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Agilent's (A) Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Up Y/Y
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Agilent Technologies (A - Free Report) reported first-quarter fiscal 2021 earnings of $1.06 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 17 cents. Further, the bottom line improved 30.9% year over year and 8.2% sequentially.
Revenues of $1.55 billion were up 14% on a reported basis and 11% on a core basis.
Also, the top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.43 billion.
This was driven by strong growth across all regions served and the three businesses.
We note that region wise, Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe accounted for 36%, 36%, and 28% of revenues, respectively, for the reported quarter.
By type, 56% of revenues were generated from Consumer Services Informatics. Instruments accounted for the remaining 44% of revenues.
In terms of major markets, Analytical Laboratory generated 86% of fiscal first-quarter revenues. Dx & Clinical accounted for the remaining 14%.
Agilent Technologies, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Agilent has three reporting segments — Life Sciences & Applied Markets Group (LSAG), Agilent Cross Lab Group (ACG), and Diagnostics and Genomics Group (DGG).
For the reported quarter, LSAG was the largest contributor to total revenues. The segment accounted for $722 million or 47% of its total revenues, up 13% year over year. This was driven by improving conditions across geographies, led by growth in Food and Pharma. Also, strength in Cell Analysis, Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry platforms aided the results.
Revenues from ACG were $532 million, accounting for 34% of total revenues. Also, the top line improved 13% year over year, driven by improving lab operating environment. Also, growth was broad across major markets and regions served.
DGG revenues increased 18% year over year to $294 million, accounting for the remaining 19% of total revenues. The segment was driven by strong Pharma market, including continued strong NASD ramp.
Operating Results
For the fiscal first quarter, LSAG gross margin expanded 30 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis to 60.5% due to higher volumes.
DGG gross margin contracted 10 bps on a year-over-year basis to 51.6%. Also, ACG gross margin contracted 10 bps to 51.7%.
Research & development costs were $103 million, down up 0.96% year over year, while selling, general & administrative expenses were $407 million, up 0.74% year over year.
Operating margin for the fiscal first quarter was 21.2%, up 540 bps on a year-over-year basis.
Segment wise, operating margin for the LSAG segment expanded 280 bps year over year to 27.6%. DGG segment operating margin expanded 510 bps on a year-over-year basis to 18.6%. ACG operating margin was 26.7%, which expanded 130 bps from the year-ago quarter.
Balance Sheet
As of Jan 31, 2021, Agilent’s cash and cash equivalents were $1.33 billion, down from $1.44 billion in the prior quarter.
Accounts receivables were $1.09 billion at fiscal first quarter-end, up from $1.04 billion at fiscal fourth quarter-end.
Further, total debt (short + long term) was $2.5 billion for the reported quarter compared with $2.4 billion in the prior quarter.
Outlook
Agilent provided its guidance for the fiscal second quarter and 2021.
For the fiscal second quarter, the company expects revenues in the range of $1.37-$1.39 billion, indicating core growth of 7-9% year over year. Earnings per share are expected in the range of 78-80 cents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues and earnings per share is pegged at $1.36 billion and 85 cents, respectively.
For fiscal 2021, Agilent increased its revenue guidance to $5.825-$5.900 billion versus previous expectation of $5.6-$5.7 billion. The guidance indicates core growth of 6.5-8% from a year ago.
Non-GAAP earnings are now projected in the range of $3.80-$3.90 per share versus its previous guided range of $3.57-$3.67.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $3.68 per share and the same for revenues is $5.71 billion.
Long-term earnings growth for Semtech, KLA Corp., and Garmin is currently projected at 12.5%, 11.6%, and 6.8%, respectively.
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Agilent's (A) Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Up Y/Y
Agilent Technologies (A - Free Report) reported first-quarter fiscal 2021 earnings of $1.06 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 17 cents. Further, the bottom line improved 30.9% year over year and 8.2% sequentially.
Revenues of $1.55 billion were up 14% on a reported basis and 11% on a core basis.
Also, the top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.43 billion.
This was driven by strong growth across all regions served and the three businesses.
We note that region wise, Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe accounted for 36%, 36%, and 28% of revenues, respectively, for the reported quarter.
By type, 56% of revenues were generated from Consumer Services Informatics. Instruments accounted for the remaining 44% of revenues.
In terms of major markets, Analytical Laboratory generated 86% of fiscal first-quarter revenues. Dx & Clinical accounted for the remaining 14%.
Agilent Technologies, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Agilent Technologies, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Agilent Technologies, Inc. Quote
Segment Top-Line Details
Agilent has three reporting segments — Life Sciences & Applied Markets Group (LSAG), Agilent Cross Lab Group (ACG), and Diagnostics and Genomics Group (DGG).
For the reported quarter, LSAG was the largest contributor to total revenues. The segment accounted for $722 million or 47% of its total revenues, up 13% year over year. This was driven by improving conditions across geographies, led by growth in Food and Pharma. Also, strength in Cell Analysis, Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry platforms aided the results.
Revenues from ACG were $532 million, accounting for 34% of total revenues. Also, the top line improved 13% year over year, driven by improving lab operating environment. Also, growth was broad across major markets and regions served.
DGG revenues increased 18% year over year to $294 million, accounting for the remaining 19% of total revenues. The segment was driven by strong Pharma market, including continued strong NASD ramp.
Operating Results
For the fiscal first quarter, LSAG gross margin expanded 30 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis to 60.5% due to higher volumes.
DGG gross margin contracted 10 bps on a year-over-year basis to 51.6%. Also, ACG gross margin contracted 10 bps to 51.7%.
Research & development costs were $103 million, down up 0.96% year over year, while selling, general & administrative expenses were $407 million, up 0.74% year over year.
Operating margin for the fiscal first quarter was 21.2%, up 540 bps on a year-over-year basis.
Segment wise, operating margin for the LSAG segment expanded 280 bps year over year to 27.6%. DGG segment operating margin expanded 510 bps on a year-over-year basis to 18.6%. ACG operating margin was 26.7%, which expanded 130 bps from the year-ago quarter.
Balance Sheet
As of Jan 31, 2021, Agilent’s cash and cash equivalents were $1.33 billion, down from $1.44 billion in the prior quarter.
Accounts receivables were $1.09 billion at fiscal first quarter-end, up from $1.04 billion at fiscal fourth quarter-end.
Further, total debt (short + long term) was $2.5 billion for the reported quarter compared with $2.4 billion in the prior quarter.
Outlook
Agilent provided its guidance for the fiscal second quarter and 2021.
For the fiscal second quarter, the company expects revenues in the range of $1.37-$1.39 billion, indicating core growth of 7-9% year over year. Earnings per share are expected in the range of 78-80 cents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues and earnings per share is pegged at $1.36 billion and 85 cents, respectively.
For fiscal 2021, Agilent increased its revenue guidance to $5.825-$5.900 billion versus previous expectation of $5.6-$5.7 billion. The guidance indicates core growth of 6.5-8% from a year ago.
Non-GAAP earnings are now projected in the range of $3.80-$3.90 per share versus its previous guided range of $3.57-$3.67.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $3.68 per share and the same for revenues is $5.71 billion.
Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks
Agilent currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other top-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector include Semtech Corporation (SMTC - Free Report) , KLA Corporation (KLAC - Free Report) and Garmin Ltd. (GRMN - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Long-term earnings growth for Semtech, KLA Corp., and Garmin is currently projected at 12.5%, 11.6%, and 6.8%, respectively.
Legal Marijuana: An Investor’s Dream
Imagine getting in early on a young industry primed to skyrocket from $17.7 billion in 2019 to an expected $73.6 billion by 2027.
Although marijuana stocks did better as the pandemic took hold than the market as a whole, they’ve been pushed down. This is exactly the right time to get in on selected strong companies at a fraction of their value before COVID struck. Zacks’ Special Report, Marijuana Moneymakers, reveals 10 exciting tickers for urgent consideration.
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