Stock Traders Purchase High Volume of Keysight Technologies Call Options (NYSE:KEYS)

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS) saw some unusual options trading activity on Wednesday. Investors bought 2,193 call options on the stock. This is an increase of 216% compared to the average volume of 695 call options.

Keysight Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of KEYS stock opened at $169.99 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $29.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.57, a PEG ratio of 4.46 and a beta of 0.98. Keysight Technologies has a 52-week low of $119.72 and a 52-week high of $170.52. 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’s 50 day moving average is $155.72 and its 200 day moving average is $146.10.

Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.57 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.22. Keysight Technologies had a net margin of 12.32% and a return on equity of 19.34%. The business had revenue of $1.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.19 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.04 EPS. The company’s revenue was down 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Keysight Technologies will post 6.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

KEYS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com raised Keysight Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Susquehanna reaffirmed a “positive” rating and set a $185.00 price target on shares of Keysight Technologies in a report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $180.00 price target on shares of Keysight Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, August 21st. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Keysight Technologies from $163.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Keysight Technologies from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $177.30.

Institutional Trading of Keysight Technologies

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Swedbank AB lifted its holdings in shares of Keysight Technologies by 3.8% in the 2nd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 4,128,892 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $564,626,000 after buying an additional 151,446 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Keysight Technologies by 8.7% in the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 176,966 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $28,125,000 after acquiring an additional 14,185 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its position in Keysight Technologies by 72.6% in the 3rd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 16,895 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $2,685,000 after purchasing an additional 7,106 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Sarl acquired a new stake in shares of Keysight Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $2,434,000. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its holdings in shares of Keysight Technologies by 172.6% during the 1st quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 41,977 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $6,565,000 after purchasing an additional 26,577 shares in the last quarter. 84.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Keysight Technologies Company Profile

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.