Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS) Short Interest Up 48.1% in October

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of October. As of October 31st, there was short interest totalling 3,110,000 shares, an increase of 48.1% from the October 15th total of 2,100,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,060,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.9 days. Currently, 1.8% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on KEYS shares. Vertical Research initiated coverage on shares of Keysight Technologies in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. They set a “buy” rating and a $175.00 price objective for the company. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Keysight Technologies from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Keysight Technologies from $155.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Keysight Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $180.00 price objective on shares of Keysight Technologies in a report on Wednesday, August 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $170.89.

Insider Buying and Selling at Keysight Technologies

In related news, Director Richard P. Hamada sold 1,632 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.00, for a total transaction of $254,592.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 42,160 shares in the company, valued at $6,576,960. The trade was a 3.73 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of KEYS. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Keysight Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Keysight Technologies during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Erste Asset Management GmbH purchased a new position in shares of Keysight Technologies during the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. Family Firm Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Keysight Technologies during the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, American National Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Keysight Technologies in the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 84.58% of the company’s stock.

Keysight Technologies Stock Down 2.8 %

Shares of Keysight Technologies stock traded down $4.31 on Friday, reaching $149.37. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,282,196 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,174,195. Keysight Technologies has a 52 week low of $119.72 and a 52 week high of $166.28. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $155.17 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $145.92. The company has a quick ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The company has a market capitalization of $25.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.73, a P/E/G ratio of 4.65 and a beta of 0.98.

Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $1.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.19 billion. Keysight Technologies had a net margin of 18.24% and a return on equity of 21.01%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.04 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Keysight Technologies will post 5.43 earnings per share for the current year.

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.