Keysight stock trades above $323 as fiscal Q3 2026 growth and guidance support valuation
Published on 09/01/2026 at 13:06 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Keysight Technologies Inc. (US49327K1025) stock is trading above $323 in early dealings on September 1, 2026, following a fiscal third quarter 2026 report that delivered strong growth in revenue and earnings per share alongside raised guidance for the remainder of the year. Per recent market data, shares of KEYS opened at $323.40 in the latest session, extending the reaction to the August 18, 2026 earnings release and subsequent analyst updates.
Q3 2026 figures show strong acceleration
Recent earnings coverage indicates that Keysight Technologies reported earnings per share of $3.07 in its fiscal third quarter 2026, clearly ahead of the $2.48 consensus estimate for the period and highlighting significant operating leverage. A detailed earnings summary notes that revenue for the quarter reached $1.85 billion, compared with analyst expectations of $1.75 billion, meaning Keysight delivered a revenue beat of $100 million as of the August 18, 2026 report.
The same coverage shows that Keysight’s third quarter revenue was up 36.5 percent year over year, while earnings per share increased from $1.72 in the prior-year quarter to $3.07 in fiscal Q3 2026. That represents EPS growth of $1.35, or more than 78 percent, underscoring how higher volumes in test and measurement solutions translated into outsized profit growth relative to revenue expansion in the latest reported period.
Free cash flow is another key element of the recent quarter. Per an analysis of cash generation trends referencing Keysight’s fiscal third quarter 2026, the company generated $403 million in free cash flow in that period. That cash flow discussion also points out that Keysight repurchased $210 million of shares in the quarter, bringing year-to-date buybacks to $517 million as of July 31, 2026. For investors, the combination of double-digit revenue expansion, a substantial EPS beat, and robust free cash flow coupled with ongoing share repurchases is central to the current equity story.
On the balance sheet, the same analysis notes that as of July 31, 2026 Keysight held $2.61 billion in cash and cash equivalents and carried $1.82 billion of long-term debt. That mix suggests the company retains a net cash position even while funding significant buybacks, providing flexibility to keep investing in growth initiatives within its electronics design and test portfolio.
Guidance and consensus frame the outlook
Looking ahead, Keysight’s management has issued guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 and the full year that supports a continued high level of profitability. Coverage of the August 18, 2026 earnings release indicates that the company set its Q4 2026 earnings per share guidance in a range from $3.340 to $3.400. That guidance sits above the just-reported $3.07 EPS for fiscal Q3 2026, implying sequential growth and underscoring confidence in demand across its segments.
For the full fiscal 2026, Keysight has also communicated earnings per share guidance of $11.460, giving investors a numerical anchor for expected profitability over the year. Recent consensus data compiled from analyst forecasts suggests that the broader market currently expects Keysight to post 10.03 EPS for the current fiscal year, indicating that the company’s guidance of $11.460 stands 1.43 EPS above that consensus baseline. That gap of roughly 14 percent between company guidance and the consensus figure highlights the potential for upward estimate revisions if Keysight delivers on its outlook.
Revenue guidance also provides context for the near-term trajectory. The cash generation analysis covering Keysight notes that for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the company expects revenue in a range of $1.93 billion to $1.95 billion. Compared with the $1.85 billion revenue reported for fiscal Q3 2026, that revenue range would represent quarter-over-quarter growth of between $80 million and $100 million, underlining management’s expectation of continued demand strength as of late August 2026.
Analyst sentiment remains constructive around Keysight stock. Consensus data compiled from recent research coverage indicates that the shares carry a rating categorized as Moderate Buy, with an average target price of $392.83 per share. With Keysight shares opening at $323.40 in the latest session, that average target implies upside of $69.43 per share, or roughly 21.5 percent, from the current trading level, framing the risk-reward profile many investors are considering as of September 1, 2026.
Valuation, market cap and trading context
Recent market data pages show Keysight trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker KEYS, with the share price fluctuating in the low- to mid-$320s in the latest session. The $323.40 opening price on September 1, 2026 sits modestly above the $319.58 opening level recorded on August 31, 2026, indicating a gain of $3.82 in two sessions. That short-term move of 1.2 percent reflects investors digesting the implications of fiscal Q3 2026 results and guidance while positioning ahead of the fiscal Q4 period.
Market capitalization data indicates that Keysight’s equity valuation is supported by its combination of strong profitability and cash generation. While the exact market cap figure depends on the intraday share price and float, the recent revenue and EPS numbers provide a basis for valuation multiples that investors can compare against peers in the scientific and technical instruments space. The company’s net margin of 19.08 percent and return on equity of 24.34 percent reported for fiscal Q3 2026, per earnings coverage dated August 18, 2026, give additional signals of capital efficiency.
Technical indicators such as the 50-day and 200-day moving averages help contextualize Keysight’s current price level. Recent price performance data compiled in institutional trading summaries show a 50-day moving average price of $328.15 and a 200-day moving average price of $319.86 as of the latest update. With shares opening at $323.40, Keysight is currently trading modestly below its 50-day moving average and slightly above its 200-day moving average, positioning the stock between short-term and longer-term trend markers at the start of September 2026.
That placement suggests that the post-earnings rally has brought the stock back toward its multi-month trend without stretching far beyond it. For investors who focus on technical levels, a price between the 50-day and 200-day moving averages can signal a consolidating phase after a strong move, especially when supported by improving fundamentals such as the fiscal Q3 2026 numbers Keysight has reported.
Cash returns and balance sheet flexibility
The scale of Keysight’s share repurchase activity in fiscal 2026 underscores management’s commitment to returning capital to shareholders alongside investment in growth. As noted in the recent cash generation analysis, Keysight repurchased $210 million of shares in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, and buybacks for the year to date reached $517 million by July 31, 2026. Comparing that buyback figure against the $403 million of free cash flow generated in fiscal Q3 2026 shows that Keysight returned more than half of its quarterly free cash flow through share repurchases in that period.
With $2.61 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $1.82 billion of long-term debt as of July 31, 2026, Keysight maintains a significant liquidity buffer and modest leverage while carrying out this level of capital return. For investors, these figures suggest that the company has room to continue combining organic investment, potential acquisitions, and shareholder remuneration without overstretching its balance sheet.
These cash and debt metrics also interact with Keysight’s guidance. The fourth quarter revenue range of $1.93 billion to $1.95 billion and EPS guidance between $3.340 and $3.400 imply continued strong cash generation in the near term. If realized, those outcomes would reinforce the sustainability of buybacks and support future capital allocation options, an important consideration for long-term holders analyzing the stock’s ability to fund both innovation and shareholder payouts.
Keysight’s test and measurement portfolio
Beyond the numbers, the company’s product and solution portfolio helps explain its growth trajectory. Keysight Technologies is known for electronic design and test solutions that serve industries such as communications, aerospace and defense, and semiconductor manufacturing. Recent coverage of its performance highlights that the fiscal Q3 2026 revenue expansion was driven by demand for test and measurement systems that support advanced integrated circuit development and high-speed digital communications, areas where Keysight has invested heavily.
A separate technology-focused article discusses how Keysight’s solutions can accelerate advanced integrated circuit development, noting that the company’s shares have rallied 95.8 percent over the past year compared with an industry growth rate of 92.4 percent as of late August 2026. That technology analysis connects the rally to Keysight’s role in enabling cutting-edge chip design and validation, suggesting that demand for its solutions is closely tied to secular trends in semiconductors and high-speed connectivity.
For US retail investors, the key takeaway is that Keysight’s growth in fiscal 2026 is not just a function of cyclical spending, but also of structural demand for complex test and measurement capabilities in advanced electronics. The fiscal Q3 2026 revenue and EPS figures, combined with the guidance for fiscal Q4 2026 and the full year, provide a quantifiable view of how those demand drivers translate into financial performance.
Stock level and investor angle
Keysight stock’s opening price of $323.40 on September 1, 2026, as evidenced in recent institutional trading summaries, offers a concrete reference point for investors evaluating the shares after the fiscal Q3 2026 report. When set against the average analyst target of $392.83 per share, the current level represents a discount of $69.43, or 21.5 percent, to that consensus valuation benchmark. This numerical gap anchors many valuation discussions, particularly for investors who consider both the growth profile and the balance sheet strength highlighted in recent analyses.
As of the latest New York Stock Exchange session, Keysight’s valuation is supported by strong recent performance metrics: fiscal Q3 2026 revenue of $1.85 billion, EPS of $3.07 versus a $2.48 consensus, free cash flow of $403 million, and buybacks of $210 million in the quarter. Coupled with guidance for Q4 2026 EPS between $3.340 and $3.400 and full-year EPS of $11.460, these figures give a data-driven framework for assessing whether the current discount to the average target compensates for execution and macro risks, including potential changes in electronics demand or capital spending cycles.
Test solutions for advanced IC development
Keysight’s solutions for advanced integrated circuit development represent a concrete example of its product capabilities. The technology-focused coverage on advanced IC development describes how Keysight provides tools for high-speed digital design, signal integrity analysis, and validation of complex system-on-chip architectures. These solutions help chip designers and system engineers shorten development cycles by delivering precise measurement and simulation capabilities.
In practice, this means Keysight’s instruments and software can be deployed across multiple stages of the design process, from early simulation to final compliance testing for standards such as PCIe, USB, and various high-speed serial protocols. The demand for these capabilities grows as data rates increase and system complexity rises, which aligns with the broader narrative of secular growth in high-performance computing, AI accelerators, and advanced communications infrastructure.
Keysight stock price context
Keysight stock currently trades on the New York Stock Exchange, with a share price that opened at $323.40 as of the latest session on September 1, 2026. This level sits between the company’s short-term and long-term trend markers, with a 50-day moving average of $328.15 and a 200-day moving average of $319.86 cited in recent coverage. For investors watching technical signals, this positioning suggests the stock is consolidating gains from the strong fiscal Q3 2026 results while awaiting further catalysts such as the upcoming fiscal Q4 2026 report.
Read more
More on Keysight stock and its recent earnings and guidance can be found in recent institutional filings and earnings coverage that discuss fiscal Q3 2026 performance, cash generation, and analyst sentiment.
Investor Relations
Further details on Keysight Technologies’ financials, guidance, and corporate strategy are available through its official investor communications.
Fact box
Company: Keysight Technologies Inc.
ISIN: US49327K1025
Ticker: KEYS
Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Price (as of September 1, 2026, session open): $323.40 USD
Market cap: based on current share price and shares outstanding
Sector / Industry: Scientific and technical instruments
Index membership: S&P 500
