Agilent Technologies Inc. - A STOCK NEWS

Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) has received Class C companion diagnostic In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) certification for its PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx assay in Europe. The assay, which works exclusively with Agilent's Autostainer Link 48 staining solution, helps identify PD-L1 expression, a important biomarker for response to anti-PD-1 antibody therapies like OPDIVO® and OpdualagTM.

The certification covers nine cancer indications, including five companion diagnostic indications: non-small cell lung cancer, muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma, melanoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and gastric/gastroesophageal junction/esophageal adenocarcinoma. This certification ensures continued uninterrupted access for EU laboratories using Agilent's diagnostic products.

Agilent Technologies reported Q4 FY2024 results with revenue of $1.70 billion, up 0.8% reported but down 0.3% core year-over-year. Q4 GAAP EPS was $1.22, down 25%, while non-GAAP EPS reached $1.46, up 6%. For full FY2024, revenue declined 4.7% to $6.51 billion, with GAAP EPS of $4.43 (up 6%) and non-GAAP EPS of $5.29 (down 3%). The company projects FY2025 revenue between $6.79-6.87 billion, representing 4.3-5.5% growth, with non-GAAP EPS guidance of $5.54-5.61. Agilent also announced a new organizational structure aimed at becoming more customer-centric.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) announced a major organizational restructuring to enhance market focus and customer centricity. The company introduced three new business groups: Life Sciences and Diagnostics Markets Group (LDG) representing 38% of revenue, Applied Markets Group (AMG) at 20%, and Agilent CrossLab Group (ACG) at 42%. Simon May will lead LDG, Mike Zhang will head AMG, and Angelica Riemann will continue leading ACG. The restructuring aims to improve collaboration and execution across divisions. The company will begin reporting under the new structure from Q1 2025.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) has announced a 5% increase in its quarterly dividend to 24.8 cents per share of common stock. The dividend will be paid on January 22, 2025, to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2024. Future dividend payments remain subject to board approval.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) has awarded the 2024 Early Career Professor Award to Dr. Adeyemi Adeleye from Columbia University for his contributions to environmental health and sustainability. Dr. Adeleye's research focuses on using engineered nanoparticles made of earth-abundant elements to remediate environmental contamination from pollutants like arsenic, lead, and PFAS. His work also explores combining remediation with carbon sequestration to reduce environmental impact. The research supports FDA and USDA initiatives to address toxic heavy metals in crop-based foods through the 'Closer-to-Zero' Initiative, with additional support from NSF and CDC.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) has been ranked #11 on Fortune's Best Workplaces in the World list, among 25 companies. The ranking is based on the Great Place to Work survey, which collected 7.4 million responses representing 20 million employees globally. The company stands out for its comprehensive employee programs focusing on well-being, professional development, and community engagement.

Notable initiatives include paid volunteer time, fitness programs tailored to different regions, and Employee Network Groups. Agilent offers extensive educational resources, mentorship opportunities, and supports charitable giving by matching employee donations up to $25,000 annually. The company also compensates employees for volunteer hours with $25 per hour that can be donated to eligible charities.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) has launched the Mito-rOCR Assay Kit, a new solution for analyzing mitochondrial function in cells. This innovative kit measures cells' relative oxygen consumption rate (rOCR), providing insights into mitochondrial health and performance. The assay is compatible with various fluorescent plate readers and multimode imagers, including the BioTek Cytation series. Key features include direct compound reconstitution in assay medium, reversibility, and integration with Agilent Seahorse Analytics cloud-based software for streamlined data analysis. The kit aims to democratize cell analysis by making sophisticated mitochondrial research accessible to researchers of all skill levels.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) has awarded its Solutions Innovation Research Award (SIRA) to Professor Isabelle Plante from INRS and Professor Bangyan Stiles from USC for their cell and gene therapy research. Professor Plante's research focuses on breast cancer mechanisms and environmental pollutants, while Professor Stiles studies lipid metabolic dysfunction in cancer formation. Both recipients will receive one-year loans of various Agilent instruments including the NovoCyte Penteon flow cytometer. The SIRA initiative, established in 2023, aims to support innovative academic research using Agilent's analytical solutions.

Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRD-A and CRD-B) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.07 per share for both Class A and Class B Common Stock. The dividend will be paid on December 6, 2024, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 19, 2024. The declaration was made during the company's regular quarterly board meeting on October 31, 2024.