Traders Buy High Volume of Call Options on Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS)

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS – Get Your Free Report ) saw some unusual options trading activity on Wednesday. Investors in the stock purchased 2,246 call options on the company. This represents an increase of about 150% from the average volume of 897 call options.

Keysight Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of Keysight Technologies stock traded up $15.44 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $154.01. The stock had a trading volume of 908,913 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,232,221. The company has a quick ratio of 1.48, a current ratio of 1.99, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $135.32, and its two-hundred-day moving average is $145.34. Keysight Technologies has a 1 year low of $118.57 and a 1 year high of $162.51. The stock has a market cap of $26.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.58 and a beta of 0.95.

Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS – Get Your Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.22. Keysight Technologies had a net margin of 15.70% and a return on equity of 23.79%. The firm had revenue of $1.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.19 billion. In the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.04 per share. The company’s revenue fell 11.9% year over year. As a group, analysts predict that Keysight Technologies will post 5.25 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Keysight Technologies

In other news, Director Kevin A. Stephens bought 460 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $143.35 per share, with a total value of $65,941.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 7,681 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,101,071.35. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC’s website. In related news, Director Kevin A. Stephens purchased 460 shares of Keysight Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 28th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $143.35 per share, for a total transaction of $65,941.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 7,681 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,101,071.35. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Lisa M. Poole sold 440 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 directly owns 3,913 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $533,928.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.60% of the company’s shares.

Hedge funds leverage Keysight Technologies

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in KEYS. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Keysight Technologies by 339.9% during the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 67,613 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock, valued at $10,757,000, after which bought an additional 52,244 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC raised its position in Keysight Technologies by 167.9% in the fourth quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 4,855 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $772,000 after purchasing an additional 3,043 shares during the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust boosted its stake in Keysight Technologies by 20.4% in the 4th quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 4,048 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $644,000 after acquiring an additional 686 shares in the last quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Keysight Technologies by 40.0% in the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 1,183 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $188,000 after purchasing an additional 338 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Handelsbanken Fonder AB boosted its position in shares of Keysight Technologies by 71.9% during the 4th quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 89,079 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock, valued at $14,172,000. after acquiring an additional 37,270 shares in the last quarter. 84.58% of the shares are currently held by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts set new price targets

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Keysight Technologies from $167.00 to $160.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Susquehanna cut their price target on shares of Keysight Technologies from $195.00 to $185.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Vertical Research initiated coverage on shares of Keysight Technologies in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. They set a “buy” rating and a $175.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $180.00 target price on shares of Keysight Technologies in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on Keysight Technologies from $141.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $165.30, according to data from MarketBeat.

Check out the latest stock report on Keysight Technologies

Keysight Technologies Company Profile

(Get a free report)

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

Recommended articles

Get daily news and reviews for Keysight Technologies – Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts’ ratings for Keysight Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com’s FREE daily email newsletter.