Stock Markets February 26, 2026

Agilent Shares Slide After Q1 Results, Guidance Paints Mixed Picture

Quarterly results narrowly missed expectations while revenue guidance for Q2 comes in above consensus

By Ajmal Hussain A
Agilent Shares Slide After Q1 Results, Guidance Paints Mixed Picture
A

Agilent Technologies shares fell about 7% after the company reported first-quarter results that slightly missed analyst estimates on both earnings and revenue. The company provided a Q2 revenue range that is above consensus and set full-year 2026 targets that largely track market expectations for earnings and revenue.

Key Points

  • Agilent reported Q1 EPS of $1.36, missing the consensus of $1.37.
  • Q1 revenue was $1.8 billion, slightly below the $1.81 billion estimate.
  • Q2 revenue guidance of $1.79 billion to $1.82 billion is above the consensus of $1.767 billion; Q2 EPS guidance of $1.39 to $1.42 compares to a $1.39 consensus.

Agilent Technologies saw its stock decline roughly 7% on Thursday after releasing first-quarter results that came in just below analyst expectations. The life sciences and diagnostics company reported diluted earnings per share of $1.36 for the quarter, compared with the analyst consensus of $1.37. Revenue for the period was $1.8 billion, short of the $1.81 billion estimate.


Market reaction to the report reflected the narrow misses on both EPS and top-line figures following the quarter that was disclosed on Wednesday. The share price movement on Thursday followed the publication of those results.


Forward guidance and consensus comparisons

Agilent provided guidance for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 that includes an EPS range of $1.39 to $1.42, which brackets the analyst consensus point estimate of $1.39. For revenue, the company projected $1.79 billion to $1.82 billion for Q2, a range that sits above the consensus estimate of $1.767 billion.

For the full fiscal year 2026, Agilent issued an EPS forecast of $5.90 to $6.04, compared with the consensus EPS of $5.93. Full-year revenue guidance was stated as $7.3 billion to $7.5 billion, relative to a consensus figure of $7.355 billion.


What the numbers show

  • The reported Q1 EPS of $1.36 missed the $1.37 consensus by a small margin.
  • Q1 revenue of $1.8 billion likewise fell short of the $1.81 billion consensus.
  • Q2 revenue guidance is presented as a range above consensus, while Q2 EPS guidance overlaps the consensus estimate.
  • Full-year 2026 EPS and revenue guidance are provided as ranges that closely bracket consensus estimates.

Market and sector context

The company is identified as operating in life sciences and diagnostics. The report and guidance have immediate implications for Agilent shareholders and for market participants tracking companies in the life sciences and diagnostics sector. Beyond the immediate price reaction, the guidance ranges will be used by analysts and investors to reassess near-term expectations.


Notes on information

All figures and comparisons above are taken from Agilent Technologies' disclosed quarterly results and the consensus estimates referenced alongside that disclosure. The article does not add additional data or interpretative claims beyond those provided in the company's report and the consensus points cited.

Risks

  • Near-term investor reaction to the Q1 misses could keep volatility elevated in Agilent shares and affect stock performance in the short term - impacts equity investors in the life sciences and diagnostics sector.
  • Guidance ranges, while largely in line with or above consensus in some measures, introduce uncertainty about where within those ranges results will land - relevant to analysts and investors modeling quarterly and full-year outcomes.
  • Because Q1 results missed consensus on both EPS and revenue, there is uncertainty about near-term operational momentum until subsequent quarters provide clearer confirmation - a risk for stakeholders tracking revenue growth and profitability in the life sciences and diagnostics space.

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