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Keysight stock price surges after upbeat forecast; AI data-center demand puts KEYS in focus
24 February 2026
2 mins read

Keysight stock price surges after upbeat forecast; AI data-center demand puts KEYS in focus

New York, February 24, 2026, 15:22 EST — Regular session

  • Investors sent KEYS shares higher after the company posted a robust quarterly outlook and flagged demand linked to data centers.
  • Orders jumped in the quarter ended January, with segment revenue also posting strong gains.
  • Tariff jitters linger, but a new cybersecurity alliance grabs attention, with analyst upgrades also factoring into the mix for traders.

Keysight Technologies shares jumped roughly 21% on Tuesday, trading near $296 after peaking at $301.48. The stock finished Monday at $245. MarketBeat

Keysight’s better-than-expected second-quarter profit forecast sent shares up more than 15% after hours Monday, with the company pointing to ongoing demand from data centers ramping up for AI. The surge came right after the outlook was released. Reuters

Keysight tends to show up as an early signal for traders watching tech spending—think test equipment, network validation, tools that make sure hardware performs as promised. When budgets get shaky, Keysight orders are often the first place it shows.

Keysight reported fiscal first-quarter revenue of $1.60 billion, up from $1.30 billion a year ago. Orders increased as well, landing at $1.645 billion versus $1.263 billion. The communications solutions group turned in $1.124 billion in revenue, a gain of 27%. Electronic industrial solutions brought in $476 million, up 15%. CEO Satish Dhanasekaran called the quarter “a strong start” and said results “exceeded our expectations.” Keysight Investor Relations

Keysight bases its outlook mostly on “non-GAAP” numbers—these are adjusted to remove select expenses. According to a filing, adjustments may carve out things like amortization related to acquisitions, share-based pay, costs from acquisition and integration, restructuring charges, and more. SEC

Wall Street wasted no time reacting. BofA Securities bumped Keysight up to Buy from Neutral and hiked the price target to $340, up from $195, following the results. The move cited “core orders” strength across the board, according to Investing.com. Investing.com

In another move, Cybeats, which trades on Canada’s exchange, announced that Keysight will market Cybeats’ SBOM platform using the label Keysight SBOM Manager. The SBOM, or software bill of materials, acts as a list of all software components within a product—a tool for monitoring vulnerabilities and ensuring compliance with security regulations.

“SBOMs are no longer just compliance artifacts,” said Ram Periakaruppan, an executive at Keysight. The companies framed the agreement as a shift toward using software transparency for ongoing risk management. For Cybeats, CTO Dmitry Raidman described the partnership as a move to treat SBOMs as “living operational assets rather than static documents.” Newswire

The challenge now is keeping those gains. Traders are watching for any further upgrades, and they’re listening to see if management’s optimistic view on data-center demand carries over to other sectors—think aerospace and defense, industrial, auto.

Disappointment remains a risk. A sudden change in trade policy, a deceleration in AI infrastructure outlays, or even a lull in orders from major clients could turn Tuesday’s rally into little more than a brief recalibration of expectations.

Mobile World Congress in Barcelona is coming up March 2–5, with Keysight lined up to demo its wireless and network testing tech. Investors will be watching for any demand signals after the stock’s recent run. keysight.com

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