Stifel maintains Agilent stock Buy rating, $151 target

Published 29/05/2025, 14:42
Stifel maintains Agilent stock Buy rating, $151 target

On Thursday, Stifel analysts reiterated their Buy rating and $151.00 price target for Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) following the company’s fiscal second-quarter earnings report. Agilent demonstrated a robust quarter with organic growth and earnings per share (EPS) surpassing expectations, propelled by strong demand trends. InvestingPro data shows the company maintains strong financial health with a current ratio of 2.2x and moderate debt levels. Despite some advances in orders within the Agilent CrossLab Group (ACG) that positively influenced the quarter’s results, these were balanced out by customs delays, leading to an unchanged organic growth outlook for the third quarter.

Notably, the company’s Nasdaq-listed shares are anticipated to climb today after the announcement. Trading at $115.50, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is slightly undervalued, with analyst targets ranging from $113.20 to $165.00. Agilent’s Nasdaq Stock Market Division (NASD) showcased a high single-digit increase, which is particularly significant given the prior concerns about volatility in the biopharmaceutical sector. However, the current trend suggests the NASD business is on track for double-digit growth throughout the year.

Management’s forecast for 2025 remains consistent, bolstered by confidence in revenue growth and the ability to mitigate the effects of tariffs. This stability in outlook supports the company’s valuation and trajectory, despite Agilent facing challenges in becoming the leading name in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and biopharma-focused instrumentation.

Agilent’s second-quarter performance, coupled with management’s steady vision for the future, underpins Stifel’s positive stance on the stock. The firm believes Agilent is well-positioned in the market, with a valuation and growth path that should contribute to its stock’s upward movement.

In other recent news, Agilent Technologies reported a stronger-than-expected second quarter for 2025, with earnings per share (EPS) of $1.31, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.27. Revenue reached $1.67 billion, exceeding the anticipated $1.63 billion. Analysts from JPMorgan noted that Agilent’s revenue and EPS surpassed both the Street’s expectations and the company’s own guidance, leading to a revised price target of $155. Leerink Partners also adjusted their outlook, raising Agilent’s stock price target to $135, citing robust growth across its core business lines. Jefferies raised their price target to $120 while maintaining a Hold rating, acknowledging Agilent’s modest revenue beat and 4% EPS upside.

Agilent’s performance was highlighted by strong growth in its PFAS-related business, which saw a 75% increase, and a 10% year-over-year revenue growth in China. The company maintained its full-year EPS guidance of $5.54 to $5.61 and projected core revenue growth of 2.5% to 3.5% for the year. Agilent’s Ignite framework, aimed at reducing the impact of tariffs, is also gaining traction, contributing to cost savings and pricing benefits. The company anticipates mitigating tariff impacts by 2026 and sees potential upside from China stimulus in the fourth quarter. These developments reflect Agilent’s ability to capitalize on market opportunities and manage operational efficiencies effectively.

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