PALO ALTO -- In a report released on Forbes.com, research firm Banc of America Securities said Agilent Technologies' new management may consider spinning off its Automated Test or Semiconductor Products businesses.
 
Banc of America said: "These businesses have the lowest operating margins and suffer the biggest swings in revenues making them more difficult to manage."
 
The group cautioned that spinning off low margin businesses may not help the stock price.
 
"The remaining businesses will deliver a higher blended margin," the research firm said. "But operating margins for the remaining businesses will be at or below comparable companies in those segments."

Agilent's representatives declined to comment, citing a company policy to "not endorse or respond to any third-party research or opinions."