North Bay Business Journal

SANTA ROSA — Agilent Technologies’ (NYSE: A) Santa Rosa-based Electronic Measurement Group again led growth in orders and revenue in the company’s fiscal second quarter results, reported today, but the group’s growth is expected to flatten in the next several months.

The division revenue was $876 million, 5 percent above $844 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Orders increased 13 percent over the 12-month period to $957 million.

By comparison, orders for the Santa Clara-based company increased 8 percent in that timeframe to $1.84 billion all together, and revenue rose 3 percent $1.73 billion. Net income increased 28 percent to $255 million.

Wireless manufacturing fueled the locally based division’s growth. Group President Guy Séné said all segments of test and measurement fared well, but orders for smartphone and component testing equipment were up globally.

“Base stations and other infrastructure manufacturing continued to be flat,” he said. “We don’t expect to see much growth there for the next couple of quarters.”

A rather abrupt dropoff in that segment startled the industry last quarter.

The Santa Rosa part of the group continues to grow, according to Mr. Séné. Agilent’s recent acquisition of the test and measurement division of Santa Rosa-based Centellax added 25 to the 1,150-employee workforce.

“It’s a great addition — the high-speed optical component — to our portfolio,” said Mr. Séné.

Like many equities today battered by uncertainty over financial news from Europe, Agilent’s stock price at the beginning of trading was lower than the $39.45-a-share closing price Friday but rebounded to close 1.39 percent lower at $38.90 Monday. But the price shot up more than $2 a share in after-hours trading before leveling at $39.95 a share.