Agilent Technologies (A) vs Illumina (ILMN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Illumina (ILMN) has outperformed Agilent Technologies (A) over the past year, gaining 177.0% versus a gain of 22.0%. Over five years, A leads with a +10.3% price change compared with -32.9% for ILMN. Agilent Technologies is the larger company by market cap ($47.68 billion vs $40.43 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Agilent Technologies trades at a lower forward P/E (25.0x vs 43.8x for Illumina). Agilent Technologies pays a dividend yielding 0.60%, while Illumina does not currently pay one. Illumina converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 19.6% versus 18.8%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | A | ILMN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $169.09 | $267.76 |
| Market cap | $47.68B | $40.43B |
| 1-day change | -0.14% | -2.11% |
| YTD return | +24.27% | +104.15% |
| 1-year return | +22.03% | +176.95% |
| 5-year return | +10.32% | -32.85% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 33.35 | 49.96 |
| Forward P/E | 25.02 | 43.76 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.07 | $5.36 |
| Dividend yield | 0.60% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.01 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.95B | $4.34B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.73% | -0.66% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.30B | $850.00M |
| Gross margin | 52.43% | 66.08% |
| Operating margin | 21.29% | 18.58% |
| Net margin | 18.75% | 19.57% |
| 52-week high | $177.05 | $309.35 |
| 52-week low | $108.35 | $88.00 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -4.50% | -13.44% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +4.38% | -16.40% |
| Average volume | 2.26M | 2.66M |
| Shares outstanding | 281.97M | 151.00M |
| Employees | 18,200 | 8,600 |
| Sector | Industrials | Health Care |
| Industry | Biotechnology: Laboratory Analytical Instruments | Medical Specialities |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- ILMN has outperformed A by 154.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Illumina trades at a higher earnings multiple (50.0x vs 33.4x trailing P/E).
- Agilent Technologies grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+6.73% vs -0.66%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Agilent Technologies in Industrials and Illumina in Health Care.
About Agilent Technologies
A stock →Agilent Technologies, Inc. provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide.
Industrials · Biotechnology: Laboratory Analytical Instruments · 18,200 employees
About Illumina
ILMN stock →Illumina, Inc. provides sequencing- and array-based solutions for genetic and genomic analysis in the Americas, Europe, Greater China, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.
Health Care · Medical Specialities · 8,600 employees
A vs ILMN FAQ
Which is bigger, Agilent Technologies or Illumina?
Agilent Technologies (A) is larger, with a market capitalization of $47.68B compared with $40.43B for Illumina (ILMN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, A or ILMN?
ILMN returned +176.95% over the past 12 months, compared with +22.03% for A (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, A or ILMN?
A has the lower trailing P/E at 33.4, versus 50.0 for ILMN. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Agilent Technologies or Illumina?
Agilent Technologies pays a dividend yielding 0.60%, while Illumina does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Agilent Technologies and Illumina in the same industry?
No. Agilent Technologies is in the Industrials sector, while Illumina is in Health Care.