYS. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Keysight Technologies from $155.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 21st. Vertical Research started coverage on Keysight Technologies in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. They set a “buy” rating and a $175.00 price objective for the company. Susquehanna cut their price objective on Keysight Technologies from $208.00 to $195.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 21st. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Keysight Technologies from $141.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $167.20.

About Keysight Technologies

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.