Measure twice, cut once. That's what the old adage says. Agilent Technologies
As it turns out, it looks like we are measuring a lot these days. In the just-reported third quarter, sales jumped 22% year over year or 19% in acquisition-adjusted, pure organic growth. GAAP earnings soared 59% to $0.92 per share.
Agilent's business now rests on a balanced set of growing legs. The difference between the slowest-growing segment (chemical analysis tools) and the fastest one (electronic measurement) covers a span of just 7%. CEO Bill Sullivan noted that Agilent is investing heavily in research and development in order to "capitalize on market opportunities, despite uncertainties in the economy."
Agilent has been very busy realigning its business around the most profitable operations at hand, selling some product lines to JDS Uniphase
And these changes are making a difference to Agilent's top line. The company just raised its full-year revenue guidance as incoming orders jumped 30% year over year -- faster than billed revenues. The company is fighting slow orders from the American defense industry and yet manages to post tremendous growth.
At this pace, Agilent is outgrowing nearly every major competitor from Danaher
Need to know more about Agilent before drawing up an investment thesis? Our watchlist tool helps you do exactly that. Just click here to add Agilent to your own watchlist right now, then sit back and soak in all the news and Foolish analysis we have to offer on this stock -- or any other ticker you'd like to follow.