Agilent Technologies Reports First-Quarter Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Results

On February 20, 2019 Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A) reported revenue of $1.28 billion for the first quarter ended January 31, 2019, up 6 percent year over year (up 6 percent on a core basis(1)) (Press release, Agilent, FEB 20, 2019, https://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2019/20feb-gp19006.html [SID1234533539]).

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On a GAAP basis, first-quarter net income was $504 million or $1.57 per share, which included a discrete tax benefit of $299 million. This is compared to last year’s first-quarter net loss of $320 million or $0.99 net loss per share, which included a tax charge of $533 million related to U.S. Tax Reform legislation.

"We are pleased to start the year with a strong performance driving excellent revenue and EPS growth and exceeding our guidance," said Mike McMullen, Agilent president and CEO. "The Agilent team is delivering on our commitment to drive superior revenue and earnings growth."

"Our Agilent team continues to do a great job addressing customer needs across our business groups," continued McMullen. "We kicked off 2019 strengthening our best-in-class portfolio bringing new solutions and services to our customers to help them gain new insights and achieve greater productivity in their labs."

Financial Highlights

Life Sciences and Applied Markets Group

First-quarter revenue of $607 million from Agilent’s Life Sciences and Applied Markets Group (LSAG) grew 2 percent year over year (up 1 percent on a core basis(1)). Demand in the pharma, environmental and forensics markets led the results. LSAG’s operating margin for the quarter was 26.1 percent.

Agilent CrossLab Group

First-quarter revenue of $442 million from Agilent CrossLab Group (ACG) grew 8 percent year over year (up 10 percent on a core basis(1)). Growth was excellent across services and consumables, regions and end-markets. ACG’s operating margin for the quarter was 23.9 percent.

Diagnostics and Genomics Group

First-quarter revenue of $235 million from Agilent’s Diagnostics and Genomics Group (DGG) grew 13 percent year over year (up 12 percent on a core basis(1)). Strength in the pharma and clinical and diagnostics end-markets led an excellent performance. DGG’s operating margin for the quarter was 14.0 percent.

Second-Quarter and Full-Year Outlook

Agilent expects second-quarter 2019 revenue in the range of $1.255 billion to $1.270 billion. Second-quarter 2019 non-GAAP earnings are expected to be in the range of $0.70 to $0.72 per share(3).

For fiscal year 2019, the company is raising full-year revenue guidance to a range of $5.15 billion to $5.19 billion and non-GAAP earnings guidance to a range of $3.03 to $3.07 per share(3).

Conference Call

Agilent’s management will present more details about its first-quarter fiscal year 2019 financial results on a conference call with investors today at 1:30 p.m. (Pacific Time). This event will be webcast live in listen-only mode. Listeners may log on at www.investor.agilent.com and select "Q1 2019 Agilent Technologies Inc. Earnings Conference Call" in the "News & Events — Calendar of Events" section. The webcast will remain available on the company’s website for 90 days.

Additional information regarding financial results can be found at www.investor.agilent.com by selecting "Financial Results" in the "Financial Information" section.

A telephone replay of the conference call will be available at approximately February 20, 2019 at 4:30 PM (Pacific Time) after the call and through February 27 by dialing +1 855-859-2056 (or +1 404-537-3406 from outside the United States) and entering pass code 6738126.