Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS) Hits New 1-Year High – Should You Buy?

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $186.20 and last traded at $185.18, with a volume of 923854 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $184.69.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Keysight Technologies from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $170.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Susquehanna restated a “positive” rating and issued a $185.00 price target on shares of Keysight Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Keysight Technologies from $165.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Keysight Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Keysight Technologies from $163.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $182.22.

Keysight Technologies Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 2.98 and a quick ratio of 2.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.32 billion, a PE ratio of 50.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 1.02. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $169.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $159.71.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Lisa M. Poole sold 350 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.79, for a total value of $60,126.50. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 4,820 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $828,027.80. This represents a 6.77 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Mark Adam Wallace sold 6,000 shares of Keysight Technologies stock in a transaction on Monday, December 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.79, for a total value of $970,740.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 85,829 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,886,273.91. This trade represents a 6.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 33,063 shares of company stock worth $5,573,941 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.61% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Keysight Technologies

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in KEYS. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new position in Keysight Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. Erste Asset Management GmbH purchased a new position in Keysight Technologies during the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Goodman Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in Keysight Technologies in the third quarter worth approximately $35,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Keysight Technologies by 100.8% during the fourth quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 265 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the period. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. boosted its position in Keysight Technologies by 241.8% during the 4th quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 270 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.58% of the company’s stock.

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.