The letter Q is available ...
October 5, 1999
Tech Center
Agilent Technologies' Secures
Elite Status With Ticker Symbol
By DAVID P. HAMILTON
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Agilent Technologies Inc., a soon-to-be-spun-off unit of Hewlett-Packard Co. that has long struggled for more attention, finally looks set to get its reward -- an "A" for effort.
Literally, that is. Monday, Agilent announced that its common stock will list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol A, making it one of only 22 firms to possess a single-letter stock symbol. Agilent shares will start trading under the new symbol once the company makes an initial public offering later this year.
1Company Profile: Hewlett-Packard
Officials at the test-and-measurement equipment unit, which has struggled for respect both inside and outside H-P, were quick to seize upon the implications. "It is especially fitting that our stock will be symbolized by the single letter 'A,' reinforcing Agilent's leadership position in the marketplace," said Edward "Ned" Barnholt, Agilent's new president and chief executive officer.
Agilent will join several titans of global business with single-letter stock symbols, among them Citigroup (C), Ford Motor Co. (F), Gillette Co. (G), and AT&T Corp. (T). In a sense, Agilent lucked out; the A symbol only became available earlier this year when its most recent holder, Astra AB, merged with Zeneca Group PLC in April.
And there's still time for other companies who might hanker after a (single) letter of recognition -- I, M, Q and V remain unclaimed. |
