Agilent Technologies and the University of Chicago have launched a Center of Excellence for Energy Materials Research. Announced in October 2026, it will use Agilent's mass spectrometry and atomic spectroscopy tools to study next-generation battery and grid storage materials. The tie-up places Agilent instruments inside a leading research setting, which could deepen the company's role in energy storage workflows. It is unlikely to move near-term margins on its own, but it could lift later demand for services and consumables tied to the instruments. Agilent's narrative projects $9.0 billion in revenue and $2.2 billion in earnings by 2029, assuming 6.9% yearly revenue growth. Earnings are $1.4 billion today. Risks include tariffs and weaker academic and government funding, especially in Europe.

Agilent shares have jumped 54.6% in six months to $177.58, helped by solid quarterly results. Analysts at StockStory still advise against buying, citing three concerns. First, sales grew at a compounded annual rate of just 3.7% over five years, below the healthcare sector standard. Second, organic revenue, which excludes acquisitions, divestitures, and currency swings, averaged 4.4% year-on-year growth over two years, slightly behind the sector. Third, return on invested capital fell by an average of 2.2 percentage points a year, which may signal fewer profitable growth opportunities. The stock trades at 26.8× forward price-to-earnings. The analysts call Agilent "not a terrible business" but see no big opportunity now.

Agilent Technologies Inc. agreed to buy Proscia, a digital pathology software provider, in an all-cash deal valued at $240 million at closing. Proscia's founders could earn up to $30 million more if it meets future performance milestones. Proscia's software connects slide scanners, laboratory systems, and AI tools in one platform. It serves more than 4,000 laboratories, hospitals, and clinics, and 16 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies. Its trailing twelve-month revenue exceeds $18 million. The companies have worked together since a September 2022 distribution agreement. Agilent expects Proscia's recurring-revenue software to add a high-growth, high-margin business to its pathology portfolio. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close early in Agilent's fiscal year 2027.