Agilent Technologies Inc. - A STOCK NEWS

Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) has announced a quarterly dividend of 23.6 cents per share of common stock. The dividend will be paid on October 23, 2024, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 1, 2024. This announcement demonstrates Agilent's commitment to returning value to shareholders through regular dividend payments. However, it's important to note that the timing and amounts of future dividends are subject to determination and approval by Agilent's board of directors, indicating potential flexibility in the company's dividend policy.

Politan Capital Management, an 8.9% shareholder of Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI), has issued an open letter to shareholders ahead of the company's 2024 Annual Meeting on September 19. The letter highlights the need for further change in Masimo's boardroom and refutes the company's defensive rhetoric. Politan urges shareholders to vote for its independent nominees, Darlene Solomon and William Jellison, on the WHITE card.

Key points from the letter include:

• Criticism of Masimo's board for lack of oversight and transparency
• Allegations of collusion between Masimo's CEO and RTW to manipulate voting
• Refutation of Masimo's claims about potential business disruption
• Defense against Masimo's accusations towards Politan
• Emphasis on the urgent need for change in Masimo's governance

Politan argues that without a majority of independent directors, Masimo's pattern of poor governance and shareholder value destruction will continue.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) has launched its Biopharma CDx Services Lab (BCSL) in Carpinteria, California, after receiving a California State clinical laboratory license and CLIA certificate of compliance. The BCSL will support drug development from early clinical studies through regulatory approval, offering efficient companion diagnostic development. It provides access to innovative technologies for biomarker assessment and high-quality assays for clinical trials.

The continuous development model from feasibility to FDA approval offers significant cost and time advantages for biopharma companies investing in companion diagnostics and precision therapeutics. This launch strengthens Agilent's capabilities in early assay development, technology innovation, and prospective clinical trial patient testing, reinforcing its commitment to the biopharma, clinical diagnostics, and precision medicine sectors.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) reported Q3 FY2024 results with revenue of $1.58 billion, down 5.6% reported and 4.4% core year-over-year. GAAP EPS was $0.97, up 155% from Q3 FY2023, while non-GAAP EPS was $1.32, down 8%. Despite challenging market conditions, the company exceeded guidance. Agilent revised its full-year revenue outlook to $6.450-$6.500 billion and non-GAAP EPS guidance to $5.21-$5.25. Q4 revenue is expected at $1.641-$1.691 billion with non-GAAP EPS of $1.38-$1.42. The company is focusing on strategic transformation initiatives to drive margin expansion and growth.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) has launched its new Agilent J&W 5Q GC/MS Columns, marking a significant advancement in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) column technology. These columns combine ultra-inert performance and ultra-low-bleed technology, offering unmatched performance and durability for demanding applications. The J&W 5Q columns provide exceptional peak symmetry for active analytes and set a new industry standard for minimal column bleed, enabling high sensitivity and accurate quantitation for challenging trace-level analytes.

Key features include faster conditioning and increased resistance to conditions that can shorten column life. The columns enhance system performance in difficult conditions, such as using hydrogen as a carrier gas, and in environmental workflows targeting emerging analytes of interest. Available in various dimensions, they cater to a wide range of markets and applications, including PFAS testing in environmental samples and residual pesticide analysis in food.

Helzberg Diamonds, a renowned US jewelry retailer, has partnered with Proximity, creator of the award-winning Retail Super-App, to enhance customer experience. The collaboration aims to empower sales associates with a clienteling platform that delivers hyper-personalized service across all touchpoints. Launched in summer 2024, the platform connects customer data and uses innovative technology to power personalization and provide endless aisle capabilities.

The partnership is expected to transform customer engagement, drive repeat purchases, and increase in-store efficiency. Proximity's CEO, Cathy McCabe, expressed excitement about forging deep connections with customers and cultivating loyalty. Brad Hampton, CEO of Helzberg Diamonds, highlighted the opportunity to accelerate their digital transformation while maintaining the human touch that sets them apart in the industry.

Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRD-A, CRD-B) reported its Q2 2024 results, with revenues before reimbursements at $314.2 million, down from $324.6 million in Q2 2023. Net income attributable to shareholders increased to $8.6 million from $8.4 million last year, with diluted EPS at $0.17 for both share classes, unchanged from Q2 2023. Non-GAAP diluted EPS rose to $0.25 from $0.24. The company added $23 million in new business, with a robust pipeline.

Segment Results:

• North America Loss Adjusting: Revenues of $76 million, slight decline; operating earnings up to $4.9 million.
• International Operations: Revenues up 7.3% to $102.3 million; operating earnings rose to $5.7 million.
• Broadspire: Record revenues of $97.1 million, up 11.3%; operating earnings surged to $15.1 million.
• Platform Solutions: Revenues fell 40.8% to $38.8 million; operating earnings down to $1.5 million.

Company's debt rose to $233.8 million, with cash and equivalents at $46.7 million. Cash used in operations was $8.3 million for H1 2024, versus $27.2 million provided in 2023. No CRD-A shares were repurchased, but 230,861 shares of CRD-B were repurchased for $2.1 million.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) has received FDA approval for MAGE-A4 IHC 1F9 pharmDx as a diagnostic tool to identify patients with synovial sarcoma eligible for treatment with TECELRA®, a MAGE-A4-directed engineered T-Cell Receptor (TCR) therapy. This immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay detects MAGE-A4 expression in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) synovial sarcoma tissue. It's the first IVD for MAGE-A4 available on the market. TECELRA® is approved for advanced MAGE-A4 positive synovial sarcoma in adults with certain HLA types who have received prior chemotherapy, marking the first FDA-approved engineered TCR T-Cell therapy for a solid tumor cancer.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) has acquired Sigsense Technologies, a San Francisco-based startup specializing in AI-enabled lab operations technology. The acquisition, for undisclosed financial terms, integrates Sigsense's AI and power monitoring technology into Agilent's CrossLab Connect suite of digital applications. This integration enhances asset monitoring capabilities, allowing labs to track instrument utilization and status across all scientific assets, regardless of vendor.

The technology provides operational insights to alert lab managers of underperforming assets and optimization opportunities, particularly beneficial for commercial labs with large instrument fleets and intense testing schedules. With this acquisition, Sigsense's employees, IP, and assets are now part of the Agilent CrossLab Group, further extending AI technology to improve lab performance and productivity.