Head-To-Head Comparison: Utah Medical Products (NASDAQ:UTMD) versus Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A)

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) and Utah Medical Products (NASDAQ:UTMD) are both medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Agilent Technologies and Utah Medical Products”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Agilent Technologies	$6.51 billion	5.38	$1.29 billion	$4.26	28.98
Utah Medical Products	$40.90 million	4.93	$13.87 million	$3.74	16.79

Agilent Technologies has higher revenue and earnings than Utah Medical Products. Utah Medical Products is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Agilent Technologies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Agilent Technologies and Utah Medical Products’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Agilent Technologies	17.97%	25.51%	12.94%
Utah Medical Products	32.34%	10.55%	10.13%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Agilent Technologies and Utah Medical Products, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Agilent Technologies	0	6	6	0	2.50
Utah Medical Products	0	0	0	0	0.00

Agilent Technologies currently has a consensus price target of $140.08, suggesting a potential upside of 13.47%. Given Agilent Technologies’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Agilent Technologies is more favorable than Utah Medical Products.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

69.6% of Utah Medical Products shares are held by institutional investors. 7.4% of Utah Medical Products shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

Agilent Technologies pays an annual dividend of $0.99 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. Utah Medical Products pays an annual dividend of $1.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.9%. Agilent Technologies pays out 23.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Utah Medical Products pays out 32.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Agilent Technologies has increased its dividend for 9 consecutive years and Utah Medical Products has increased its dividend for 3 consecutive years.

Risk & Volatility

Agilent Technologies has a beta of 1.24, indicating that its share price is 24% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Utah Medical Products has a beta of 0.32, indicating that its share price is 68% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Agilent Technologies beats Utah Medical Products on 13 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies, Inc. provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets, Diagnostics and Genomics, and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers liquid chromatography systems and components; liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems; gas chromatography systems and components; gas chromatography mass spectrometry systems; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instruments; atomic absorption instruments; microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry instruments; inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry instruments; raman spectroscopy; cell analysis plate based assays; flow cytometer; real-time cell analyzer; cell imaging systems; microplate reader; laboratory software; information management and analytics; laboratory automation and robotic systems; dissolution testing; and vacuum pumps, and measurement technologies. The Diagnostics and Genomics segment focuses on genomics, nucleic acid contract manufacturing and research and development, pathology, companion diagnostics, reagent partnership, and biomolecular analysis businesses. The Agilent CrossLab segment provides GC and LC columns, sample preparation products, custom chemistries, and laboratory instrument supplies; and offers services portfolio, including repairs, parts, maintenance, installations, training, compliance support, software as a service, asset management, and consulting services. The company markets its products through direct sales, distributors, resellers, manufacturer’s representatives, and electronic commerce. Agilent Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

About Utah Medical Products

Utah Medical Products, Inc. develops, manufactures, and distributes medical devices for the healthcare industry worldwide. It offers fetal monitoring accessories, vacuum-assisted delivery systems, and other labor and delivery tools; DISPOSA-HOOD infant respiratory hoods; and DELTRAN PLUS blood pressure monitoring systems. It also provides GESCO, an umbilical vessel catheters, including DIALY-NATE disposable peritoneal dialysis sets; PALA-NATE silicone oral protection devices; URI-CATH urinary drainage systems; NUTRI-CATH\NUTRI-LOK feeding device; PICC-NATE, a percutaneous intraepithelial central venous catheter; MYELO-NATE lumbar sampling kits; HEMO-NATE disposable filters; and catheterization procedure tray of instruments and supplies. In addition, the company offers LETZ system to excise cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and other lower genital tract lesions; loop, ball, and needle electrodes; FILTRESSE evacuators; other specialty electrodes and supplies, and gynecologic tools; Femcare trocars, cannulae, laparoscopic instruments, and accessories; and EPITOME and OptiMicro electrosurgical devices. Further, it provides Filshie Clip female surgical contraception devices; PATHFINDER PLUS, an endoscopic irrigation devices; suprapubic catheterization; LIBERTY, an urinary incontinence treatment and control systems; ENDOCURETTE, a curette for uterine endometrial tissue sampling; TVUS/HSG-Cath to assess abnormal or dysfunctional uterine bleeding and other abnormalities of uterus; and LUMIN, a tool to manipulate the uterus in laparoscopic procedures. Additionally, it offers DELTRAN, a disposable pressure transducer; high-pressure and piezo-resistive transducer assemblies; and pressure monitoring accessories, components, and other molded parts. It serves neonatal intensive care units, labor and delivery departments, women's health centers in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and physician's offices. The company was incorporated in 1978 and is headquartered in Midvale, Utah.