Agilent shares rise 19% after Q2 beat; Bank of America upgrades to Buy
A•Shares jumped 19% after Q2 results delivered 6.3% core revenue growth above guidance, 80 bps operating margin beat and adjusted EPS topping estimates by $0.08. Bank of America upgraded to Buy, highlighting high-single-digit growth in LC/LC-MS and GC, 8% growth in CAM and market share gains.
1. Q2 Results Highlights
Agilent Technologies reported 6.3% core revenue growth for Q2, exceeding the high end of its guidance, and delivered an 80 basis-point operating margin beat alongside an $0.08 per-share adjusted earnings surprise, driving a 19% stock rally.
2. Strength Across Key Segments
The instruments business achieved high-single-digit growth led by LC/LC-MS and GC replacement cycles, while the Chemicals and Advanced Materials segment posted 8% core growth driven by semiconductor spectroscopy and high-purity chemicals workflows.
3. Bank of America Upgrade and Outlook
Bank of America upgraded Agilent to Buy from Neutral with a $145 price objective, citing innovation-led competitive wins, durable GC and LC demand, and raised the full-year outlook, noting the revenue and margin targets remain achievable despite tougher second-half comparisons.
